10
Loading video...
By James Bickerton
News Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Lauren Boebert has come under fire from Democratic challenger Adam Frisch who branded her "ineffectual at home, ineffectual in D.C." ahead of a visit to the Colorado district she represents by President Biden on Wednesday.
Biden is due to visit CW Wind, a major wind tower manufacturer, in Pueblo, where he will argue that "Bidenomics is mobilizing investments in clean energy manufacturing," according to a White House press statement.
Speaking to Newsweek, Frisch, who described himself as a "conservative Democrat", was critical of the President's economic agenda stating: "Bidenomics means inflation." He alleged that Boebert, who he will challenge for a House seat in 2024, is part of an "angertainment" industry that is unable to work on a bipartisan basis to get legislation passed by Congress.
Read More
Joe Biden and Lauren Boebert Exchange Blows in Colorado3 min read
Lauren Boebert’s Dolly Parton Tribute Sparks Backlash4 min read
Joe Biden Taking Fight to Lauren Boebert’s Backyard4 min read
Frisch said: "One of the big themes is she's [Boebert] making all these headlines and she's become a national figure that has zero to do with a single legislative achievement that she has. It's all about her angertainment aspect of her time in D.C. and that's why there's such an opening for someone.
"People are just exhausted and they feel left out by a lot of the conversations that are happening on Twitter [now X] and cable news networks and, I would argue, on the extremes of both sides.
"They're just looking for someone to focus on the district's needs, take the job seriously, don't get sucked into a bunch of national issues."
Referencing Boebert's difficulty getting her proposed legislation into law, Frisch said: "She made it very clear last year that the reason she was 0 for 39 with proposing bills is that she was in the [House] minority, and once she gets in the majority, she'll become this wonderful legislature of wonderful accomplishments.
"And now we have, almost a year later, and there's nothing to show for it from her. And to me, I think she is very consistent. She is ineffectual at home, she's ineffectual in D.C., she's ineffectual in the minority and she's ineffectual in the majority."
Newsweek has reached out to Representative Lauren Boebert's office for comment by email.
The Republicans gained a House majority at the 2022 midterm elections, though their internal divisions have already cost one Speaker his job, whilst Democrats retain a wafer-thin Senate majority.
Frisch said that if elected, his focus will be on getting legislation passed and becoming "a top five bipartisan member of Congress," stating: "I've no interest in having conversations about team red versus team blue. My conversation is 85 percent around Team Colorado and 15 percent around Team Chaos. This is a district that I think has a registration [of] around 22 percent D[emocrat], 42 R[Republican], and 45 independent and we got 49.9 percent of the vote so we did a pretty great job with respect to building this pro-normal party coalition."
In November 2022, Frisch lost out to Boebert in Colorado's third congressional district by 546 votes in an unexpectedly close campaign. He is seeking the Democratic nomination again to challenge the incumbent Republican, and, if successful, a rematch would likely be one of the highest-profile House battles of 2024.
Frisch expressed concern about the Biden administration's policies impacting inflation, which he said is "90 percent of the focus if not more" of economic discussion in his district.
"There's all sorts of great data points that are showing different aspects of the economy: how they are getting better in a lot of ways. But people are being hammered by how much everything costs. With respect, Bidenomics means inflation, so I don't know why anyone would want to be pro-inflation and that's why a lot of things are happening.
...
"In the conversation about the global aspects of inflation, yes, without a doubt this inflation is a global issue but nobody, including me, cares how much the price of a pretzel costs in Munich. They care about healthcare, childcare, trying to get their rent paid, their mortgage paid, keep their kids in school. They care [about] the cost of their insurance for health. These are the issues.
"I appreciate there's a conversation about some type of big investment in renewable energy, which is all great, but again, I go back to why we make it harder to produce energy in the United States let alone in Colorado, let alone in western Colorado. You still have an administration and people you see begging Venezuela and Saudi Arabia and Iran to produce more oil and natural gas.
"I also appreciate there's a big investment in trying to bring technology jobs home. The problem is those jobs are not going to be created for five or ten years and, for the vast majority of people in the country, there's a 98 percent chance they're not going to be created in their district."
In a statement sent to Newsweek, in response to Frisch's comments, a spokesperson for Boebert's campaign said: "Congresswoman Lauren Boebert has been the most effective legislator from the Colorado House delegation this session, with five of her bills focused on local issues like rural economic development and oil & gas production making it through the House and 65 of her amendments also clearing the chamber.
"She has also secured nearly $20 million in funding for water and infrastructure projects in the 3rd District, which came as a result of her work to reform a previously corrupt earmark system. Her opponents will continue to try and deceive 3rd District voters, but the fact is that Congresswoman Lauren Boebert has been the most effective House legislator from Colorado in 2023."
Update 12/1/23, 3:49 a.m. ET: This story has been updated with comment from Rep. Lauren Boebert's campaign team.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines