Heather Wilson, Karl Rove Appear Together Despite Scandal History

WASHINGTON -- Democrats quickly jumped on news that Republican New Mexico Senate hopeful Heather Wilson attended an event with Karl Rove, noting that the pair share some ugly pages in the chapter on the Bush administration's U.S. attorneys scandal.

Wilson showed up at the El Paso County Republican Party's Lincoln Day dinner in Colorado Wednesday, where Rove and she both spoke.

“Heather Wilson's decision to campaign with Karl Rove shows that nothing has changed since she was named one of Congress' most corrupt members by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington in 2007," said Shripal Shah, with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

During the 2007 investigation into whether the team at the Bush White House (including Rove) ordered the politically motivated firings of several U.S. attorneys, Rove alleged that then-Rep. Wilson asked him to boot New Mexico federal prosecutor David Iglesias because he moved too slowly in a case against a Democrat.

Wilson denied Rove's claims, but Iglesias also said at the time that Wilson pressured him directly. Wilson only admitted to calling Iglesias for an update.

The scandal prompted Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington to file complaints over the behavior with the House ethics committee and name Wilson one of the most corrupt members of Congress.

"She still epitomizes the Republican culture of corruption to the fullest and her ties to one of Washington’s darkest scandals is a glaring reminder of how she’ll always put her political interests first," Shah said. "No wonder Democrats and Republicans are so opposed to her candidacy. She's clearly not the kind of leader New Mexico wants in the Senate.”
Indeed, Wilson has attracted opposition from some conservatives.

A call to Wilson's campaign for comment was not immediately returned.

Wilson lost the GOP primary for Senate last year in a race ultimately won by Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) She faces a primary again in the contest to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Jeff Bingaman.

Comments

[Sherifah Rafiq Lobo]

04:13 PM on 06/09/2011

Wilson is out but we got some people serving in our gov who clearly need to be sweep ed out the door right now.

I've seen some of the most retarded, pointless news on ABQ tv and more important news is completely ignored.

Come on New Mexico. We can do better.

Specialist Adam Jarrell, the only African American in a unit of 216 soldiers of the New Mexico Army National Guard, told Reuters on Tuesday that his complaints to superiors were not only ignored, but resulted in increased harassment.

"It's dangerous when the only people you can count on are the people hanging nooses outside your room, telling you they hate you because you're black," said Jarrell, 23, a Sheriff's deputy in Hobbs, New Mexico, who has been with the National Guard since 2006. He arrived home in New Mexico a year ago.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/07/us-soldier-racism-new-mexico-idUSTRE75674C20110607

[kizzie]

07:24 PM on 06/07/2011

I sure hate to see Bingaman retire. Udall is the best NM has. I give up if Wilson gets in. Every time I e-mailed her on the issues, she always sent the Repub general reply letter. She did nothing fot the good of our nation or our state.

[Fez]

11:21 AM on 06/05/2011

If Heather Wilson is elected to the Senate, the Republicans likely will end up with a majority in the Senate. Wilson is one evil creep who did nothing in her 10 years in Congress but bring shame to New Mexico. That stunt she pulled with Pete Domenici in trying to bully David Iglesias into indicting some key Democrats was despicable and it will be shoved down her throat every day until the 2012 election. The only donation I will make in 2012 will be to Martin Heinrich to make sure that Heather Wilson spends more time with her family.

[phylsboutique]

08:35 AM on 06/05/2011

As a proud, New Mexico Democrat, I can tell you, Heather Wilson WILL NEVER SERVE AS A NM SENATOR AND WILL NOT BE ELECTED TO THE US SENATE! She was a disaster when she served in the house and New Mexicans will never forget Wilson being named "one of the most corrupt members of congress" under the Bush/Rove admin.

[ken607]

10:12 PM on 06/04/2011

if he wasnt a liar a cheat and a terrible human being id still not respect him. a truly dispicable person!

[camelias and sweet tea]

08:03 PM on 06/04/2011

What will he do without his Mentor Lee Atwater?

[Core-Sample]

03:58 PM on 06/04/2011

You could feed the homeless with all the fat in his neck.

[Grabit]

06:50 PM on 06/04/2011

Imagine if he devoted his rear end to the cause.

[Help USA Taxpayer]

07:46 PM on 06/04/2011

not if barney shows up, appetizer for one

[Core-Sample]

05:50 PM on 06/06/2011

Imagine if all creeps like this devoted their lives to good will.

[nfatt1]

02:50 PM on 06/04/2011

Wilson seems to be the ideal Republican candidate, she fits the profile.

[JBaker]

02:37 PM on 06/04/2011

Rove achieved power for GW through successive campaigns of homophobia. Without the massive campaign to terrorize the fearful fundies that gays were about to take over the universe, GW would never have won anything.

[Duppy]

02:02 PM on 06/04/2011

They need to get permission and donations

[chaya]

01:02 PM on 06/04/2011

Why won't she go away?

From this New Mexican: Heather, please just go away.

[JerriNM]

03:59 PM on 06/04/2011

She won't because she is a typical power hungry neocon

[filmworker]

02:08 AM on 06/05/2011

Isn't it convenient that Heather, Pete Dominici's illigitimate son, was able to work as a consultant for the labs and other defense contractors after she got defeated the last time? Wonder how much St. Pete had to do with that? Everything!!!

Dominici was as guilty as she was in pressuring Iglesias to go after Aragon and others. Of course he developed the debilitating brain disease and had to retire right before the investigation into his wrong doing would have found him guilty and cost him his retirement. Miraculously, he prayed (and they didn't charge him) and the incurable aliment is healed.

It also looks like Martinez is going to endorse Wilson. Two of a kind. Both bought and paid for by the likes of the Koch Brothers, the for profit pollutors, and large corporations.

[phylsboutique]

10:25 AM on 06/05/2011

Martinez and Wilson, two of a kind, you betcha!

[kizzie]

07:19 PM on 06/07/2011

I'm ABQ 2! Small world! The Journal is biased to Repubs.

[TedEjr]

12:43 PM on 06/04/2011

Interesting. Per the link in the article, the reason that Heather Wilson is opposed by Republicans is that they, the Republicans, feel that she would be another Mike Castle, who was the looser to Christine O'Donnell in Delaware. They feel that have a stronger candidate in John Sanchez.

And yet, it is generally agreed that Castle would have been the winner, the stronger candidate, in the general election, even though he lost to O'Donnell in the primary.

The logic of Republicans is mind boggling. If Heather is a Castle, then she has a good shot in the general. But, if they have a stronger primary candidate in Sanchez, will Sanchez be another O'Donnell?

Rove supported Castle, and opposed O'Donnell in Delaware. Looks like Rove is smarter than the average Conservative Republican.

[SPacific]

12:53 AM on 06/05/2011

Love their "logic"........

[TedEjr]

01:11 AM on 06/05/2011

Glad you used "quotes" around that logic.

;-)

[Estreet1964]

12:10 PM on 06/04/2011

The other night I was watching the first Indiana Jones movie. I'm thinking Karl Rove played the creepy guy in the black hat whose face melts off in the end.

[Grabit]

06:53 PM on 06/04/2011

The guy in Indiana Jones was far more interesting. Rove merely represents the alternate ending of LORD OF THE FLIES, where Piggy actually got out alive.

[Carl Caroli]

12:08 PM on 06/04/2011

The only thing that has changed is the lies that they tell.

[zendem1]

12:14 PM on 06/04/2011

Well, if you wait long enough, those tend to come back around. They usually have a new name, but they're the same ones.

[zendem1]

12:08 PM on 06/04/2011

Careful honey..you'll end up indicted and Karl will go scot free..Just ask Libby.