Critical Critique of Governor Gordon’s Fact Check Wyoming Website
Introduction
The Fact Check Wyoming website, endorsed and promoted by Governor Mark Gordon, purports to provide accurate information to counter “out-of-state lies” and special interest agendas. While the website aims to present itself as a guardian of truth for Wyoming voters, a critical examination reveals significant issues. It serves as a platform to support candidates who align with Governor Gordon’s more moderate-to-liberal agenda rather than providing an unbiased assessment of the political landscape. This critique will explore how the website’s endorsements favor “big spenders” in the legislature, how it selectively addresses certain issues, and why its arguments against specific policies are problematic.
Endorsement of Big Spenders
Governor Gordon’s endorsement of certain candidates through the Fact Check Wyoming website raises concerns about his commitment to fiscal conservatism. The website appears to back legislators who have consistently supported increased spending, a stance that aligns with Gordon’s broader political agenda, which critics argue is more liberal than Wyoming’s conservative base would prefer. These endorsements suggest a preference for maintaining or expanding government programs rather than adhering to the principles of limited government and fiscal restraint.
For example, many of the endorsed candidates have supported significant budget increases in recent legislative sessions, often aligning with the “Spenders” category identified in the Evidence-Based Wyoming legislator comparisons (Wyoming Legislature). This pattern is troubling for those who believe in conservative fiscal principles, as it indicates that the website may be more about promoting a particular political agenda than genuinely fact-checking misinformation.
Selective Argumentation and the DEI Issue
One of the most glaring issues with the Fact Check Wyoming website is its selective argumentation. The site dismisses concerns about certain hot-button issues by asserting that “no one in Wyoming” supports them. For example, the website claims that “no one in Wyoming wants males in girls’ bathrooms” or that “no one in Wyoming voted to keep Trump off the ballot.” While these statements may be technically true, they sidestep Wyomingites’ broader concerns about these issues (Ballotpedia).
The website’s approach is disingenuous because it fails to address the resistance to passing laws that would explicitly prevent such scenarios. The fact that these concerns are even being discussed at the national level and that similar issues have arisen in other states suggests that preemptive legislation might be warranted. The argument that “no one wants these things” falls flat when considering the proactive steps taken in other parts of the country to address these concerns before they become real problems.
Moreover, the website fails to address Governor Gordon’s own actions that align with more liberal policies. For instance, Gordon’s support for implementing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies within the Wyoming government has raised alarms among conservatives (Cowboy State Daily). This move is part of a broader trend seen across the country, where DEI initiatives, often criticized for promoting identity politics and eroding merit-based practices, are being challenged. While the Fact Check Wyoming website seeks to position Gordon as a protector of Wyoming values, his promotion of DEI policies suggests otherwise.
A video circulating on social media provides evidence of Governor Gordon’s push for DEI policies, highlighting the disconnect between his public statements and actions (Cowboy State Daily). It suggests that while the website may claim to reject certain agendas, it is, in fact, endorsing candidates and policies that align with a more progressive vision for the state.
Disingenuous Use of Ronald Reagan’s 11th Commandment
The website’s invocation of Ronald Reagan’s famous “11th Commandment”—”Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican”—is particularly disingenuous when viewed in the context of the policies it supports. Reagan’s commandment was intended to promote unity within the Republican Party. Still, the values being pushed by the “no one wants” statements often go against the Wyoming Republican Party platform and several of its resolutions.
For instance, the Wyoming GOP platform emphasizes limited government, protecting individual liberties, and preserving traditional values. Supporting policies that align with DEI or refusing to address concerns about gender identity in schools can be seen as contradictory to these principles. Therefore, endorsing candidates who align with these “nobody wants” statements is not only hypocritical but also likely to alienate those who adhere to the Wyoming GOP’s core values.
The Problem with Outright Dismissal
The Fact Check Wyoming website’s outright dismissal of concerns as “out-of-state lies” also undermines its credibility. Issues such as the potential for radical policies to take root in Wyoming are not merely hypothetical. The spread of DEI policies in corporate America, for example, demonstrates how quickly such initiatives can gain traction, even in traditionally conservative environments. By dismissing these concerns, the website fails to engage in a meaningful dialogue about the direction of Wyoming’s future and the potential risks of ignoring these trends.
Conclusion
While Fact Check Wyoming presents itself as a bastion of truth, its selective endorsement of candidates, dismissal of legitimate concerns, and alignment with Governor Gordon’s more liberal policies reveal it as a tool for advancing a specific political agenda. The website’s focus on discrediting concerns about issues like DEI, transgender bathroom access, and drug legalization without addressing the broader context or the governor’s actions raises serious questions about its objectivity. Wyomingites deserve a more balanced and transparent discussion about these issues rather than the misleading assurances offered by Fact Check Wyoming.
References:
- Fact Check Wyoming
- Evidence-Based Wyoming Legislator Comparison
- Wyoming GOP Platform and Resolutions (For detailed analysis and critique against the platform)
