Piñon Post

Far-left Dem who praised conservative censorship now has egg on her face

2 Comments / New Mexico, News, Opinion, Politics / By

When it comes to state Rep. Liz Thomson, hypocrisy doesn’t register on her scale, especially if it means bashing conservatives.

Over the years, Thomson has been one of the most stalwart supporters of banning and censoring conservatives on many platforms.

In 2021, Thomson applauded 45th President Donald J. Trump getting banned from Twitter and suspended from Facebook, writing, “Let’s go all the way and hope for an ‘FBI Ban’!”

She also applauded other conservatives being banned, writing, “Ban the losers forever!”

But now, as the streaming platform, Hulu has banned certain content promoted by Democrats at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Thomson is now crying about so-called censorship.

Thomson shared a Washington Post article about it, writing, “Censorship pure and simple.” 

Many chimed in to call out Thomson’s blatant hypocrisy. 

Piñon Post’s John Block wrote, “but she was happy [when] President Trump got banned from Twitter … NOW she cries “cEnSoRsHiP.’” 

Another person wrote, “So, it’s a business decision not the government censoring, so it’s not censorship (like @twitter censoring Trump) argument is no longer valid? Is it just because it’s happening to Democrats?”

“You’re the biggest hypocrite I have ever met,” wrote another Twitter user.

One person wrote, “This [clown] is constantly calling to ban trump supporter[s] but cries when he[r] echo chamber gets shut down!” 

But the Democrats’ Hulu ads ended up being accepted at the end of the day, with changes to wording that went with the streaming platform’s guidelines, as reported by the Washington Post, which Thomson shared. However, the far-left lawmaker continues to cry “censorship” despite having egg all over her face from her shameless hypocrisy. 

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Bedonie responds after Stop MLG PAC files ethics complaint

9 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Thursday, it was announced that Stop MLG PAC, a political action committee associated with a Republican Party of Santa Fe County Vice-Chairman Brett Kokinadis, filed an ethics complaint against Republican-turned Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Karen Bedonie over “unlawfully coordinated independent expenditures.” 

The complaint also targeted “Private Persons of New Mexico,” a group that is purported to have paid for advertisements, including billboards but does not have registration with the State of New Mexico as a political committee. 

According to Stop MLG PAC:

The candidate has posted on her individual and campaign’s social media other works similar to the Billboard and signs marked as “Paid for By Private Citizens of New Mexico” (“PCNM”), indicating that the candidate’s committee has potentially:

1) Coordinated with Private Citizens of New Mexico in the production of the advertising materials or;

2) Created the advertising materials for Private Citizens of New Mexico or;

3) The candidate’s campaign committee is operating as Private Citizens of New Mexico and attempting to conceal the true and unreported funding source for paid advertisements or;

4) Coordinated with Private Citizens of New Mexico in the production and paid placement of advertisements and collateral.

“Dark money has no place in New Mexico or politics. Ensuring compliance and remaining transparent and honest with voters is required by law and is every candidate’s responsibility. Like Governor Grisham, Karen Bedonie demonstrates that her campaign believes it is excluded from complying with state law.”, Kokinadis said.

Kokinadis continued, “Bedonie’s campaign appears to be operating under her official committee and with the support of coordinated dark money under the unlawful Private Persons of New Mexico label, potentially to conceal funding sources. Voters are entitled to know who’s funding Bedonie’s campaign.”

The complaint alleges that the Independent Expenditure is unreported, unlawfully coordinated, and attempts to conceal the true identity of the responsible person(s) and funding sources. The PAC told the Piñon Post its case in under preliminary review with the Commission.

Following the complaint and requests for comment submitted by the Piñon Post, Bedonie posted a statement on social media. It reads, in full:

​​Today, we are faced with another carpetbagging attempt to drive fear, tarnish and impede the people’s campaign by wanting to control our dedication to our New Mexican life. The will of this stunt is to stop the only conservative candidate in the race. This highlights the underlying mission of the infiltrated Republican Party. The STOPMLG organization and PAC (controlled and misrepresented by transplant Kokinadis) are peculiarly aligning to stop the only true New Mexican candidate that can beat the incumbent. His organization should stop lying and rename it STOPBEDONIE. 

Let this statement dismiss accusations of “Dark Money” being used to support the Bedonie Campaign based on the simple respect of the First Amendment of the Constitution. It is with great appreciation and enjoyment that I congratulate you on the execution of your FREEDOM and LIBERTY to show your dedication and inspirationtional acts of your beautiful American voices the best way you see fit. 

The criminalization of such acts of FREEDOM shall now take foreground and the accused will now fully realize the dirty hands of the players of their Republican Party of New Mexico. You have done nothing wrong. Rest your worries and know, they can not take my candidacy based on exercising your constitutional right(s). 

This complaint launched as well as the support of the salivating media shows the willingness to silence the “will” of the people and your voices. If this complaint is entertained, let them try to weakly criminalize every New Mexican that chooses the First Amendment from the private proclamations, to the youth who lovingly designed the media in question, to the children who use their allowances to paint rocks. There is no difference, your voice, big or small, matters. Do not let them discourage you. You are the PEOPLE. With all my spirit and confidence, onward we will move. 

The complaint can be read here.

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Otero County unanimously declares itself a pro-life sanctuary

4 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Thursday, the Otero County Commission passed a resolution on a vote of 3-0 to declare itself a sanctuary county for the unborn.

The resolution reads, in part, “That the Board of County Commissioners of Otero County, New Mexico, hereby recognizes and declares the full humanity of the preborn child through all [stages] of life up and until a natural death and declares Otero County, New Mexico, to be a sanctuary for life where the dignity of every human being will be defended and promoted from life inside the womb through all stages of development in life up and until a natural death.”

“[T]he Board of County Commissioners of Otero County, New Mexico, hereby resolves to enforce this resolution by all means within its power and authority, in accordance with its responsibility as the people’s elected local representatives,” it concluded.

There were many individuals in the audience who spoke regarding the resolution. Local conservative activist with LEXIT, Ben Luna, Piñon Post editor and NM House District 51 Republican nominee John Block, and other members of the community supported the resolution. 

One woman spoke of how she killed her child in an abortion before she saw the horrors of the procedure. She said she only knew what was truly happening when she worked at an abortion facility and one of her friend’s babies was aborted. She saw the foot and ankle of the dead baby and realized the humanity of the babies in the womb.

Some pro-abortion individuals, many of them claiming to be atheists, opposed the resolution, while others tried to twist the words of the Founding Fathers to further their arguments. 

The Otero County Commission also considered election integrity resolutions. This article will be updated once information on the passage of these has happened. 

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Otero County Commission to vote on pro-life sanctuary, election security items

7 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Thursday, the Otero County Commission will meet to request the approval of multiple resolutions. 

One resolution will call for Otero County to become a “sanctuary for the unborn.” The proposed resolution reads, in part, “That the Board of County Commissioners of Otero County, New Mexico, hereby recognizes and declares the full humanity of the preborn child through all [stages] of life up and until a natural death and declares Otero County, New Mexico, to be a sanctuary for life where the dignity of every human being will be defended and promoted from life inside the womb through all stages of development in life up and until a natural death.”

It adds, “That the Board of County Commissioners of Otero County, New Mexico, hereby resolves to enforce this resolution by all means within its power and authority, in accordance with its responsibility as the people’s elected local representatives.”

Another resolution proposal by Commissioner Couy Griffin will request that the Legislature “Prohibit the Use of Ballot Drop Boxes,” give more transparency in machine tabulator processes, “Allow Counties the Option to Hand Count Ballots,” and “Provide County Canvassing Boards the Authority to Use Discretion When Certifying Elections.”

Griffin’s proposed resolution reads that “faith in our election process is essential to the functioning of our Republic,” while “doubts about election integrity threaten to tear our nation apart and dissuade participation in our electoral process.”

Every government official should support these measures because they are intended to strengthen the security of our elections and restore the trust of the electorate in the election process,” the Griffin proposal concluded.

Fellow Republican Commissioner Vickie Marquardt proposed a similar version of the election integrity resolution that, in addition to Griffin’s points, requested Voter ID, “efficient” removal of inactive voters on voter rolls, and added absentee ballot chain of custody security measures.

The Marquardt resolution concluded, “[It] is the desire of the Board of County Commissioners of Otero County to improve both the actual security of elections and the perceived security of elections in order to restore and maintain the faith in our election system.”

Piñon Post editor and Republican nominee for New Mexico House District 51 said, “I fully support the County Commission in its efforts to protect the most vulnerable babies in the womb from being brutally killed in abortions. I remain 100% pro-life from conception to natural death.”

Regarding the election integrity measures, Block said, “We should never again allow our elections to be stolen from the people of the United States — especially New Mexicans. I will proudly carry legislation that has been requested by the Otero County Commission to secure elections by removing ballot drop boxes, ending ballot harvesting, limiting unsecured absentee voting, implementing Voter ID, cleaning up our voter rolls, and doing away with these tabulator machines once and for all.” 

The Commission will meet at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 14, 2022, in the commission chambers to discuss the proposed resolutions. 

Otero County Commission to vote on pro-life sanctuary, election security items Read More »

Despite MLG doubling down on abortion support, Archbishop won’t deny her Eucharist

21 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

This week, pro-abortion Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has doubled down on her support for radical abortion up-to-birth policies. She signed an executive order harboring fugitive abortionists who flee to New Mexico from extradition. She then met with Joe Biden and fellow Democrat governors to promote pushing the Biden regime to perform abortions at Veterans Affairs hospitals, Indian Health Service facilities, and military bases, calling such a plan an  “effective vehicle.”

Also last week amid the pro-abortion extremism from the Governor, Piñon Post chief and Republican nominee for New Mexico House District 51, John Block, sent a letter to Archbishop John C. Wester of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. The letter requested that Lujan Grisham, who claims to be a Roman Catholic, be denied the sacrament of Holy Communion due to her abortion stance.

Block noted how the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) “affirmed and reaffirmed over the years, ‘The threat of abortion remains our preeminent priority.’ I take the USCCB seriously when it states abortion is its preeminent priority, as I am sure you do as well.”

In 2021, the USCCB passed a teaching document by a vote of 222-8 reading, “It is the special responsibility of the diocesan bishop to work to remedy situations that involve public actions at variance with the visible communion of the Church and the moral law.”

With regard to the application of these principles to Catholics in political life, then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, wrote to the U.S. bishops in 2004 explaining the approach to be taken:

Then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI), as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, wrote to the U.S. bishops in 2004 what actions were to be taken against pro-abortion politicians regarding the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist:

 “… when a person’s formal cooperation becomes manifest (understood, in the case of a Catholic politician, as his consistently campaigning and voting for permissive abortion and euthanasia laws), his Pastor should meet with him, instructing him about the Church’s teaching, informing him that he is not to present himself for Holy Communion until he brings to an end the objective situation of sin, and warning him that he will otherwise be denied the Eucharist. When ‘these precautionary measures have not had their effect … ,’ and the person in question, with obstinate persistence, still presents himself to receive the Holy Eucharist, ‘the minister of Holy Communion must refuse to distribute it.’”

Block wrote in the letter that Lujan Grisham’s support for abortion up-to-birth policies, including assisted suicide “are directly responsible for the killing of innocent children and terminal patients in New Mexico, which are contrary to Church teachings throughout the centuries. If the state will not bring justice for these innocent lives lost at the hands of Lujan Grisham and the Radical Democrats, it is at the very least the Church’s responsibility to hold them accountable within its power.”

He then asked for the Archbishop to deny the pro-abortion politician Communion, writing, “These actions should mirror, if not be more punitive, to those of San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, who has denied pro-abortion U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi the sacrament of Holy Communion in his diocese. Recently, my bishop, Peter Baldacchino of the Diocese of Las Cruces, denied pro-abortion state Sen. Joseph Cervantes (D-Doña Ana) Communion after his vote for S.B. 10, so there is precedent in New Mexico for this important action.”

“Our faith is the only thing we have left. It is what has carried the Church through centuries of persecution and toil, and it is what will carry us through today. If the Church refuses to stand firm now on this bedrock principle to save the most vulnerable, then our faith is lost,” he concluded.

Wester, however, did not agree. In response, he wrote that he would not deny the rabidly pro-abortion politician Holy Communion, writing, “I will not deny the governor Holy Communion since I agree wholeheartedly with Cardinal-designate Robert W. McElroy’s article in America magazine in which he outlines three compelling reasons for not withholding Communion to Catholic pro-choice politicians.”

The reasons from the liberal cardinal-designate included those who seek to deny the Eucharist based on the grave sin of killing a child in the womb are “weaponizing” it. Another reason is that “we are all sinners,” and therefore, “Who of the faithful can claim such an ideal?” The last reason given is because of Pope Francis’ statement, “The Eucharist is not a prize for the perfect but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the weak.”

However, ingesting the Eucharist while living with unrepentant sin, will cause sickness and death. I Corinthians 11:27-30 reads:

“Whoever eats the bread and drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord. A person should examine himself, and so eat the bread and drink the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are ill and infirm, and a considerable number are dying.” 

The Archbishop concluded in his letter, “These three points are only some of the many reasons that this question of withholding Holy Communion is quite complex.  For example, it is not always easy to determine formal cooperation in evil, remote material cooperation or proximate material cooperation.  In addition, intention is always an important factor in determining whether an action is sinful or not.  A given politician may believe that by remaining in office he or she can do more to work toward ending abortion than by leaving office.  Another might believe that by working to attenuate poverty, a huge driver of abortions, he or she could be effective in lessening the number of abortions in America.”

It appears Wester is attempting to justify Lujan Grisham’s support for abortion due to supposed policies she may be supporting to help end poverty and other issues.

However, the Rev. Fr. Larry Brito of St. Anne Parish in Santa Fe told the Santa Fe New Mexican regarding Lujan Grisham’s pro-abortion stance, “[S]he has already excommunicated herself by her extreme gross support and promotion of the murder of unborn children. I pray that she may have a change of heart and that she may receive the full graces of the Catholic Church. Salvation and lives are at stake.”

Despite other members of the clergy taking the killing of babies in the womb seriously by withholding Holy Communion from the likes of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) and state Sen. Joseph Cervantes (D-Doña Ana), there will be no recourse for Lujan Grisham’s grave promotion of abortion. Wester likely was one of the eight bishops who voted against a resolution attempting to remedy situations involving pro-abortion Catholic politicians. 

Until now, New Mexicans have not gotten a clear answer in Archbishop Wester’s own words on this subject matter until Block’s letter.

Despite MLG doubling down on abortion support, Archbishop won’t deny her Eucharist Read More »

Ronchetti breaks his silence on U.S. Supreme Court abortion decision

12 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Friday, the Republican nominee for governor Mark Ronchetti broke his silence on the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling, which overturned the pro-abortion Roe v. Wade.

He released the following statement:

Today’s Court ruling paves the way for a measured dialogue on the issue of abortion that will save lives and should result in policies that are more mainstream and reflect our shared values.

The Governor has taken an extreme position on abortion, out of step with most New Mexicans, in believing that abortion should be unrestricted – all the way up to the moment a child is born. This has made New Mexico the late-term abortion capital of North America and does not reflect our values.

While I am pro-life, governors cannot act alone and any changes to our laws will require collaboration and agreement with the legislature. As Governor, I would seek a middle ground with our legislature that ends the practice of late-term and partial-birth abortion that the current Governor supports. I believe permitting abortion up to 15 weeks and in cases involving rape, incest, and when a mother’s life is at risk is a very reasonable position that most in New Mexico will support regardless of party affiliation. This will end the barbaric practice of late-term abortions. I will also strongly support policies that provide support to expectant mothers and their unborn children.

He added:

I am pro-life and believe abortion should be rare. Governor Lujan-Grisham supports abortion up to the very moment a child is born. Her position is extreme and does not reflect our values. It’s time to end the barbaric practice of late-term abortion in New Mexico.

Pro-abortion Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham wrote following the statement, “Today, a new generation of women will be forced to face a future where they cannot seek safe, legal abortions. We have long feared this moment and I’m going to continue to fight like hell to ensure every New Mexico woman has access to reproductive health care.” 

The governor added in another statement from her official gubernatorial account that she thinks women will now be “second-class citizens” because they don’t have the right to kill their babies protected on a national level.

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As pro-lifers rejoice Roe’s fall, MLG promises to ‘fight like hell’ for abortions

12 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the 1973 decision Roe v. Wade and the 1992 decision Planned Parenthood v. Casey were overturned in a shocking 5-4 decision.

Following the game-changing ruling, New Mexicans responded to the news.

Piñon Post editor and GOP nominee for House District 51, John Block, wrote:

As a pro-lifer and as a human of morals, seeing the deadly Roe v. Wade decision overturned marks one of the most important moments in our nation’s history. From helping women find life-affirming options on the sidewalk outside of Planned Parenthood abortion centers to fighting hard to stop pro-abortion bills in our Legislature, all of our hard work has finally paid off in a tangible way.

But the fight in New Mexico has only just begun. Radical Democrats are hell-bent on killing as many precious unborn babies in our state as possible, which is why we must fight hard against their agenda of death. As the next representative for New Mexico’s House District 51, I will sponsor bills to protect life from conception to natural death, and I will continue to work tirelessly to stop anti-life bills. 

What an amazing day for the right to life in our Country, and may God continue to give us strength as we work to restore a culture of life in New Mexico.

Pro-abortion Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham wrote, “Today, a new generation of women will be forced to face a future where they cannot seek safe, legal abortions. We have long feared this moment and I’m going to continue to fight like hell to ensure every New Mexico woman has access to reproductive health care.” 

The governor added in another statement from her official gubernatorial account that she thinks women will now be “second-class citizens” because they don’t have the right to kill their babies protected on a national level.

Far-left U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico’s First  Congressional District wrote, “The extreme and dangerous decision by SCOTUS this morning sets the clock back on human rights and gender equality by decades.”

She added, “While abortion remains safe and legal in New Mexico—this decision will block people across the country from receiving care. The time for the Senate to act is now! The time to organize is now!”

Fellow far-left U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez of New Mexico’s Third Congressional District wrote, “Abortion is SAFE AND LEGAL in New Mexico. The Supreme Court just voted to take away women’s autonomy and end Roe v. Wade. This is an unprecedented unraveling of the right to bodily privacy and choice”

She continued, “New Mexico codified abortion access in 2021 when @GovMLG signed SB-10 and removed a 1969 law that criminalized abortion. 26 states may quickly ban abortion, and 13 will implement trigger bans. New Mexico expects an influx of patients who will need this lifesaving care. We must do everything to ensure they get the care they need. Congress must codify the right to choose under law.”

Pro-life advocate Elisa Martinez wrote, “Today, a new generation of women will have the right to be born.”

“RPNM applauds this momentous ruling and the Court’s realization that we must protect the sanctity of life,” said Republican Party of New Mexico Chairman Steve Pearce following the opinion. “The decision is in the best interest of America, and the high court’s Justices have fulfilled their duty to protect the lives of the unborn and to abolish the horrors of abortion. Abortion is wrong on moral grounds, and I and everyone who stand for life am pleased at the outcome in this important ruling.”

As pro-lifers rejoice Roe’s fall, MLG promises to ‘fight like hell’ for abortions Read More »

‘Political newbie’: MLG gets desperate as Ronchetti takes polling lead

8 Comments / New Mexico, Politics / By

On Saturday, scandal-ridden alleged serial groper Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s team sent out a panicked email ruthlessly bashing Republican gubernatorial nominee Mark Ronchetti with personal attacks and falsehoods.

The campaign claims Ronchetti, who is a political moderate, is a “far-right extremist who wants to bring MAGA values to New Mexico,” despite Ronchetti distancing himself from President Donald Trump.

Her team then went on to claim his policy positions are radical, brandishing him as “wishy-washy on climate science” and as someone who “wants to stall environmental action.” 

The Lujan Grisham campaign then hit him with a personal attack that also doubles as an attack on political outsiders running for office, writing, “And, he’s a political newbie with no public service experience – just like Donald Trump.”

She did not, however, lob this attack on people like U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), or other politicians in her own party who never held elected office before running.

“We need your help to show the GOP that New Mexico is NOT up for grabs,” the campaign wrote, referencing a KOB 4 poll showing Ronchetti trailing Lujan Grisham by a mere four points.

But most startling, this week, the Ronchetti campaign released an internal poll claiming it was leading the embattled governor by one point with 46% to Lujan Grisham’s 45%. According to the numbers released, the poll has a margin of error of four percentage points. 

Lujan Grisham also began attacking Ronchetti on television, using a Democrat ex-police chief to claim the GOP nominee, who is a former television weatherman, doesn’t know how to fight crime. Crime rates have hit their highest peaks in New Mexico under Lujan Grisham, especially in Democrat-run Albuquerque, where homicides have hit historic highs.

Libertarian gubernatorial nominee Karen Bedonie, a former Republican, is also in contention for the governorship.

‘Political newbie’: MLG gets desperate as Ronchetti takes polling lead Read More »

Piñon Post’s John Block wins GOP primary for NM House seat

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On Tuesday, Piñon Post editor and founder John Block of Alamogordo won the Republican primary for New Mexico’s 51st state House seat, defeating two-term incumbent state Rep. Rachel Black. Block got 1,540 votes (51%) to Black’s 1,494 (49%). The margin of victory was large enough not to go to an automatic recount.

Despite being outraised and outspent in the race, Block, who is running an America First campaign, organized hundreds of small-dollar grassroots donors and knocked on countless doors, with the help of volunteers, to earn the primary win. 

Block’s campaign focused on stopping Critical Race Theory in New Mexico schools, working to lower gross receipts taxes, protecting the right to life, and working to fix the border crisis by finishing President Donald Trump’s wall and banning sanctuary cities for criminal aliens.

After securing the win, Block wrote, “I am overwhelmed by the incredible support of Alamogordo. Tonight, we showed that we can bring change to our district.”

“Through our hard work and a lot of support, I am happy to say that with all precincts reporting, our America First campaign is victorious! I look forward to the General Election ahead, and I am blessed by all the support. I thank God for each and every one of you and our great city of Alamogordo,” he added.

In the race, Block raised $30,833.68 from mostly all small-dollar donors, while his opponent raised $39,445.00, nearly all from lobbyists and politicians, not including money she carried over from her previous campaign account. Black spent $42,698.05 while Block spent $26,659.94, according to filings submitted to the Secretary of State’s Office.

Block will go up against Democrat SharonLee Cummins in the November General Election. Block has the endorsement of President Trump’s U.S. Ambassador to Germany and former acting Director of National Intelligence Richard “Ric” Grenell. He also has support from the Oil & Gas Workers Association, Sandoval County Commissioner Jay Block, Lea County Sheriff Corey Helton, Calibers gun store owner Louie Sanchez, former lt. governor candidates Isabella Solis and Anise Golden Morper, as well as GOP state treasurer nominee Harry Montoya and GOP secretary of state nominee Audrey Trujillo.

Piñon Post’s John Block wins GOP primary for NM House seat Read More »

‘Revictimizing a child’: Dow, Block respond after Ronchetti’s scorched earth attack

16 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Mark Ronchetti, a Republican candidate for governor, recently sent out a mailer and aired a television ad making untrue claims about state Rep. Rebecca Dow (R-Truth or Consequences). The attacks from the Ronchetti campaign make claims regarding a lawsuit involving a sexual predator who assaulted children at a daycare, AppleTree Education Center, which Dow helped found.

In Ronchetti’s television ad and mailer, he claims Dow “promoted” the pedophile and then “bullied” the victim’s family. Despite Dow being cleared of all wrongdoing whatsoever in the case, Ronchetti, whose campaign is being run by scorched earth political consultant Jay McCleskey, appears to be weaponizing the child’s trauma for political gain. McCleskey is known for his “win at all costs” tactics, resulting in even lengthy litigation where he has paid hundreds of thousands to candidates he defamed.

“The only truth this ad revealed is that Mark is willing to do or say anything to gain power,” said Dow. “By revictimizing a child in his false ad he’s trying to score cheap political points at the cost of making that child relive one of the worst moments of his life. I was not involved in the day-to-day functioning of the Boys and Girls Club as a member of the Club’s board. To suggest that I enabled this horrific event is slanderous and beyond insulting as somebody who has dedicated their life to protecting children and helping them reach their fullest potential.”

Even fellow Republican candidate, Sandoval County Commissioner Jay Block, who is critical of Dow, spoke out against Ronchetti’s attack that went too far, despite his disagreements with the state representative. 

“For Mr. Ronchetti, and of course Jay McCleskey — you know that evil guy — for them to do this over a Memorial Day weekend, is just… there’s no honor in that, Mark and Jay. You have no honor doing that to not just Mrs. Dow, but the family that has to relive this event over and over again because you sent that out and you did that for political gain. And you should be ashamed of yourself for what you did. That’s something I would expect from MLG,” referring to Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

“And when you sit there and you actually talk and lie to everybody about uniting the party, you’re full of you know what,” he added. You and Jay McCleskey are destroying the party and you are destroying the lives of many people that you are hurting, including by the way — look up a gentleman named Scott Chandler, a great American, who Mr. McCleskey by the way had to pay $400,000 in a defamation lawsuit.” 

Dow dispatched a new television advertisement responding to Ronchetti’s latest attack, with Dow saying: 

I’m Rebecca Dow and I approve this message.

It’s shocking how blatantly dishonest Mark Ronchetti will be to win an election.

His claims are false and slanderous, as I’m sure a judge will agree.

I’ve dedicated my life to helping children learn and grow, serving on dozens of children’s charity boards.

Mark Ronchetti knows I had no direct involvement in this incident.

But he’s so desperate for power he’s willing to use abused children and their families for political gain.

That is inexcusable.

The primary election is on Tuesday, June 7, and early voting goes through this Saturday, June 4.

‘Revictimizing a child’: Dow, Block respond after Ronchetti’s scorched earth attack Read More »

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