Idaho Governor Candidate Rammell Will Not Apologize

It all began at a local republican barbecue event. Dr. Rex Rammell, a candidate for Idaho’s governor run in 2010, was addressing the crowd. Reports are and Rammell admits that when the subject of wolf hunting, an emotional topic to say the least, came up, someone in the crowd made a comment to do with “Obama tags”. (For those who might not know, at that time Idaho was selling wolf tags, a permit to allow for the taking of a wolf in a controversial wolf hunt taking place as I write.)

Dr. Rammell expressed he wasn’t clear on exactly his response to that comment but conceded it went something like: “Obama tags? We’ll buy some of those.” Outrage from some ensued with many asking for Rammell to apologize. At a press conference yesterday, he refused.

You demand of me an apology for making an innocent comment in response to an innocent joke, when your leadership has placed Idaho in a historically precarious position. For fifteen years your republican leadership has only given us more taxes, more regulations, more government, and less freedom. Instead of being prepared for an economic crisis, your profligacy and arrogance has Idaho’s economy in dire straits.

I will apologize for my comments, when you apologize for all the pain and suffering you have caused Idaho. Senators Crapo and Risch you need to apologize for trying to turn Idaho into the Wilderness state where Idahoans are only visitors, Rep. Simpson you need to apologize for literally selling Idaho and America down the road with your support of the 700 billion dollar bailout, Phil Bait you need to apologize for idly standing by, while the federal government was dropping wolves on our big game herds in 1995, and Governor Otter you need to apologize for betraying the conservative movement.

You sir are “all talk.” Your abuse of power, as demonstrated by your veto of 35 required budget bills in order to raise taxes, proves it. And your appointment of Brad Little as Lt. Gov., heir apparent to the governorship, is unforgivable. Brad Little is one of the most liberal republicans in Idaho. He voted no less than 5 times against the marriage amendment act; an act that prevents the legalization of gay marriages.

Instead of tearing at my flesh like the political wolves that you are, over something as insignificant as a response to a jest taken out of context, why aren’t you doing something to make Idaho a better place to live. Our taxes are too high, our government is too big, there are too many regulations, and we have been exiled from our own public lands.

Dr. Rammell let those in attendance know he values the sanctity of life.

I unequivocally do not advocate anyone making an attempt to harm the President of the United States. My values hold the sanctity of life above all other.

Did Dr. Rammell really mean he would hunt down President Barack Obama? God knows his heart. You and I don’t. In all honesty, to seriously entertain the thought that Rammell was at all sincere about harming the President is disingenuous. Given the context of the moment (the discussion of wolf tags and wolf hunting) one can conclude that it was a distasteful comment that obviously has gotten him into a degree of trouble with the politically correct crowd. And yes, it may very well cost him some votes. I am also sure Dr. Rammell wishes he hadn’t of made it.

You and I can chose to move beyond that or not.

If we get beyond this and listen to Rammell’s message, we can really see the intent of those lashing out at him in attempts to discredit him and derail his campaign. Rammell is a conservative, with deeply embedded conservative principles. Real conservatism threatens the progressive movement and flies in the face of those politicians who see nothing wrong with passing laws that violate our Constitution.

Several months ago in a telephone conversation I had with Dr. Rammell, he told me that he guessed you could call him a constitutionalist because of his belief in the importance of that document.

For those looking for a real conservative, Rammell might just be the right person. If you’re looking for a seasoned politician who knows better how to play the game and say the “right” things to win votes, I don’t believe that is going to happen.

I have a dear friend I visited while in Maine this past summer. I know this person voted for Barack Obama and in one discussion we were having, I asked him why he voted for Obama and these were his words: “Because I think he’s smart and he says a lot of good things that make me feel good.”

Truth sometimes doesn’t make us “feel good”.

Rammell has a tough road ahead of him. He can chose to begin saying what will make people feel good, that will win him votes or he can stick to presenting a message you can be assured he believes in. He will always have to face the hypocrisy of the media and the double standards. There are those who will not let up until he apologizes and then they will, like a predator, rip him to shreds.

Experience will help him know better when to hold his tongue. For those in Idaho, let’s hope experience doesn’t teach him how to be a real politician.

Tom Remington