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Initiative guru Tim Eyman says the dictionary definition was accurate in context when he called Governor Jay Inslee a "lying whore" for his seeming willingness to back newly proposed transportation taxes. (MyNorthwest/File)

Tim Eyman won't apologize for calling Governor Inslee a 'lying whore'

BY Josh Kerns  on February 22, 2013 @ 12:44 pm (Updated: 6:29 am - 2/25/13 )

Initiative advocate Tim Eyman refuses to apologize for calling Governor Jay Inslee a "lying whore" in an email to supporters.

"I believe that Jay Inslee owes us an apology for running on one platform and now implementing a different one, that I think he should simply keep his promise not raise taxes, not allow any taxes to go up," Eyman told KIRO Radio's Dori Monson in a live interview Friday.

The email, sent by Eyman, Spokane City Councilman Mike Fagan and Jack Fagan, was sparked by Inslee's seeming willingness to support new taxes to pay for a proposed $10 billion transportation package.

"Candidate Inslee repeatedly promised to veto any tax increase. He said no way to higher transportation taxes in 2013. Inslee said he'd grow jobs to generate more tax revenue. What a lying whore he turned out to be. In recent weeks, he's made it clear he'll sign any tax increase the Legislature unilaterally imposes. Is there any doubt that Inslee would have lost by a landslide if he'd been honest about his tax-hiking plans during the campaign?" said the email.

"He's absolutely said during the campaign we will not be doing any transportation taxes in 2013, and now he he says he's in favor of transportation taxes in 2013," Eyman told Dori.

State Republican Party chairman Kirby Wilbur issued a sharp rebuke late Thursday, saying Eyman should apologize.

"There is no question that's beyond the pale and is uncalled for. No matter what the issue is, it's uncalled for, and I would condemn such a thing," Wilbur told the Seattle Times.

"You may say I disagree, or he lied and point that out. But you don't call him a lying whore," he added. "He should apologize, no question."

Eyman made clear in his interview with Dori he has no intention of apologizing, citing the use of the term whore was proper based on the dictionary definition, which defines whore as "a person considered as having compromised principles for personal gain."

But Eyman might not only be overstepping the bounds of civility, Dori argued he's actually wrong. Inslee spoke with Dori the day before the election and while he vowed not to support most tax increases, he specifically stated he would not oppose transportation taxes.

"It depends what it is, but what I've said is we can't take anything off the table. We're going to have to figure out some way to finance the completion of the 520 bridge, the Columbia River crossing, 167 in Pierce County, that may be a combination of things," Inslee said.

"I'm not denying the fact that he may have said different things to different people but I'm saying that over and over and over again he made it pretty darn clear," Eyman responded. "I think very clearly the people of this state were promised one thing and they're getting something radically different."

But Dori said even if Eyman is right, calling Inslee a whore crosses all lines of civil discourse.

"Now everybody is focusing not on Inslee and the massive tax increases, everybody once again is focusing once again on Tim Eyman calling the governor a whore and your message is getting lost in the rhetoric."

"It's absolutely unacceptable behavior for people to lie their way into office," Eyman insisted. "I'm simply trying to highlight the press is giving him a pass not repeatedly bringing it up and highlighting the fact that he's repeatedly doing things that are different from what he said in the campaign."

A spokesman for Inslee said his office would not comment on Eyman.

Josh Kerns, MyNorthwest.com Reporter
Josh Kerns is co-host of KIRO Radio's Seattle Sounds (Saturday nights 7-8) and a digital content producer for MyNorthwest.com.
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Comments (45)


  • Add A Comment

  • Beaten Down Dead Horse wrote...
    Bend Over You Unpaid Hwores.
    February 23, 2013 8:48 am
    Inslee is a High Price Hwore and Dem voters are unpaid Hwores.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Silverado wrote...
    Dems Still Spending Like Drunken Sailors
    February 23, 2013 9:07 am
    My first reaction was that he was talking about the Governor before Jay Insley. Either way - I guess the truth DOES hurt. And I would never apologize for speaking the truth. And by that definition, he wasn't lying....at all. Between a dime more for the gas tax, this lying continually by the Governor and the bad and worsening economy, these BIG spenders are apparently planning on doing what DemocRATS do the best - spend other peoples money wildly while driving us ALL further in the hole. Time Eyman is right!! When is this going to stop??
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • dexterjibs wrote...
    As well he shouldn't
    February 23, 2013 9:58 am
    Inslee has always been a slimy politician. He looks as untrustworthy as Dow Constantine with the beady eyes. Ever since Inslee was &horing for Bill CLinton during the 90's and then moved into a Democrat friendly district after getting his arse handed to him by Rep Doc Hastings, I have not trusted Inslee. He is a liar.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Except jibs
    February 23, 2013 11:37 am
    Eyman isn't elected. He's using the oils he has to hold these democrat idiots accountable for pissing away tax money and then coming back for more & more & more....I am taxed enough already. It's out of Control. I support Eyman in his efforts....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • H2 wrote...
    Inslee has a long sordid history.
    February 23, 2013 9:03 pm
    "Governor Inslee a "lying wh*re"" tell us something we don't know...sometimes ya gotta say it like it is. Kirby Wilbur is a spineless pushover: the GOP can't survive with limpwristers populating the leadership roles, ala john mccain, lindsay graham, etc. Only Ted Cruz's will save the party.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • William Lawn wrote...
    too stupid for words
    February 23, 2013 10:01 pm
    The only wh0re here is our well paid Timmy.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ibedavey wrote...
    No apology necessary
    February 23, 2013 10:26 pm
    This is one of the dictionary definitions of "wh***": " A person considered as having compromised principles for personal gain." So, no apology should be issued by Eyman. He called a spade a spade. I am disappointed in the GOP chair. But I've been getting disappointed with the GOP in general for some time now. Gonads are lacking.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    So, the lefts only Argument to protect Inslee
    February 24, 2013 4:47 am
    is that Eyeman lied too.

    well good for you, thanks for pointing out the obvious. So what, does Eyeman control our Budget? Does Eyeman want to bleed the turnip dry?

    NO he does not, But Inslee does. And that fact that you people that voted him in now support his lies, scares me even more.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ted Bundi wrote...
    "We're going to have to figure out some way to finance the completion of the 520 bridge"
    February 24, 2013 6:26 am
    So you started to build a bridge without the dollars to pay for it... just great.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rangerhawk wrote...
    Maybe he meant to say Horror
    February 24, 2013 7:43 am
    But then just let everyone assume he was a liberal giving her the "Palin treatment" instead. That makes it confusing to outsiders I suppose.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cigarfan wrote...
    The more Eyman goes to the sewer.......
    February 24, 2013 10:26 am
    the fewer GOP votes are gained.....works for me!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • irony wrote...
    good because inslee is a wh.ore
    February 24, 2013 10:44 am
    he pretended to be not so tax and spend and now he's going to tax the snot out of everything and spend more. that is a wh.ore.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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