Bruce Finds Support At Capitol, But Not In Person

DENVER – There will be no formal punishment for Representative Doug Bruce (R-Colorado Springs) because of the comments he made at the Capitol on Monday. State lawmakers will not consider any further disciplinary action against Bruce and his use of the term “illiterate peasants.”

“After the remarks that he made on the floor that we deemed inappropriate by the chairwoman, he was immediately rebuked,” says House Majority Leader Representative Alice Madden (D-Boulder).

Bruce was censured earlier this year after he kicked a newspaper photographer hours before he was sworn-in to office. The photographer had taken his picture during the opening prayer. Lawmakers investigated the kick and even held a committee hearing.

“He does seem to thrive on attention like maybe a teenager who’s striving for attention with bad behavior,” says Madden.

Bruce does have some support. In fact he doesn’t have to go far to find it, even though much of it’s not at the Capitol.

“You’re a true American, I support your position and I agree with you 100%,” says Bruce as he reads an e-mail from his legislative inbox. “Thank you, if I lived in Colorado I would have voted for you, a taxpayer from Michigan.”

When we were with Bruce in his office Tuesday night, he had 700 new e-mails, and all but a few supported comments.

“Bravo, bravo,” “Good for you,” “You’re my hero,” says Bruce.

He even says his voicemail received at least 100 messages.

“I had three phone calls that were not in a hostile tone of voice, but they were in Spanish, I don’t know what the people said,” says Bruce.

His actions on Monday, according to lawmakers, were the Bruce they know so well.

“He likes to call people out personally, he likes to ridicule people’s opinions, so this was about the 100th time he’s been warned,” says Madden.

“I wish these bully’s here would frankly just leave me alone,” says Bruce.

And with all this attention yet again, will the man who wants to serve eight more years, make it eight more months?

“That’s up to the voters,” says Bruce.