The recent Republican candidate debate in the 4th Congressional District was by all accounts devoid of meaningful content but notable for its full menu of hypocrisy.

There was Lauren Boebert, carpetbagging over to District 4 to avoid being beaten by the Democrat she’d criticized for carpetbagging in her home District 3. State Rep. Richard Holtorf, a rabid anti-abortionist, came to the event having just disclosed he’d paid a girlfriend to have an abortion because, according to him, it would help her “live her best life.” Holtorf was the guy who dropped a gun on the steps of the Capitol while running to cast a vote in 2021.

He wasn’t the only irresponsible gun owner in the lineup. Just the week before, Rep. Mike Lynch was pressured to resign as House minority leader for hiding the fact he’d been arrested for driving with a blood alcohol level twice the legal limit and with a loaded pistol in his pocket.

Moving to a possibly higher level of criminality, was former state Sen. Ted Harvey, under scrutiny for running a “scam-pac,” taking in political contributions but spending more on salaries and operating costs than campaign activities. Also known as stealing.

Another candidate, Justin Schreiber, didn’t make it to the debate stage, busy defending himself against felony charges for stalking police officers. When asked who among them had been arrested, six of nine candidates on stage raised their hands to the applause of the audience.

There you have the modern Republican Party.

Herb Bowman

Durango