McSally’s win followed by warning

During Martha McSally’s campaign for Congress in Arizona’s Second District, the left-leaning Arizona Republic reported that, if she were to win, she would have to shed any conservative views she might have if she wanted to serve more than one term.

McSally was finally named the victor this week in a recount over Democrat incumbent Ron Barber, who narrowly beat her in 2012.  Barber won the seat formerly held by Rep. Gabby Giffords, who survived wounds inflicted by a crazed gunman in 2011, and resigned from Congress.

Martha McSally (en.wikepedia.org)

Arizona’s Second Congressional District will be represented by Martha McSally, a former combat pilot. She was proclaimed the winner this week after a vote recount. (en.wikipedia.org)

In a Dec. 18, editorial, McSally wins; now, the tightrope, the Arizona Republic again found it necessary to caution her that she “will need to plot a moderate course to earn reelection …” and referenced the left’s portrayal of her as a tea-party extremist.  “The GOP’s tea-party wing is not shy about threatening primary challenges to lawmakers it deems politically impure,” the Republic seemed to warn.

During her campaign, McSally faced a nasty assault by Americans for Responsible Solutions, the super PAC and nonprofit arm, which has ties to Giffords.  See my  Sept. 9, 2014 post, GOP addresses women’s issues …”

“It’s time to come together and heal our community,” said McSally. “… my focus will be on what unites us, not what divides us, such as providing better economic opportunity for our families and ensuring our country and community are kept safe.”

A retired Air Force colonel, McSally was the first American woman to fly in combat since the 1991 lifting of the prohibition of women in combat, and flew the A-10 over Iraq and Kuwait.  She was also the first woman to command a USAF fighter squadron. A graduate of the Air Force Academy, she earned a Master’s degree from Harvard’s JFK School of Government.

I’m betting McSally will acquit herself just fine when she takes her seat in Congress next month.  The Arizona Republic should turn its attention from the tea party to the far left Elizabeth Warren extremists, who now threaten Hillary Clinton.