Dick Lamm Gets Flack For Comments, Book

Former Gov. Richard Lamm is under fire for comments in a recent speech and in his new book that Hispanics remain an “underclass” in America because their culture is “not success-producing.”

Lamm made the statements during a speech Monday in Vail hosted by the Vail Symposium, a nonprofit group that hosts educational and cultural programs. He addressed about 120 people, only a handful of whom were Hispanic or black, said Vail Symposium Executive Director Fraidy Aber.

Local Hispanic and black leaders say Lamm’s viewpoints fuel stereotypes and extremism instead of helpful dialogue.

“I was quite offended,” said state Rep. Terrance Carroll, D-Denver, who is black. “I think there’s room to have conversations about personal responsibility and we should. But we can have that conversation without demonizing.

“It’s sad that someone as intelligent as Governor Lamm can’t see how these types of comments really don’t do anything to further legitimate debate.”

Fidel “Butch” Montoya, former Denver manager of safety and a leader of Confianza, a Hispanic clergy group, said he’s “outraged” by Lamm’s comments.

“I couldn’t believe that in this day and age that someone would be so open with a sense of bigotry and extremism,” Montoya said.