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October 12, 2010 in Opinion
Editorial: McMorris Rodgers capable of tough job
U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers would like a fourth term in Congress, and Democrats in the 5th District aren’t putting up much resistance. They threw their support behind little-known candidate Clyde Cordero in the primary, but he was defeated by Daryl Romeyn, who is best known for forecasting the weather on local TV stations. He gave up that profession a while back and is now a full-time organic farmer. However, when it comes to the important issues in this race, he is partly cloudy. Romeyn is sincere in his quest to join Congress, but too often his response to questions is: “Again, I don’t have specifics.”
Romeyn lobs the tired “career politician” label at McMorris Rodgers but says the district’s best-ever representative was Tom Foley – and we don’t disagree – but Foley was as entrenched as it gets. Romeyn correctly notes that a representative’s task is to listen, learn and legislate, but it is a candidate’s task to get past the first step in formulating his own ideas. We’re not sure who he was listening to in making trail breaks in national forests a centerpiece of his campaign.
McMorris Rodgers cruised to victory two years ago in a difficult year for Republicans. That’s very likely to happen again, but that doesn’t mean she should not be challenged on her ideas and accomplishments.
She has bemoaned the toxic atmosphere in Congress ever since joining in 2004. Sadly, it has gotten worse. She is a part of the Republican leadership team (and the only woman), and would presumably remain there if the GOP takes control of Congress. She could be well-positioned to help the district in such areas as preserving the mission at Fairchild Air Force Base, transportation, trade and agriculture.
But such power carries a duty to reach across the aisle on tough issues that will require bipartisan consensus. Reining in long-term deficits is chief among those challenges. McMorris Rodgers has shown promise in building relationships with Democrats. She points to her work (against the party’s wishes) on setting humane standards for disciplining special-needs children in schools.
We don’t agree with her on social issues such as abortion and gay marriage, but she hasn’t pressed those issues in office.
She correctly notes that the budgeting process in Congress is broken, because there are no limits on borrowing and spending. She acknowledges that Republicans haven’t followed through on their appeals to restraint, which is why they took their lumps in the 2006 and 2008 elections.
Her message is to give Republicans another chance. It looks like they will get it, but she needs to do her part as a party leader to squelch the acrimony with Democrats and tea party activists before realistic solutions to some very big fiscal issues are resolved.
McMorris Rodgers is the easy call in this race, but her task will be formidable.
Trudy Rubin: Egyptians say no to Islamists 
sowinso on October 12 at 7:17 a.m.
She has a child with Down Syndrome, so the best evidence you have that McMorris Rodgers is capable of rising above the party line is her efforts to benefit her family while in office?
Are you saying that if she were engaged in graft you’d say, “Hey, but Fairchild is here, so it’s OK!”
schleufer on October 12 at 8:25 a.m.
she is the party of no. voting for her will just assure boehner and his bunch will continue then doing things like voting against obama even tho they have been for it or even if it was a republican idea. boehner stood out on the floor and pleaded for a yes vote for the bailouts then turns around and blames obama for his failed policies. he will continue doing this and she will continue standing next to him.
if you want to know what she is going to do back in washington if she gets reelected dont ask her just ask boehner.
sks519 on October 12 at 8:58 a.m.
Cathy McMorris Rodgers does not work with Democrats except to take credit for things that Democrats do or to take the stage alongside Democrats when they offer the invitation, which they do out of respect for the people in her district. And she doesn’t push her social issues in Congress? What do you call being the Honorary Chair and Congressional liasion for the most anti-choice movement in the nation (Susan B Anthony List) specifically working to train youth on how to spread the anti-choice message? Cathy has no more ability today than the day she was elected but because of the lack of women in the Republican Party, she’s become her caucus poster child. It’s embarrassing and sad that all these people give her credibility she simply doesn’t deserve. The only thing sadder is that she and her Republican Tea Party have caused an economic crash and a caustic political climate that keeps more prominent sane and capable people from running against her.
hawken on October 12 at 9:31 a.m.
Oh Yes!!!…. that’s what we need in this ongoing, no end in sight…. depressed economy!
Daryl Romeyn…
1- A “full-time organic farmer” who is still groping around, like a man in the dark, looking for some ideas! Now, just 21 days before we cast our votes!
2- Another clear thinking Democrat whose priority is “…making trail breaks in national forests the centerpiece of his campaign!
Maybe Romeyn could get part of the $850 Billion Stimilus diverted to building trails breaks in the Colville National Forrest…. that would produce…. what? …. maybe 10 jobs?
Naaa, maybe not….
After deep contemplation of this serious question,,,, I think those kind of Forest Service jobs are actually done by “volunteers” and seasonal employees…
I am sure they are seasonal jobs, at least…. After all, who could build trail breaks with six feet of snow on the ground?
It will be very interesting to see how many votes he actually gets in November! That will reveal more about the voters than it will about Daryl Romeyn.
I will be watching this with “bated breath!”
Some may not know this….. “Bated Breath” is…. Breathing that is subdued because of some difficulty.
That Mr. Romeyn is even on the ballot….. let alone backed by the Democrat party…. does cause me some difficulty in breathing…. Not to worry, I will recover quickly.
Diana on October 12 at 9:33 a.m.
SR editors cite McMorris-Rodgers’ accomplishment: “She points to her work (against the party’s wishes) on setting humane standards for disciplining special-needs children in schools.”
Got anything else? Does the birther-bagger Representative say anything other than complaining about Washington DC or take credit for accomplishments that aren’t hers?
misjustice on October 12 at 9:39 a.m.
She’s NEVER had a bill that she “authored” or “sponsored” get passed. So much for being a legislator.
BobW on October 12 at 10:04 a.m.
The problem with McMorris-Rogers, especially as a key member of Republican leadership, is that she is a staunch supporter of big business, as big business is of her. But big business is busy working on their bottom line and, as we have seen over the past decade or more, the best thing they can do to enhance the bottom line is to ship jobs overseas and replace American workers with cheaper foreign labor.
So, in spite of their rhetoric about wanting to create jobs, it runs counter to their relationship with big business.
If the economy is going to recover and produce jobs, it will be without the support of the Republican Party.
duckinspokane on October 12 at 6:53 p.m.
No surprise the S-R is endorsing McMorris Rodgers. She’s had almost 6 years to do something, anything, for the 5th District. What has she done? What real accomplishments can she point to as showing her leadership in Congress?
Daryl Romeyn’s centerpiece of his campaign is and has been fixing the broken economy. His natural leadership, expertise, and love of the outdoors can and does play a role in that, but he intends to actually legislate when in office.
ChefGus/ John Olsen on October 14 at 9:50 a.m.
It seems she is not “Capable” of doing the “tough job” of having a one hour debate with a weather forecaster …. she is but a bit of window dressing for the white guys in red ties and $500 shoes… good grief… gus