An Ill-Advised Meeting

The Gazette has all but buried a report on page 4 of today's Metro section of a meeting called by Greg Garcia, El Paso County Republican chairman.

Republican elected officials in El Paso County will meet in private Saturday to discuss the "predatory press" in the wake of a television report that showed District Attorney John Newsome drinking alcohol and then driving.

Party Chairman Greg Garcia announced the meeting in an e-mail Thursday to elected officials that was obtained by The Gazette.  Garcia said the e-mail "was not meant for public scrutiny" and he wouldn't discuss it because The Gazette declined to identify who forwarded the e-mail.

The e-mail said:  In light of the recent immoral and unethical reporting by KOAA about our outstanding district attorney, John Newsome, I would like to invite you to an hour-long meeting on Saturday, May 10, from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at party HQ to discuss and brainstorm the issue of predatory press.  What has happened to John could happen to us all."

This is a public relations nightmare.  One of the complaints that Republicans should have is about how quickly the press buries stories of Democrat misconduct.  Now, Greg Garcia has handed the Denver papers an excuse for doing just that.

The fact is that John Newsome screwed up in a way that in an earlier election has handed over the office to a Democrat.   You can't put lipstick on that pig and make it look good. 

KOAA did the party a favor.  It is much better to know that there is (or was) a problem long before an election.  Given enough time, elders can decide what, if any, action should be taken.  If KOAA meant to harm the party, the way to do it would be to wait and have it be an "October Surprise."

Just the act of calling this meeting has very likely lost the party votes in November.