One of the more brazen political facelifts in recent memory is being attempted in South Dakota, where a ballot crowded with conservatives is causing conservative Senator Larry Pressler (R-SD, 1979-1997) to attempt to convince voters that he is now a moderate.

The former Republican U.S. Senator’s most recent television ad features this claim:

“I believe in taking the best ideas from both parties…”

That spin sells well with moderates.  But Pressler’s claim will come as a huge surprise to non-conservative policy advocates, given that Pressler’s most recent voting record ratings show him rejecting almost all non-conservative ideas:

• National Education Association:  Pressler voted against their positions 100% of the time.
• National Council of Senior Citizens:  Pressler voted against their positions 90% of the time.
• NARAL Pro Choice America:  Pressler voted against their positions 100% of the time.
• Human Rights Campaign:  Pressler voted against their positions 100% of the time.
• United Food and Commercial Workers:  Pressler voted against their positions 100% of the time.
• Coalition to Stop Gun Violence:  Pressler voted against their positions 100% of the time.
• National Public Health Association:  Pressler voted against their positions 100% of the time.
• United States Students Association:  Pressler voted against their positions 100% of the time.
• Children’s Defense Fund:  Pressler voted against their positions 89% of the time.
• Human Rights Campaign:  Pressler voted against their positions 100% of the time.
• National Gay and Lesbian Task Force:  Pressler voted against their positions 100% of the time.
• American Association of University Women:  Pressler voted 100% against their positions.

Source:  Project Vote Smart

Voting records speak louder than ad claims, and this not the voting record of a moderate.  This is not the voting record of someone who “takes the best ideas from both parties,” unless you believe conservatives have 99% of the best ideas, which of course makes you an ultra-conservative.

So why is long-time conservative Pressler trying to masquerade as a moderate in 2014?

Necessity.  There are two other conservatives – Republican Mike Rounds and Tea Party-backed former Republican state legislator Gordon Howie — joining the historically conservative Pressler on the ballot. Pressler is running a pretty distant third place behind increasingly strong Democrat Rick Weiland and Rounds, and he apparently doesn’t like the mathematics associated with splitting the conservative vote three ways.  So instead of running again as a conservative, Pressler is giving himself a moderate facelift, and hoping South Dakota moderates will somehow forget his conservative voting record in the U.S. Senate.

It’s understandable how South Dakota voters might forget the voting record of someone who has been out of office for almost two decades.  It’s a little more difficult to understand how the South Dakota news media, many of whom covered Pressler and know all about his conservative voting record, could neglect to expose a facelift that would put Michael Jackson to shame.

– Loveland