The piece comes at the end of a week of bad headlines for the Governor, including increasing costs to her disastrous privatized Medicaid program, illegally appointing judges, a sexual harassment scandal, and an ethics hearing. Iowans will have to keep their seatbelts fastened – there’s no telling what could come next from Reynolds’ ethically challenged campaign.
“Once again, Governor Reynolds can’t seem to pull out of this pattern of bad weeks,” said Iowa Democratic Party Chair Troy Price, “The problems with Governor Reynolds’ campaign reflect the problems with her performance as governor, she puts partisan political games ahead of Iowa values every chance she gets. It’s time to get a new pilot for this plane.”
Excerpts from the article can be found below:
CEDAR RAPIDS GAZETTE: Reynolds’ jet hits turbulence
“Somewhere high above a patchwork quilt of Iowa farmland, a borrowed corporate jet streaks across the sky. Inside, Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds’ advisers chart strategy.
‘Come on folks, we’ve got to put a happier face on this Medicaid fiasco. I want ideas.’”
“‘We’re getting the hang of this,’ a strategist argues. ‘Just hang on and hang in there, Iowa.’
‘Managed care — we’ve got this,’ another says. ‘And you’ve got care, probably. Hopefully. Someday.’
‘Your reimbursement may be running late, but a magazine says we’re the best state!’ a consultant suggests.”
“At that moment, the cockpit door opens, abruptly, to reveal a young campaign staffer, pale as a ghost.
‘Does anyone know how to fly this campaign?’ the staffer asks, voice quivering.
‘Whaddya mean fly? We’ve got pilots. We borrowed this jet from a casino mogul. Or was it a workers’ compensation executive? Or maybe it’s an ethanol plane. I lose track. Anyway, we’ve got rich guys with jets and pilots on speed dial, kid.’
‘No,’ the staffer says. ‘This time we borrowed a jet from a private Managed Air Organization. Instead of pilots, they left a ‘Flying for Dummies’ book in the cockpit. And they just denied our mayday. Paperwork error, apparently.
‘They did leave us a huge bill. Also, they’d like a raise.’
‘This campaign is losing altitude,’ a strategist screams.”
“Their attacks mixed with Reynolds’ own affinity for wealthy donors and the platinum-plated public policies they crave — tax breaks, lax regulations and pricey incentives. It’s the governor who looks out of touch to many Iowans without jets. The resulting sludge of high-grade hypocrisy gums up the turbines. A load of Trumpian baggage is weighing down the craft. Tariffs, lies and gaffes have jammed up its flaps.
‘We’re not going to make it to the bowl game,’ an aide screams.
‘Maybe,’ the young staffer interjects, ‘Instead of attacks and spin, we could land this jet, level with voters and substantively explain how we’re going to fix these problems. We could run on performance instead of personality.’
‘You better grab a parachute. Politics ain’t for you.’”