Phony Otter Image Angers RRepubs

The Reagan Republicans were miffed last week when a young Elephant posted on their Facebook wall a photoshopped picture of Gov. Butch Otter, President Barack Obama and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. The three men appeared to be walking hand in hand. This, under a headline, “Turn Idaho Blue” and above a caption, “Support Obama, Give to Otter.” It seems photoshopper Ethan Crisp considers Republican Otter damaged moderate goods because Christie will appear at a $1,000-per-couple fundraiser for the governor in Coeur d’Alene on Dec. 6 – Christie, after all, praised Obama for relief help after Hurricane Sandy hit. Crisp’s photoshopping drew a rebuke from Reagan Repub President Jeff Tyler, who reminded him of President Reagan’s 11th Commandment for the GOP: Speak no ill of fellow Republicans. A commandment that the Reagan Republicans and their PR arm, Strategery, ignored in nonpartisan local races involving their uberconservative endorsees and moderate Republicans such as Councilwoman Deanna Goodlander and school trustee Christa Hazel. Do as I say, not as I do? /DFO , Sunday Huckleberries. More here.

Other SR weekend columns:

• Smart Bombs: Retirement benefit flies away /Gary Crooks
• The Slice: A 1963 day that tested our very limits /Paul Turner
• Interest in Idaho Secretary of State job mounting /Betsy Russell
• Real-time updates will tell you your street isn’t getting plowed /Doug Clark
• Outdoors: Forest Service plans peg potential wilderness in Idaho /Rich Landers
• Idaho Rep. Mark Patterson’s factual fluidity not doing him any favors /Shawn Vestal