Hickey: Conservatives need not apply

Nevada Assembly Minority Leader Pat Hickey (Reno-RINO) was a disaster as leader of his caucus in the 2013 legislative session primarily due to his hostility towards anything conservative, as well as his propensity to roll over and hope the Democrats would rub his widdle tummy every time a controversial bill or issue came up.

When it comes to appeasement, this guy makes Neville Chamberlain look like a Mongolian general.

Then again, running from a fight isn’t exactly something new to Hickey. Indeed, in the chapter titled Conscientious Objector in his autobiography, Tahoe Boy, Hickey wrote: “While I thought it was cowardly to run and hide in Canada (to avoid the draft during the Vietnam War), I was anything but brave.”

He continued…

“As ordered, in May of 1970 I reported to Oakland for induction into the U.S. Army. The officer in charge read what he was supposed to and the 249 men beside me took the symbolic step forward into the service of the nation. I was the lone soul who didn’t.”

So it should come as no surprise that Hickey has consistently ducked legislative confrontations as leader of his caucus, as well. He’s no wartime consigliere, that’s for sure.

But it’s one thing for Hickey to dodge fights with the Democrats; it’s another to be systematically undermining efforts to elect conservatives to his caucus who will stand up when he stands down. Here’s the latest example of just how much Hickey loathes the idea of conservatives joining “his” caucus.

Assemblyman Tom Grady in rural District 38 in northern Nevada has been one of the worst Republicans in the Legislature when it comes to voting like a conservative. Thankfully, he’s term-limited out and can’t run for re-election again.

Dr. Robin Titus – who briefly ran for the U.S. Senate in 2010 – has had an interest in running for Grady’s seat for a while, but out of respect and as a courtesy would not run against the incumbent. But now that Grady’s finally being kicked to the curb, Dr. Titus is running … and has been actively campaigning since last summer.

Titus is not only a longtime Nevadan and immensely qualified, but she’s also a staunch conservative.

Yesterday morning, Hickey tweeted that he was in district 38 “visiting candidates.” Word on the street is that he was really there trying to RECRUIT candidates to run against Titus, namely former Churchill County commissioner Norm Frey - who is nowhere near as conservative as Titus and far less likely to rock the boat.

Both Hickey and Grady, who’s said to be part of the Anybody-but-Robin recruitment effort, have reportedly told others they think Titus is just “too conservative.”

Now, that concern *might* be legitimate if Titus was running in a Democrat-majority district, or even a “swing” district. But get this…

According the voter registration numbers for November 2013 on the Nevada Secretary of State’s website, there are more than TWICE the number of registered Republicans in this district than Democrats…16,818 to 8,361!

Genghis Khan could get elected in this district!

So despite his assertions to the contrary, Hickey does NOT support the most conservative candidate who can win. Indeed, we now have further proof that what Hickey is looking for are moderate Gumby Republicans – such as tax-hiker Kelly Kite, who Hickey has encouraged to run against conservative Assemblyman Jim Wheeler – who will follow him in the next session whenever he again turns tail and runs from a fight with the Democrats.

The good news: While Hickey’s out trying to stab Dr. Titus in the back while cutting her off at the knees in District 38, he has a serious, credible primary opponent of his own to deal with in the form of conservative Richard Fineberg.

With any luck, Titus will get elected AND Hickey will be sent packing. Bring on Conservageddon!

Mr. Muth is president of Citizen Outreach, a conservative grassroots advocacy organization. He can be reached at www.MuthsTruths.com.