Opinion
Politics tends to bring out the worst in people. No further evidence is needed than to look at social media. One doesn’t have to look far to find vitriolic posts from either side of the political aisle. Heated discussions seem to materialize in places where they’d be least expected and often over the most innocuous topics. Some breed strong opinions; it is these that lead to the most base and often dishonest behavior.
In a shocking display of political opportunism, a manipulated video was circulated purporting to show Sheridan Representative Ken Pendergraft saying, “I don’t want a bunch of businesses coming to this state.” It had been deceptively edited to exclude him finishing the sentence with, “…that are here for the handouts. I’d rather somebody comes in that just says leave me alone.” Taking Pendergraft’s comments out of context, completely changes their meaning. It's an attempt to deceive voters in Wyoming.
It was circulated, at least once, by J.D. Wasserberger of Lusk, brother of former State Senator Jeff Wasserberger of Campbell County. As can be seen in the video, Pendergraft is speaking in the House Appropriations Committee in which the Wyoming Business Council was being discussed. Randall Luthi, a policy advisor to Governor Mark Gordon, was having an ideological discussion with Rep Pendergraft about a proposal to defund the state agency. Pendergraft’s comments begin around 1:18:42.
The Open Range Record contacted Mr. Wasserberger and when asked about it, he said, “That’s the way politics works.” When he was given him to opportunity to “clear this up,” as David Iverson put it, the reply was, “clear what up?”
It’s clear from the phone conversation that Wasserberger knew Pendergraft had been taken out of context and his comments clearly indicate his approval. Whether or not he is the author of the video, it doesn’t really matter. If a person knows something is a lie and then repeats it, that’s still a lie.
After with the phone conversation with The Open Range Record, Mr Wasserberger sent a text message. In it he says,
“...By the way, I suppose it is a little easier recruiting business to Sheridan with a beautiful mountain and stream right there, but don’t forget Niobrara County is a part of this beautiful state too, we could stand some economic development...”
Nothing in the phone conversation remotely related to “economic development.” The text message reveals what Wasserberger’s true motivation was for releasing the deceptive video. He used it for his own political purposes to oppose the defunding of the Wyoming Business Council. Pendergraft has been an outspoken opponent of the WBC and recently voted to fully defund the agency.
To make a point, Wasserberger intentionally forwarded a manipulated video he knew was false, in an attempt to damage the reputation of a sitting member of the Wyoming House of Representatives.
When asked for comment on this piece, via text message, Rep Pendergraft said, “I invite honest debate on any issue. When one resorts to outright deception or vulgarity, it tells me they’ve nothing left.”
Response on social media was swift to a Cowboy State Politics episode entitled, “Weekend Update – The Worst Kind of Politics” which broke the story. One user commented,
“This guy JD Wasserburger says he’s not in politics - good. It better stay that way. This is totally intolerable behavior. You can argue ideas without lying about a person. I have known Rep. Pendergraft for 20 years, and he is currently my representative. I am very grateful to him for his work and his consistency in his values.”
Rhetoric surrounding the actions of the Joint Appropriation Committee has reached a fever pitch in the final weeks leading to the legislative session. Long time left-leaning political activist Gail Symons posted to her Facebook page,
“The absolute sh*tshow that was JAC this week consumed an extraordinary amount of my time and attention. Since I wrote this prior to the disastrous Tuesday bloodbath, I only focused on the inexperience of the House Appropriations Committee. … There are a few more descriptors I will add to cover the six Freedom Caucus committee members and their two cronies/cohorts/accessories on the Senate side. Incompetent, intractable, inhumane, ineffectual, incoherent, indifferent, inconsiderate, inflexible and ignorant.”
Symons nearly always sides with the liberal “Republican” establishment in the Wyoming House; so her reaction to the fiscal decisions made by the JAC are hardly surprising.
With the posting of videos that take elected officials out of context and hyperbolic posts from Wyoming’s political left, the upcoming session is shaping up to be one of the more rhetorically explosive ones Wyoming has seen in recent years.