The Colorado Durango Herald newspaper has called out right-wing Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) on a controversial visit to a local high school this week.
Boebert’s speech and Q&A session with students at Dolores High School in Dolores on Wednesday made the news outlet “uncomfortable” because his “talks extended beyond government into political territory,” the editorial board wrote Friday.
“Like him or anyone else, Boebert is a polarizing politician,” the Herald said of the Donald Trump devotee, who has previously espoused the QAnon conspiracy theory. Amid fears from parents leading up to the event, Boebert’s gun-loving representative confirmed that he would not be carrying weapons during school visits.
“Apparently, he also told the students that they should be aware of the issue and motivate them to fight for freedom,” the board wrote. “Come on! This is Boebert’s brand on stage in front of students without parents.”
The Herald suggests he can inspire students with his “personal journey from a manager at McDonald’s to a representative in the halls of Congress.”
However, he “does not separate himself and politics from the mechanisms of government,” he said.