I stand corrected. I was sure that Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Camas, was not a mugwump (mug on one side of the issue and wump on the other) since she had proclaimed in a March 5 telephone town hall that she would have a hard time turning her nose up at all the jobs that would otherwise go to Canada if we didn’t build the coal and oil terminals here in Southwest Washington.
Now I learn from The Columbian’s May 5 front page story “Herrera Beutler pulling in donations” that she has not taken a position on the oil terminal. You could have fooled me, and apparently she did fool Tesoro and BNSF Railway’s political action committees, since they each contributed to her campaign funds. They must have thought she was on their side, only to find that she’s on the side of truth, justice and the American way. I wonder if they can get a refund.
Her opponent Bob Dingethal, a Democrat, has a clear statement in opposition to the Vancouver oil terminal on his campaign website. Is Herrera Beutler with him on this issue or against him, or is this another one of those issues that needs a “serious discussion,” i.e., serious double-talk?
Meanwhile, her other opponent, Republican Michael Delavar, has taken no stand on the oil terminal … another mugwump?
