In a letter to Senator Susan Collins, former New Mexico GOP whip Earlene Roberts says that BOG nominee Mickey Barnett has “engaged in ‘Jack Abramoff’ style politics here in New Mexico”. Roberts went on to suggest that “Mr. Barnett’s questionable political activities… make him unfit and unqualified for public service”.

The following article from Joe Monahan’s New Mexico Politics blog is reproduced here with permission of the author:

MICKEY’S MINDERS
Ex-Rep. Roberts
As they promised, former NM legislators Earlene Roberts and Ron Godbey have gone public in their efforts to thwart the White House nomination of ABQ GOP lawyer-lobbyist and former NM GOP National Committeeman Mickey Barnett as a governor of the U.S. Postal Service.

Roberts, who lost her seat when a breakaway faction of the GOP led by Barnett fielded a primary foe against her, let loose in a letter to GOP Maine Senator Susan Collins who chairs the Senate Homeland Security Committee which must pass on the Barnett nomination.

“Mr. Barnett is a paid special interest lobbyist. In his work for his private clients, he has practiced the politics of personal destruction and intimidation. This has included threatening state legislators with primary opponents when they do not vote for his legislation even if it requires voting against their constituents or the Republican Party platform.”Blasted Roberts, the former House Minority Whip of SE NM.

And ex-Bernalillo county State Rep. Ron Godbey, who ardently opposed Barnett and GOP Guv Johnson when they advocated legalizing drugs, is also on the warpath.

“Mr. Barnett has ignored my request to voluntarily withdraw his name for consideration from the Presidential appointment to the Postal Service. I’ve contacted former legislators familiar with Mr. Barnett’s chicanery. Eight (for sure) have agreed to come on board with letters to the Senate committee opposing Barnett’s confirmation.” Scalded Godbey from his new home in Texas.

Mickey did not respond to an e-mail seeking comment.

The well-know lobbyist and former NM state senator may have reason to worry about his White House appointment. The ex-legislators point out that confirmation by the senate is not a no-brainer and that several nominees in recent years failed to make the cut. Hearings have not yet been scheduled.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2006
Not for reproduction without permission of the author

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 5th, 2006 at 4:40 am and is filed under BOG, Politics, postal. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.