Dems launch Web site that picks on governor

Thursday, July 31, 2008 | 2:35 p.m.

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Democrats launch site targeting conservative group

The state Democratic Party has launched a Web site asserting that Jim Gibbons is “America’s Worst Governor.” That they feel this way is not surprising; what is startling is that Web address –- www.americasworstgovernor.com -- was available for purchase.

The party has cobbled together multiple press clippings documenting some of Gibbons’ gaffes, including the tax scandal he’s now embroiled in over a piece of property he owns in the Elko area and what Democrats have labeled text gate, referring to how he sent hundreds of text messages to a female friend.

“Everything is documented, because we couldn’t make this up – obviously,” said Travis Brock, the executive director of the Nevada Democratic Party, in a conference call this afternoon with reporters.

Web visitors who click under the governor's photo will see a Gibbons quote pop up, some infamous, others possibly out of context.

Users can also pose possible text messages to Gibbons; the party will select their favorites to post on the page.

Gibbons is not up for re-election until 2010, though Republicans seeking election to the Legislature this year will have their hands full.

Brock said the Democrats are targeting both this election cycle and 2010.

“Gibbons is clearly tied to the Republican brand,” Brock said.

Gibbons’ spokesman, Ben Kieckhefer, said the Web site demonstrated that Democrats are more concerned with attacking Gibbons than on offering solutions to the state’s problems, including the budget shortfall.

“If they have such a poor, low opinion of the governor, I find it amusing that they have been following in lockstep as he leads the state through the biggest budget crisis in their history,” Kieckhefer said. “So it would be nice to see some solutions instead of complaining.”

Discussion: 3 comments so far…

By DavidMorgan

7/31/08 at 5:45 p.m.

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Gibbons staff like Ben Kieckhefer reminds me of that scene in the movie "The Last Picture Show" as the town's much beloved mentally handicapped kid tries to sweep the town's sidewalks clean in the midst of a 60 mph dust storm.
By Elaine

8/1/08 at 5:51 p.m.

Suggest removal

I am from Illinois, and I thought WE had the country's worst governor (he has an approval rating of only 13 percent) until I found this story.

Our guy has done just about everything yours has -- questionable appointments, questionable fundraising, multiple FBI investigations, calling pointless special sessions, refusing to live in the governor's mansion (though not for the same reason), blatant political patronage hiring, screwing up the state budget, alienating members of his own party (he's a Democrat) -- except for the text message thing and running around with other women (at least in public). Legislative leaders have publicly called him a "madman" and a "sociopath" and there's been open talk of impeaching him.

However, he's had 5 1/2 years (he's in his second term, unfortunately, and isn't term-limited) to accumulate that kind of record while your guy has done it in less than half the time. Congratulations!
By R_Linn

8/2/08 at 10:35 a.m.

Suggest removal

Don't the state's Dem leaders have more to worry about than launching websites attacking Gibbons? You know what, if the people don't like the job he's doing, they'll vote him out of office in two years. Get a life 'Rats.