One of the more entertaining primary fights in the nation is the GOP Senate contest in Colorado. Beer executive Peter Coors is a late-entrant, taking on Rep. Bob Schaffer, a very conservative Republican lawmaker.
Early on, after Gov. Bill Owens passed on the race, Schaffer looked like he was in good shape. Owens, the state party chair, and most state GOP officials offered Schaffer their endorsement. Polls showed him trailing Ken Salazar, the Dem state attorney general, but the party seemed willing to stick with him.
That is, until a wealthy beer magnate with enormous name recognition jumped in and Colorado Republicans jumped off Schaffer’s bandwagon. Now it’s moderates against conservatives in a statewide brawl.
The first Schaffer-Coors debate was last night, featuring one very amusing exchange.
During a debate, Schaffer asked Coors if [Canadian Prime Minister] Martin was right about a trade issue with Canada.
“Paul Martin has suggested that that border be opened again and Canadian beef begin to flow into the United States,” Schaffer said. “I’m curious, Pete, whether you agree with Paul Martin on this matter.”
Coors ambled to the microphone and replied: “I don’t know Paul Martin’s whole position on this issue. I’m not sure I know who Paul Martin is.”
Oops.
I think Coors could have gotten away with saying he couldn’t comment without understanding Martin’s “whole position,” but, for whatever reason, he felt the need to expand on that answer and admit that he didn’t know who the Canadian Prime Minister even is.
Schaffer, of course, pounced.
“What I’m disappointed and shocked about is that you don’t know who Paul Martin is,” Schaffer said. “Paul Martin is the prime minister of Canada, our largest trade partner and our closest friend and ally to the north.
“When you walk on the floor of the United States Senate, friends, you need to know who the prime minister of Canada is.”
Making matters worse, Coors’ company does a lot of business in Canada and even has a trade partnership with Canadian brewer Molson Inc. The name of the country’s prime minister should at least ring a bell, especially in the context of a question about Canada.
Then again, Republican voters have already shown a fairly high tolerance for political leaders who don’t know anything about foreign leaders, so Coors may not suffer too much. Time will tell.