On his September 24 show, Newsradio 850 KOA host “Gunny” Bob Newman told Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Beauprez that he and his audience appreciate that Beauprez has “not lowered [himself] into the mud with vicious attack ads or anything like that.” Beauprez responded by claiming that “that's the way I like to run a campaign” and that he was “not going to twist and bend” or “get down in the mud” with his campaign because when the election is over he wants “to still be able to look [himself] in the mirror.”

However, an August 26 Rocky Mountain News editorial titled “What Ritter said - and meant” asserted that the Beauprez campaign in fact had “twisted” a passage from an earlier editorial column in the News regarding Democratic candidate Bill Ritter, “to make him [Ritter] sound like a crime-indulging wimp.” The News stated that doing so was a “sleazy misuse of what the candidate actually has said”:

In short, the Beauprez campaign lifted a Ritter assertion - not a quotation - in which he was taking a hard line against criminals and twisted it to make him sound like a crime-indulging wimp. The Trailhead Group, an independent outfit supporting Republicans, did the same thing in an earlier press release.

We can understand the frustration among Republicans trying to build a case against Ritter given the maddeningly narrow focus of his public comments over the years. But that's no excuse for the altogether sleazy misuse of what the candidate actually has said.

Beauprez has made other false claims about what Ritter has said. As Colorado Media Matters has noted, Beauprez in an Associated Press interview falsely claimed Ritter “declared himself pro-life, then said he'd make exceptions for anomalies. I asked if that included Down syndrome and he said yes.” Beauprez apparently was referring to an exchange from an August 11 debate that he previously had misrepresented. In fact, at no point during the debate did Ritter mention Down syndrome. Instead, it was Beauprez who claimed during the debate that, if abortion ever were banned in Colorado, Ritter would support an exception allowing abortion if a fetus had Down syndrome.

Newman, “in the interest of fairness,” also asked Beauprez to answer to criticism that Beauprez “voted for a couple of pay raises for [himself]”:

Beauprez: Here is the truth. The pay raise -- so-called -- for Congress was put on automatic pilot I think in 1989, at least a long time ago.

Gunny: Oh, but Mr. Ritter didn't mention that.

Beauprez: No, he didn't mention that part. We don't vote on that year after year. As he has implied.

However, neither Newman nor Beauprez mentioned what a KCNC CBS4 "Reality Check" pointed out on September 1 -- that "[a]lthough Beauprez did not vote directly for a pay raise, he did vote to reject a measure that would have forced U.S. Representatives to go 'on the record' and vote whether or not to give themselves a pay raise. This had the practical effect of voting for a pay increase." The CBS4 “Reality Check” further noted:

Since 1989, Congress has received yearly pay increases for rises in the cost of living. The only way to block the pay raise is for Congress to pass a measure rejecting it. If they do nothing about it, the pay raise is automatic. In 2000 legislators did vote to block the pay hike.

[...]

The Beauprez campaign defends the vote arguing that representatives give up a lot to go into public service, and ought to be compensated for it. The campaign also points out if members of Congress had to vote each year for a pay increase, it would have the effect of freezing their salaries, because no one would want a “yes” vote to be used against them at the next election.

From the September 26 broadcast of The Gunny Bob Show:

BEAUPREZ: As always, good to be with you, Gunny.

NEWMAN: Boy, as expected, we've got about six weeks or so before the election, and things are really getting cranked up. There are some people rolling in the mud and, I am a registered independent and everyone knows I lean conservative. But I want to remark about something right now, congressman -- you have not lowered yourself into the mud with vicious attack ads or anything like that. And we've talked about this on the show before, and the audience appreciates it. And so do I.

BEAUPREZ: Well, that's the way I like to run a campaign. I will point out what I think are clear differences. Judgment flaws that I think are worthy of debate. But I'm not going to twist and bend and, as you say, get down in mud. When it's all over, I want to still be able to look myself in the mirror.

[...]

NEWMAN: Bringing it back home, Congressman Beauprez, we have received word today from your opponent's campaign, former Denver District Attorney Bill Ritter, a formal response declining our repeated requests for him to appear in a live debate with you to discuss the issues in a reasonable and a balanced and a forthright manner right here on the Gunny Bob Show. When you were offered it, you immediately said, of course I will, and you mentioned that you will come onto any show and debate, because that's your job in getting the word out as a candidate for governor. But now, Mr. Ritter has formally declined. And, now to me, that is a -- deceptiveness and cowardice are character flaws in my world. And it is very unfortunate not for me, but for the people of Colorado, that Mr. Ritter has declined.

BEAUPREZ: Well, and you're on in prime time; I find that very peculiar, Gunny, that you're on one of the biggest media outlets in prime time. I'd very much look forward to the opportunity for that sort of a debate. It could be that he doesn't want to defend his record on the Second Amendment. It could be that he doesn't want to talk about where he really is on illegal immigration. It could be that he doesn't want to defend some of the record that is now coming out about how he operated when he was the Denver DA and caused people to suspicion what sort of judgment he might exercise if indeed he became governor. There's probably reasons why he doesn't want to be on your show. But I always enjoy being with you, Gunny.

[...]

NEWMAN: Well, one of the questions, this is strictly in the interest of fairness, because we try to show both sides and we wanted Mr. Ritter to do this himself, but we will go ahead and do it for him, since he lacks the intestinal fortitude to do so. One of the things that your detractors say about you, congressman, is that you voted for a couple of pay raises for yourself but would not give a vote for a fifteen hundred dollar, one-time bonus for our military personnel. And in the interest of fairness, how would you answer that?

BEAUPREZ: Here's the truth. The pay raise -- so-called -- for Congress was put on automatic pilot back in I think in 1989, at least a long while ago.

NEWMAN: Oh, but Mr. Ritter didn't mention that.

BEAUPREZ: No, he didn't mention that part. We don't vote on that year after year. As he has implied.

NEWMAN: Oh.

BEAUPREZ: Now, relative to the military pay raise. I did vote against the amendment that was offered for a very specific reason, because it wasn't for all of our military. It was very specific, as I recall, to those that are serving with honor, and I support them one hundred percent, with honor in Afghanistan and Iraq. What about if you are deployed somewhere else around the globe? South Korea, the African continent, in Germany, those that are putting on the uniform right here on the good old US of A soil? What about them? If we want to treat all of our military fairly, I'd be glad to step up and do that, and I have done that repeatedly and will do so again before this week's out as we take up the defense bills here in Congress.

NEWMAN: Here's the other half of the story.

BEAUPREZ: But that is a case again of twisting the facts for one's own political benefit.

NEWMAN: Well, that's exactly what Paul Harvey says. And here's the rest of the story.

BEAUPREZ: Yep. The rest of the story. It's the oldest game in politics.

NEWMAN: It is, but you're used to it.

BEAUPREZ: Yep. Well, yeah, I have been there for a little while now.

NEWMAN: All right, Congressman Bob Beauprez. Before we let you go, sir, what else is coming up on the immediate agenda that the people of Colorado need to know about that you're involved with?

BEAUPREZ: Well, we're going to be dealing with some immigration bills back here in Congress hoping we can get the Senate's attention. We're going to be giving the president, not only this one but future presidents, a little more ammunition to fight this war on terror dealing with the detainee issue -- the military-tribunal question that's been hanging out there. And I think we're going to take a step forward and try to modernize the wiretapping authorities too, so again, we can fight this war on terror. And after we get done here this week in Congress going to be coming home; glad to do it. And for the next, almost six full weeks, I'll be making my case to the people of Colorado why I think I am going to be the best man to be the 41st governor of our great state. My home state, and proudly so, and I very much look forward to that opportunity.

NEWMAN: Well, I tell you, congressman, if Mr. Ritter wishes to change his mind he is always welcome on the show, but he won't even come on, not facing you. He won't come on as a stand-alone guest, even. So I don't know, but he's always welcome, and if he does change his mind on the debate, live on The Gunny Bob Show, that would be even better. Congressman Bob Beauprez, thank you very much again, sir, for your service, and we'll see you when you come home next week.

BEAUPREZ: Always a pleasure. Take care, Gunny. Keep up the good work.