Paton: AZ citizens need to learn to live with less

by David Safier

Jim Nintzel of the Weekly has a way of asking follow up questions when a politician utters a sound byte, pursuing the glittering generality until the pol is forced to place it in a real world setting.

Jonathan Paton was Nintzel's latest victim. Paton, who generally has great political instincts, found himself featured in The Skinny with foot planted deeply in mouth. In other words, Nintzel got Paton to utter the truth, which is often a problem for politicians, and especially those like Paton whose lofty pronouncements have little to do with reality.

The subject was earmarks. Paton is against them. And Gabrielle Giffords is portrayed in Paton's Scarps (definition: attack pieces written by Daniel Scarpinato) as the Queen of the Earmarks. Well, maybe she's only the Maid in Waiting to Queen Pelosi, but you get the picture.

So the question is, if Paton is elected, will less money come home to Southern Arizona because he won't ask for money for our military bases, local governments or local non profits?

At first, Paton told Nintzel we would get more money without earmarks.

I guess Nintzel wouldn't let him get away with that patent absurdity.

[Paton] backed away from that argument earlier this week.

He concedes that if he has his way, Arizona can expect less from the federal government, because federal spending overall needs to be reined in, and citizens need to learn to live with less. [bold face added]

There's your stump speech, Jonathan — and your bumper sticker, and your lawn sign, and your billboard.

"Vote for Paton and learn to live with less!"

What more do voters need to know?