Failed 2014 congressional candidate Gary Kiehne is throwing his hat back in the ring this cycle, destined to solidify his reputation as the most gaffe-prone candidate in Arizona political history. Kiehne’s gaffes and Tea Party agenda helped take the Republican primary race right off a cliff and will ensure this year’s edition will be a long race to the right.
“Gary Kiehne’s candidacy last cycle was one rolling series of disasters after another,” said Tyrone Gayle of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “If Gary Kiehne’s reckless Tea Party agenda and outside the mainstream views are the best Republicans can do in this district, then it’s clear that history will repeat itself.”
See for yourself:
Kiehne Said He Supports Whipping Kids in School. During a January 2014 debate, Kiehne advocated for physical discipline in public schools. Kiehne stated, “We have to put discipline back in our school systems, because that’s where all the screw-ups started. When they quit whipping kids in school for messing up.” [YouTube, 12:19, 1/13/14]
Headline: Arizona GOP candidate says Democrats are behind most mass shootings [Yahoo News, 5/18/14]
Kiehne Compared Arizona Police Officers to Nazis. The Arizona Republic reports, “On Thursday in an interview with the Arizona Republic, Kiehne, a hotel owner, complained about the difficulty he faced transporting employees through police evacuation checkpoints during the 2011 Wallow Fire. He referenced SS agents, the Nazi paramilitary officers, and said he believed police officers at the Wallow Fire were willing to ‘shoot you and me.’” [Arizona Republic, 5/21/14]
Kiehne Paid His Property Taxes Late At Least 13 Times. According to the Arizona Republic, “Republican rancher Gary Kiehne, a primary opponent of Tobin’s in eastern Arizona, had about 15 past-due bills, making him the next-most-frequent dawdler.” [Arizona Republic, 5/27/14]
Kiehne: “I Didn’t Forget I Knew I Owed it… I Just Wasn’t in Any Hurry.” Kiehne explained his late taxes to the Arizona Republic, “I didn’t forget. […] I knew I owed it […] I just wasn’t in any hurry. I was down here politicking.” [Arizona Republic, 5/27/14]
Arizona Republic: “Republican wants tax money for his businesses, not others’.” The Arizona Republic reported Kiehne’s hypocrisy, “One of the wealthiest candidates for Congress in Arizona supports federal subsidies for the industries in which he owns businesses, but he doesn’t want taxpayer money to help industries he has no stake in. Republican Gary Kiehne, a political newcomer and cowboy businessman, has interests across at least three states in ranching, oil drilling and hotels. He reports assets of as much as $13.9 million in his personal financial disclosures. In a meeting last week with the Arizona Republic editorial board, Kiehne, who is running in the 1st Congressional District, said he would eliminate federal subsidies for two programs: exports and renewable energy.” [Arizona Republic, 7/20/14]