In an October 31 article about former Republican congressional candidate Rick O'Donnell's departure from Colorado “to be president of a group that offers an MBA in entrepreneurship,” the Rocky Mountain News reported that “voters and political pundits in both parties praised O'Donnell's [2006 congressional] campaign” but provided no examples of Democrats who did. The article, by Lynn Bartels, also reported that “during a Democratic landslide nationwide, O'Donnell lost the general election to former state Sen. Ed Perlmutter,” but did not note any of the controversies involving O'Donnell that arose during the campaign.

From Lynn Bartels' article “Rick O'Donnell heads for Texas,” published October 31 in the Rocky Mountain News:

Two-time congressional candidate Rick O'Donnell, who served as former Gov. Bill Owens' first policy director, is headed for Texas.

He's going to be president of a group that offers an MBA in entrepreneurship taught entirely by successful entrepreneurs.

“It's going to be a big change for me,” O'Donnell said Tuesday.

[...]

O'Donnell in 2002 and in 2006 ran for the Republican nomination in the 7th Congressional District.

In 2002, many politicos thought he ran circles around GOP opponent Bob Beauprez during candidate forums and debates. But O'Donnell lacked money and name recognition and lost to Beauprez in the primary.

In 2006, during a Democratic landslide nationwide, O'Donnell lost the general election to former state Sen. Ed Perlmutter.

But voters and political pundits in both parties praised O'Donnell's campaign, particularly the TV ads he designed in which he poked fun at himself.

“I'm sad to see Rick leave,” said Dick Wadhams, chairman of the Colorado Republican Party. “I think he's one of the best and the brightest.”

“I wish Rick good luck, much success, and I hope he finds Texas to his liking!” Perlmutter said in a statement.

Wadhams said O'Donnell played a “critical role” in Owens' first term, including pushing for tax cuts, improved transportation and education reform.

O'Donnell also served as Owens' director of the Department of Regulatory Agencies and director of the Commission on Higher Education.

In addition to dubiously stating that “political pundits in both parties” had praised O'Donnell's failed 2006 campaign, the News also failed to mention several controversies -- documented by Colorado Media Matters -- involving O'Donnell that arose during the campaign, including:

• O'Donnell's having taken a trip to Panama in February 2006 that was reportedly paid for by the CBS network shortly before he resigned his position on the Colorado Commission on Higher Education to campaign full time.

• O'Donnell's having written in 1995 that the United States should “eliminate” Social Security, a position that he misrepresented in at least one media appearance during the campaign.

• O'Donnell's having claimed to KMGH 7News that he had “a track record ... [of] keeping college tuition costs low.” In fact, a voucher program he supported in 2004 led to increases in Colorado tuition rates during O'Donnell's term as executive director of the Colorado Commission on Higher Education.