Richard Disney

Nevada Assemblyman Ty Cobb Jr. was elected in the very conservative District 26 by claiming to be a staunch conservative. By endorsing Senator John McCain in his candidacy for President, Ty Cobb is not sustaining a conservative reputation. Senator McCain has been on the Democrat side of many debates including amnesty for illegal aliens, not sustaining the Bush tax cuts and the “Gang of 14″ in the U.S. Senate. The action that proves John McCain is not conservative was initiating and promoting for the McCain-Feingold legislation which is among the most blatantly unconstitutional legislation ever passed.

Ty Cobb was once my opponent during the District 26 primary election which he won handily. I have supported him on some occasions such as when he cast the only vote against the Democrat Nevada Assembly Speaker in 2007.

One must judge people, not by their words but by their actions. Unfortunately, Ty Cobb’s actions in endorsing Senator John McCain and hosting a wine-tasting event for him here in Reno, Nevada, indicate a willingness to disregard the First Amendment to the Constitution just as when Cobb took a position against ballot initiatives during his District 26 Assembly campaign.

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is as follows (emphasis mine):

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

What part of “Congress shall make no law” does John McCain not understand? And does Ty Cobb Jr. understand that endorsing McCain does not make one appear to be conservative?

People are people and it is amazing how much like high school state and national politics are. Leadership IS influence and those who crave political office crave influence over all. Derogatorily, people say that politics is Hollywood for ugly people. That is changing because it seems to win an office now, one has to be better and better looking. It does seem that image is becoming much more important than substance in the continuing evolution of politics.

The term “statesman” is not even used as an obtuse term in legislative bodies any more. The herd mentality prevails and one dare not stray unless he wants to endure the verbal beating of his own party and the press. In the midst of this verbal beating is Ty Cobb, once my opponent in the District 26 primary, he has made a vote that I would have made had I won. I too would have voted against a Democrat Nevada Assembly Speaker. I too agree with Ty Cobb in his vote and support his perspective.

I hope that Ty Cobb sticks to his guns when it comes to votes, not so ceremonial.