In a recent column in AZ Central, EJ Montini expressed misgivings that supporters of Paul Gosar can be persuaded to abandon support for him with little things like the truth.
To prove this assertion, the columnist cited another video produced by the Republican Accountability Project that showcased three of the Arizona House Congressional District (CD) Four Representatives siblings. In this presentation, the Gosar siblings said that their brother deserves to shoulder much of the blame for the election denialism that sparked the January 6, 2021, Trumpist Domestic Terrorist Insurrection at the Nation’s Capitol.
AZ Blue Meanie reported on this video on April 2, 2021.
This is not the first time the siblings of Mr. Gosar have come out against him. In the 2018 and 2020 election cycles, they ran ads against him and endorsed his Democratic opponents.
Unfortunately, Mr. Montini thinks the demographics of CD Four favor a fringe reactionary that is devoted to outlandish conspiracy theories.
The AZ Central Columnist wrote:
“The good people of that sprawling district (Gosar’s CD Four) include a large majority of the most conservative Republicans in Arizona. Or anywhere else.”
“Given that, I’d guess that the citizens who have kept Gosar in office (by near 70 percent of the vote) would not dispute a single damning accusation made by the congressman’s siblings. Only instead of condemning him for them, they’d praise him.”
“For example, Gosar’s sister Jennifer says, “There is no one member of Congress more responsible for the attack on the Capitol than Congressman Paul Gosar…”
“…A majority of the voters in Gosar’s congressional district would probably be proud of that, if true.”
“And when Jennifer and her two brothers, Tim and David, say that Gosar “pushed the baseless conspiracy theory” that Dominion Voting Systems were switching votes from Republican to Democrat, the voters who support their brother would most likely agree with that baseless conspiracy theory.”
“If the siblings of Gosar want to discredit their brother I’m afraid they’ll have to resort to something other than the truth.”
Should Democrats be dismissive of all Gosar supporters because they have chosen to subscribe to the CD Four Representative’s fringe views?
Delina DiSanto does not think so.
The 2020 Democratic CD Four Nominee and 2022 Candidate for the same seat agrees with the content of the Montini column but expresses hope that it is possible over time to reach and connect with some of the Gosar supporters.
She commented:
“EJ Montini’s article in AZCentral regarding the video that Paul Gosar’s siblings had done recently with the Republican Accountability Project is straight on. Paul Gosar’s voting base would never condemn him for his accusations. The reasons why? Because they have been fed lies and conspiracy theories from him and from Trump. They have been fed that to be a patriot and “get our country back” you have to listen to them because they’re telling the truth and you can’t trust the media, or Democrats, or anyone who says anything against them. They instill fear, not patriotism or democracy.”
“The way to reach the people in Congressional District Four and sway them is to reach out to them by radio, TV, mailings, and town events. We need to partner with celebrities, sports personalities, and other professionals who will be included in the media and events. I’m talking about reaching out to the Republicans, not so much Independents or Democrats. We need to consistently point out how conspiracy theories and lies create chaos. How separating our country is not the answer to the struggle and suffering they are going through each and every day. We need to point out that jobs, education, healthcare, broadband, infrastructure are primary for the district. Let them know we don’t want civil war; we don’t need to fight. It will take a team and a message that will move them. Republican voters in CD Four are not stupid; they are misinformed and fearful their future is being mishandled and their rights being taken away. The GOP politicians are making sure Republican voters continue to believe these lies. They are spending lots of money to spread this misinformation. We have to be ready for initial failure and learn quickly from it and continue driving our message of hope and a better future. They are Americans and they deserve respect and the truth.”
Delina DiSanto is right on three counts.
The people of CD Four, including the Gosar supporters, deserve respect and the truth.
She is also right that it will take time to change their hearts and minds after being fed lies and more lies from Gosar and other members of the Trump Zone, Fox Island, and Disinfowars.
Finally, she is correct that Democrats will have to continually reach out and offer a forward-looking socioeconomic program that will appeal to most CD Four constituents.
Will she and the other Democrats be able to sway all the Gosar supporters by 2022?
No.
That does not mean they should not start the work now to chip away at that support and hopefully build backing for a forward-looking program that can deliver defeat for Mr. Gosar in 2022 (if he is not in jail by then) and deliver victory for a nominee that can serve the people of CD Four with skill, a devotion to their needs, and strong character.
This district’s boundaries are ludicrous and a good argument against “communities of interest”, as opposed to competitiveness. When a district sprawls from Pinal and Gila Counties all the way to Hoover Dam and all the way down to just North of Yuma, it is ludicrous. There are too many blind voters and all Gosar has to do is wave a gun around and claim he is for “gun rights” to get too many to vote for him. Any even-handed index has this district consistently 15 points more Repub. I admire the effort, but the structure is against it. Of course if he retires it could be a free for all primary as when the equally ludicrous Trent Franks.won a 5 way primary with only 20% of the vote. But I am sure Gosar’s fellow non practicing dentist Regina Cobb would have ambitions for it. Don’t get me wrong, they both should be out of office, but structurally it is almost impossible.