State Rep. Liz Pike, R-Camas, and Republican Clark County Councilor David Madore.
With Tuesday’s election just a few days off, Clark County Councilor David Madore is bracing himself for what could be another long, uncomfortable night.
Madore, you see, is heading the campaign to write in Liz Pike for county council chair. He spent $300,000 to try to get himself elected chair, but voters rejected him in the primary. Now he’s spending a ton of money trying to get Pike — a state representative — to win the seat.
Why?
Come on! Do I really have to say it out loud?
But things aren’t going according to plan. Although anything can happen on Election Day, Pike is fighting an uphill battle.
So now Madore is pulling out one of the oldest political tricks in the book. When you can’t run successfully against your opponent, run against the media. He’s telling his followers to stop reading us.
Look, I think the entire concept of shutting off information is silly. Simply because you might disagree with what we write, or with my opinion, we’re not the enemy. And even if you wrongly believe we are, Councilor Madore, have you not seen “The Godfather?”
“Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.”
Stay informed
If you look closely at the criticism leveled against us, you’ll note something is missing: facts. Rarely will those critics argue we’ve gotten something wrong. When people criticize me, it’s mostly a “there he goes again” critique. But what they refuse to acknowledge is I’m going again because Madore is going again. This stuff isn’t being made up.
When I commented on the idea that Madore pushed hard to have Pike run as a write-in candidate, that’s simply a fact. When I commented on Pike first saying “no” to this write-in campaign, then changing her mind as long as she didn’t have to campaign, that’s simply a fact.
And when I commented on Pike’s voting for Madore when he ran for county chair and her political alignment with Madore, those are simply facts.
Not reading The Columbian or this Press Talk column will not change those facts.
The good out there
So what about this charge that I’m against Republicans? That’s silly, of course, but it’s part of the Madore playbook to rally his troops. Truth is, I respect plenty of Republicans. Let me name a few of the local ones: U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, state Sen. Ann Rivers, county Councilor Jeanne Stewart, Washougal Councilor Brent Boger, county council candidate Julie Olson, state Rep. Paul Harris, community activist Carolyn Crain, Vancouver city Councilor Bill Turlay, county council chair candidate Marc Boldt, former county Sheriff Garry Lucas, Auditor Greg Kimsey, county Clerk Scott Weber and Assessor Peter Van Nortwick.
Like me, they don’t always get it right, but they are fair and reasonable community members. Some of these good Republicans are beginning to speak out against Madore. Others are working behind the scenes to try and make things better.
All voices are important
Unlike Madore — who calls us a cancer on our community and wants to silence the voices he disagrees with — I would argue to let all the voices be heard. I would encourage you to read Madore’s Facebook page. And I would encourage you to read the right-wing bloggers he and Pike embrace and who regularly criticize me. Their voices matter and should be heard.
In this great country we protect the speech we don’t want to hear. If Madore gets his way, the voices that make him uncomfortable would be silenced.
So Madore has spoken volumes in this election. Now it’s the voters’ turn to speak. Will they again send a message to Madore by not supporting Pike? And if they do, will Madore finally get the message?
I’m hoping the best for our community.
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