The Freshly Minted "Independent": Sheriff Darren White Enters NM-01 Race

Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White announced his entry into the NM-01 Congressional race on the Republican side yesterday afternoon at a news conference in Albuquerque. His spinning began immediately. This is the man who headed up the county's 2004 Bush-Cheney reelection campaign and has been one of the most vociferous defenders of all things Bush. Suddenly he's seen the light or at least decided it's politically expedient to portray himself as an "independent voice" more dedicated to doing what's right than toeing any party line. In an Albuquerque Journal article entitled "Sheriff Stresses Independence," White is quoted as saying

"Sadly, some politicians in Washington from both parties have broken the public's trust ... I will continue to call things the way I see them and (I will be) criticizing mistakes, no matter which party makes them."

What a turnaround. Here's what Democratic Party of New Mexico Chairman Brian S. Colón had to say in response to White's entry into the race:

"Darren White served as the 2004 Bernalillo County Chairman for the Bush-Cheney reelection Campaign. In serving as George W. Bush's figurehead in Bernalillo County, Darren White carried water for an administration that has spent half-a-trillion dollars fighting an endless civil war in Iraq that has led to the deaths of 3,800 brave American soldiers. Darren White defended an administration who has created the largest deficits in American history - deficits that our children and grandchildren will be forced to repay.  And he stood up for an administration that has refused to expand health care to an additional 27,900 New Mexican children whose parents cannot afford it.

"The people of New Mexico have had enough of the failures of the Bush-Cheney Administration and will reject this Bush-Cheney insider from going to Washington.  Anyone who occupied such a position as Darren White did with the campaign of the failed Bush-Cheney Administration is simply too extreme for the people of New Mexico."

Independent?
Of course hiding behind a fake "independent" mask is also a trademark of Heather Wilson, NM-01's current Rep who's running for Senate. Despite voting in support of the Bush-Cheney agenda almost every time, Wilson has long sought to portray herself as a "moderate" motiviated by doing what's right, not doing what the GOP bosses in the White House want. Clearly, White is now trying to assume that mantle. I think it's gonna be a hard sell, don't you?

As I reported in a previous post, White received the honor of being one of a handful of delegates to the 2004 GOP convention selected to officially inform President Bush of his selection as the official Republican nominee for President. Think about that. Of all the Repubs heading up Bush-Cheney reelection campaigns in the many states and counties across the country, Darren White was among the few chosen to personally inform George II that he'd secured the nomination for his second term. He's been that loyal to the Bush-Cheney agenda and the neo-con power structure.

Victory in Iraq!
White has apparently experienced a eureka moment on the Iraq occupation as well:

On the subject of the Iraq war, he said, "mistakes have been made by those in Washington." In a question-and-answer session with reporters, he added, "I'm for a course of action that brings our troops home as quickly as possible, but stays true to that mission— which is wiping out the terrorists in Iraq, and most importantly, keeping Americans safe.

Then again, you can watch him say in this KOB-TV News video that,

"We all want to bring the troops home and I will do just that but our troops must return in VICTORY!"

Darren White -- still buying into the Bush machine myths that the Iraq occupation is keeping Americans safe, that the administration has defined a clear mission there and that "victory" is possible, whatever that means. I guess his fancy new independent voice has gone missing already. Not surprising considering that White has spent many years being a vocal apologist for and booster of All Things Bush.

For previous posts about the NM-01 Congressional race, check our archive.