News > Politics > Bad Beer vs. Bad Politician

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SUNDAY JULY 25 2004 3:00 PM

Peter H. Coors, heir to a fortune built on shitty beer, is finding his campaign to take the Senate seat being vacated by Ben Nighthorse Campbell in Colorado in a bit of trouble. It's not so much because of the campaign his opponent in the Republican primary, Bob Schaffer, is running. The attacks which are hurting Coors more seem to be coming from the company that bears his family's name.

Coors's advertising, which often features scantily-clad women, has been used to attack Coors by Schaffer and other figures from the right of the Republican party in Colorado. And when Coors said he would support a constitutional amendment to outlaw same-sex marriage, the Coors Company issued a statement, and placed ads in gay newspapers in Colorado, distancing themselves from that stance. The Coors Brewing Company is fearful that Coors's campaign will reignite efforts in the gay community and elsewhere to ban Coors Beer for supporting right-wing causes.

And, well, Coors isn't exactly helping himself with his campaign:

The beer baron has come across as ill-informed and unprepared on national issues. "Coors light on facts," declared a Denver Post headline after one campaign appearance.

In his TV ads, Coors calls for more federal tax cuts and a balanced federal budget. Asked how he would reconcile those two goals, he replied: "That's probably a fair question, but I just don't have an answer for you."

In a debate, the wily Schaffer demanded to know whether Coors agreed with Paul Martin on U.S.-Canadian trade. Coors fell right into the trap. "I'm not sure I know who Paul Martin is," he said warily. Schaffer pounced: "A U.S. senator needs to know who the prime minister of Canada is."

Schaffer's backers have also criticized a campaign ad in which Coors boasts that he moved up from floor sweeper to chairman of his company -- without mentioning that he inherited the top job from his father.

Looks like his skills at politics are no better than his skills at making beer. And, more ominously for the Republican party, a seat that had been considered safely in Republican hands is now considered likely to go to the Democrats.

Comments

alpha_hazard

Fort Collins, CO

April 2004

JUL 25, 2004 03:03 PM

Don't forget his attempt at getting the minor vote by offering to drop the drinking age to 18!

(Edited to say, this should not be misconstrued as excitement as the vast majority of coloradoan minors should not be able to drink when they are OF AGE...my friends are living proof...hehe, I'm such a Hypocrite...)

[Edited on Jul 25, 2004 3:04PM]

jpguinness

Seattle, WA

May 2004

JUL 25, 2004 03:05 PM

Coors....Rocky Mountain Piss Water! And it's too bad they are merging with Molson.

slayerboy

Spencerport, NY

July 2004

JUL 25, 2004 07:32 PM

WHA? They're merging with Molson? Oh GOD no. They're gonna ruin Molson so bad. Now I'm left with Labbatt, Budweiser, and Genessee. Genessee is about equivlant to piss water mixed with nuculear waste. Kodak used to dump all kinds of crazy stuff in the Genessee River. Most people don't know about the beer. It's not good. Bud's ok. Labbatt's good when I'm at the bar just casually drinking. Bud's there for the drink-by-yourself days.

Guess I better buy up all the Molson XXX before Coors kills it.

hermetica

Cook Islands

January 2004

JUL 25, 2004 08:19 PM

Perhaps someone oughta forward this to the CEO of Molson- now. Before its too late. I dont drink Molsons but as a Canadian i feel I have to say something.

MagnaDolce

Portland, ME

January 2004

JUL 25, 2004 08:49 PM

Wow "Coors VS Schaffer"

Two shitty beers compete for your vote!

I prefer Schaffer to any Coors product and I shiver with ickle feelings when I see men drinking and enjoying Coors light.

As for politics, I don't get involved...

Voter apathy rules!

Gnarface_Killah

Denver, CO

January 2004

JUL 25, 2004 10:30 PM

I know Pete Coors makes really shitty beer but he is a really good guy. I met him on a couple of occasions and hes always been a nice gentleman. Bob Schaffer is a good guy too but in the Primary I am voting for Coors.

JeffreyLebowski

Mexico

OLD SKOOL

JUL 25, 2004 10:34 PM

it's like voting for the lesser of 2 jerk-offs! yay colorado.

rockymtn_mike said:
I know Pete Coors makes really shitty beer but he is a really good guy. I met him on a couple of occasions and hes always been a nice gentleman. Bob Schaffer is a good guy too but in the Primary I am voting for Coors.

Gnarface_Killah

Denver, CO

January 2004

JUL 25, 2004 10:45 PM

maybe

[Edited on Jul 25, 2004 10:57PM]

insomniphobiac

United Kingdom

June 2004

JUL 25, 2004 11:15 PM

I hate to use stereotypes, but im glad im not American. I mean, how do you lot let people like thast get into power, i find the very thought of it baffling