Clean politics and basic decency are under attack in Colorado

[angka]

I just received this -- looks pretty interesting.

--begin forwarded message--

Dear Friend,

If you're getting this message you're probably a Democrat. You might not be. It doesn't matter. This email isn't about party politics. It's about something even more important.

You might be a big-D Democrat or you might not not be. But you're almost certainly a small-d democrat. You believe in and respect open government, clean politics, and basic decency in the public realm.

Clean politics and basic decency are under attack in Colorado, from a group called Trailhead. Trailhead, bankrolled by five and six figure checks from wealthy donors, is launching round after round of false, malicious "robo-calls" all across the state, targeting 10 competitive districts held by Democratic legislators. Robocalls are cheap and easy to do, and Trailhead has enough money to launch a lot of them. They already have. We know they want to continue.

Democrats have always contested Republicans, and Republicans have always contested Democrats, in the realm of ideas and they always will. That's small-d democracy, and it's a good thing.

But blatant falsehood is something else, something beyond the pale. Trailhead continues, in conspiratorial tones, to accuse Democratic legislators of taking "secret payments." There simply are no "secret payments," and Trailhead knows this.

What Trailhead is doing is beyond the pale. They need to be called to account for it.

Fortunately, Colorado law has a way to call groups like Trailhead to account. Section 1-13-109 of the Colorado Revised Statute says: "No person shall recklessly make...any false statement designed to affect the vote on any issue submitted to the electors at any election or relating to any candidate for election to public office."

That's the law, and it's the job of Colorado Attorney General John Suthers to uphold the law. Suthers has been asked to investigate whether Trailhead's conduct violates Colorado Revised Statute 1-13-109. But without even undertaking a serious investigation, his office summarily dismissed the matter.

This Thursday, April 13, ironically, Suthers will speak in Denver about "Importance of Compliance with our Campaign Laws - A Matter of Public Trust."

There can be no public trust if the attorney general does not enforce the law. And there can be no healthy democracy without public trust that laws will be upheld.

WE NEED YOUR HELP.

We need to demonstrate strongly and visibly that Coloradans, regardless of party affiliation, will not stand to have their laws disregarded with impunity.

HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO.

This Thursday, April 13, join us at a rally to demand that the Attorney General properly investigate Trailhead's vicious attacks:

WHAT: Rally to demand investigation of Trailhead group

WHERE: Outside the Colorado History Museum, 1300 Broadway, central Denver

WHEN: Thursday, April 13, 12:00 PM

WHO: Citizens for Integrity in Government

CONTACT: [e-mail]

You don't need to bring anything. We'll have signs and handouts to make our point known. You'll lend strength to our call for the law to be upheld simply by showing up. If you can come, please let us know by emailing [e-mail]

Please help us spread the word. Tell your friends. Tell anyone you know who's tired of mud-slinging in politics. Write a letter to your local paper. Keep the pressure on Colorado's attorney general to do his job and uphold our laws.

Thank you,

Citizens for Integrity in Government

--end forwarded message--