Craig Daily Press uncritically reported Beauprez's claim that Ritter is a “lifetime 'Denver-ite' ”

Written by Media Matters Staff

Published

A Craig Daily Press article about a campaign appearance by Republican gubernatorial candidate Rep. Bob Beauprez uncritically reported Beauprez's claim that Democratic opponent Bill Ritter “is [a] lifetime 'Denver-ite' who is out-of-touch with the needs of residents throughout the state.” In fact, under Beauprez's own apparent definition of “lifetime Denver-ite,” Beauprez himself would qualify.

In an August 4 Craig Daily Press article about a campaign appearance by Republican gubernatorial candidate Rep. Bob Beauprez (Arvada), staff writer Joshua Roberts reported Beauprez's claim that Democratic opponent Bill Ritter “is [a] lifetime 'Denver-ite' who is out-of-touch with the needs of residents throughout the state.” Roberts did not challenge Beauprez's claim. He did not point out that under Beauprez's own apparent definition of “lifetime Denver-ite,” Beauprez himself would qualify. According to a July 30 Denver Post profile, Ritter “grew up on a 5-acre wheat farm off Chambers Road east of Aurora,” a suburban city east of Denver that is now considered part of greater metro Denver. Beauprez grew up on a farm near Lafayette, a city that is also now considered part of metro Denver, and currently lives in Arvada, a Denver suburb.

Ritter currently lives in Denver and previously served as Denver district attorney.

As Colorado Media Matters noted in response an article in The Daily Sentinel of Grand Junction that reported similar Republican attacks on Ritter, the cities of Aurora, Arvada, and Lafayette are all now members of the Denver Regional Council of Governments, which “fosters regional cooperation between 52 county and municipal governments in the Denver metropolitan area.”

From Roberts's August 4 Craig Daily Press article, “Campaign trail leads to Craig”:

Beauprez said he and his wife are familiar with Craig. They have purchased hay in the area and have visited the city for years as spectators of Triple Crown youth tournaments.

“This is a special part of the state,” he said. “I can't get too much.”

As governor, Beauprez said he would represent the interests of citizens across the state. He said his opponent, Ritter, is lifetime [sic] “Denver-ite” who is out-of-touch with the needs of residents throughout the state.

While in Congress, Beauprez has served on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the Veterans Affairs Committee, the Small Business Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee.