DENVER – Republicans may be the ones lining up Wednesday in Boulder for a presidential debate, but activists are the ones trying to steal the show.
Progressives, immigrant-rights advocates, marijuana-legalization supporters, pro-choice groups and environmental activists are just some of the sideshows ahead of the Republican debate in Boulder at the University of Colorado.
Left-leaning ProgressNow Colorado installed two 14-foot puppets in the streets of Boulder of Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio, who are expected to participate in the main debate Wednesday evening. ProgressNow hopes to call attention to the “corrosive influence of money in politics” by highlighting contributions from industrialists Charles Koch and David Koch.
Likewise, Colorado pro-choice advocates are using the added attention to encourage candidates to shift away from pro-life talking points. In addition to speaking with the media, NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado is mobilizing students from Denver and Boulder to rally behind a pro-choice message.
“One of my messages to candidates is to ... rethink their positions. Right now, I don’t see any of the GOP candidates being in touch with that majority viewpoint in our country,” said Karen Middleton, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado.
Meanwhile, immigrant-rights advocates say the GOP has no chance of winning next year if the party doesn’t embrace immigration reform. Latino leaders are organizing a large rally Wednesday on the CU-Boulder campus to launch a voter-registration drive.
“‘My Country, My Vote’ will remind these same politicians that immigrants, their loved ones and their allies are voters, and are ready to demonstrate their political power,” said former Denver Mayor Federico Peña, who is leading the immigration-reform rally.
The conservation world is hoping that hopefuls will talk about how to manage and protect open spaces in a state that treasures its outdoors.
“Our natural heritage is under ongoing attack ...” said Michael Reinemer, spokesman for The Wilderness Society. “Ideologues are attacking bedrock conservation laws.”
And any national debate in Colorado is likely to include a marijuana discussion after the state in 2012 became the first to legalize cannabis. The National Cannabis Industry Association is inviting out-of-state reporters to visit a dispensary and speak with marijuana leaders.
“The upcoming debate will focus on jobs and the economy,” said Taylor West, deputy director of NCIA. “Yet these (marijuana) businesses ... still find themselves forced to operate without bank accounts and subject to crippling federal tax rates that can be double or triple those of any other business.”
pmarcus@durangoherald.com
