In a story by The Daily News, “Democratic poll finds Herrera Beutler vulnerable in 3rd District” (March 22, The Columbian), a spokeswoman for Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, commented: “We’re puzzled as to why the Democrats would want to release a poll that shows their candidate 20 points behind, but no poll is going to change Jaime’s approach to her job.” No surprise, that.
Of course they’re “puzzled.” Such transparency is an unsettling concept to them, especially when the facts in play might be perceived as less than favorable. And of course, nothing is “going to change Jaime’s approach to her job” — not even a poll that shows the growing number of her constituents who are disinclined to support her.
Her exasperating cookie-cutter responses to folks begging her to engage in something other than knee-jerk partisan thinking is not going to change. Her refusal to hold real public meetings instead of “phoning it in” is not going to change. Her money-dependent relationship with the National Rifle Association and her apparent cluelessness about climate issues are not going to change. I think it’s time for a change.
