Republican candidate for Colorado governor Scott McInnis with his wife Lori (McInnis for Governor campaign)
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CENTENNIAL - Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott McInnis met Wednesday night with about 40 members of metro area Tea Party and 9.12 groups, in an effort to turn back the perception held by conservative grass roots groups that he's been unavailable to them.
"That perception is out there," said Nikki Mata, a Centennial Tea Party activist who attended Wednesday night's meeting at the Southglen Library. "I think that this was an important step tonight, to reach out to 9.12 groups and Tea Party groups and to be accessible and he was very accessible."
McInnis spoke off the cuff for more than 90 minutes, taking questions from anyone in the audience who had one. Most of the questions centered on policy: water rights, health care, illegal immigration and the role of government. But a few people in the audience asked McInnis directly about his December appearance on Fox News, which laid the seeds of discontent among the grass roots, and his apparent reluctance to accept their invitations to sit down, which has deepened it.
"We get 30 or 35 invitations a day to meet with different groups," McInnis told the audience. "I wish we had time to get to all of these people. I really do. But we're doing the best we can."
McInnis explained his appearance on Fox News, when anchor Neil Cavuto labeled him the "Tea Party candidate", as a "misunderstanding", reminding the group that he was being interviewed via satellite from Denver, unable to see the on-screen graphics and completely unaware that Cavuto would be talking about -- much less, over hyping -- his grass roots support.
"We called them after the interview and said, 'Wait a minute, where did you come up with that?'" McInnis said.
Given that Tea Party groups across the country have proven their ability to make noise and, in some cases, affect the outcomes of elections, it's no surprise that establishment Republicans like McInnis are reaching out to them publicly. And, in describing his friendship with Texas Gov. Rick Perry, the nation's leading advocate for state's rights, McInnis was genuine and effective in conveying his conservative credentials. But, speaking to a group that desires almost total ideological purity, McInnis was unable to satisfy everyone in the audience.
"My concern is that while Scott talks about his record, his record is mixed in my view," said Linda Hoover. "I want to trust him. I want to consider his candidacy seriously and make an informed decision when the time comes."
Hoover, who leads the Southeast Metro 9.12 Group, asked McInnis to take the 50-question Independence Caucus survey, a questionnaire of 50 yes or no questions that takes measure of where congressional candidates stand on the issues that matter most to conservatives.
"It's not something that gives them any wriggle room, but there is a questionnaire that allows the candidate to explain their positions," Hoover said. "It's a very clear record of where candidates stand on the issues, fiscal responsibility primarily -- and it's very helpful to voters like us. When they don't want to do it, it tells me that they aren't comfortable taking a stand on our issues."
McInnis explained that he's refused to take the survey because it's aimed at congressional candidates and because it's so black and white that it might obscure his true positions on more complex issues.
"I've got a record that's 22 years long from my years in the state legislature and then in Congress," McInnis said. "I think that speaks for itself. What I like to do is reach out as much as I can to as many people as I can so they can make an informed decision. But the decision's theirs."
"That perception is out there," said Nikki Mata, a Centennial Tea Party activist who attended Wednesday night's meeting at the Southglen Library. "I think that this was an important step tonight, to reach out to 9.12 groups and Tea Party groups and to be accessible and he was very accessible."
McInnis spoke off the cuff for more than 90 minutes, taking questions from anyone in the audience who had one. Most of the questions centered on policy: water rights, health care, illegal immigration and the role of government. But a few people in the audience asked McInnis directly about his December appearance on Fox News, which laid the seeds of discontent among the grass roots, and his apparent reluctance to accept their invitations to sit down, which has deepened it.
"We get 30 or 35 invitations a day to meet with different groups," McInnis told the audience. "I wish we had time to get to all of these people. I really do. But we're doing the best we can."
McInnis explained his appearance on Fox News, when anchor Neil Cavuto labeled him the "Tea Party candidate", as a "misunderstanding", reminding the group that he was being interviewed via satellite from Denver, unable to see the on-screen graphics and completely unaware that Cavuto would be talking about -- much less, over hyping -- his grass roots support.
"We called them after the interview and said, 'Wait a minute, where did you come up with that?'" McInnis said.
Given that Tea Party groups across the country have proven their ability to make noise and, in some cases, affect the outcomes of elections, it's no surprise that establishment Republicans like McInnis are reaching out to them publicly. And, in describing his friendship with Texas Gov. Rick Perry, the nation's leading advocate for state's rights, McInnis was genuine and effective in conveying his conservative credentials. But, speaking to a group that desires almost total ideological purity, McInnis was unable to satisfy everyone in the audience.
"My concern is that while Scott talks about his record, his record is mixed in my view," said Linda Hoover. "I want to trust him. I want to consider his candidacy seriously and make an informed decision when the time comes."
Hoover, who leads the Southeast Metro 9.12 Group, asked McInnis to take the 50-question Independence Caucus survey, a questionnaire of 50 yes or no questions that takes measure of where congressional candidates stand on the issues that matter most to conservatives.
"It's not something that gives them any wriggle room, but there is a questionnaire that allows the candidate to explain their positions," Hoover said. "It's a very clear record of where candidates stand on the issues, fiscal responsibility primarily -- and it's very helpful to voters like us. When they don't want to do it, it tells me that they aren't comfortable taking a stand on our issues."
McInnis explained that he's refused to take the survey because it's aimed at congressional candidates and because it's so black and white that it might obscure his true positions on more complex issues.
"I've got a record that's 22 years long from my years in the state legislature and then in Congress," McInnis said. "I think that speaks for itself. What I like to do is reach out as much as I can to as many people as I can so they can make an informed decision. But the decision's theirs."
