Markey: Musgrave campaign 'doing really silly things'

Fourth Congressional District Democratic nominee Betsy Markey spoke out against incumbent U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-Fort Morgan) Thursday, saying the incumbent's campaign is "doing really silly things" instead of focusing on "the real issues."

Speaking before the Colorado delegation to the Democratic National Convention, Markey said Musgrave has been "focusing on narrow social issues like choice and like gay marriage.

"These are issues that divide us as Americans," Markey said. "We need to find Issues where we can find common ground. And she has not done anything on the real issues, that people of the 4th Congressional District, people of this country care about," such as offering health care for everyone and repairing America's image abroad.

Instead, in this race, Markey said, "She's acting like a challenger. She's asking me for all of these debates. She's just doing really silly things," such as sending an intern dressed in a duck suit to Markey's office.

As for the debates, Markey addressed Musgrave in her speech, saying Musgrave's offer to hold a debate only on opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling was pointless.

"I will debate you on energy policy, but a debate on ANWR?" Markey asked. "You say, ‘Drill.' I say ‘No.' Debate is over.

"I'm usually someone who can see the humor in the moment, but I have to tell you, I'm tired of these kinds of petty politics," Markey said "You know, the politics of getting into the small, of these 5-second sound bites. We've got a lot of problems in this country."

A phone call to the Musgrave campaign seeking comment was not immediately returned Thursday afternoon.

On Tuesday, Markey had told reporters she planned to refrain from negative campaigning.

"You know, I really don't plan on getting nasty," she said at the time. "If I am attacked and I think there's something being said about me that I think is not truthful, then we are going to respond back and then get right back on the positive message."