When Access Politics Turns to Vile Personal Attacks

In my 13 years of deep involvement in Idaho politics, between running the Idaho Second Amendment Alliance and the Idaho Dispatch, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite like this.

I’ve been sounding the alarm on what’s commonly known as “access politics” for years. It’s a phenomenon that has led to vicious personal attacks—many of them directed at principled conservatives.

Two North Idaho lobbyists/activists, Lauren Walker, and Brandy Paradee, are recent examples of those practicing access politics (see here for Idaho’s definition of a lobbyist, which doesn’t require all lobbyists to register). I’ll start by explaining access politics and then walk through what’s unfolded in recent months, because the vileness on display by these two, and the damage they have done to our movement, is truly remarkable.

What Is Access Politics?

Access politics occurs when someone seeks a “seat at the table” so badly that they’re willing to trade their principles or even their allies to gain and maintain that access. That means supporting certain politicians regardless of their voting record, avoiding criticism of their favorite politicians when those politicians have sold out or changed course, and often involves helping silence or attack those who do try and hold them accountable.

For politicians practicing access politics, it’s about gaining access to leadership, securing certain positions such as chairmanships, or getting your favorite bill heard in exchange for your silence. This happens all the time in politics, and Idaho’s legislature is just as guilty of this as any other state.

Do you want to know why D.C. is the way it is? Access politics is the answer.

The danger here is clear: if you’re protecting someone to maintain access, you can no longer hold them accountable.

The Walker and Paradee Shift

Years ago, Walker appeared on the Freedom Bros Podcast, and I had no issues with her. I don’t believe I interacted with Paradee until earlier this year when she tried to drag me into this useless war, and I did my best then to avoid getting into a public war with her.

I did my best to let it all go. Still, this past week, both Walker and Paradee launched personal attacks on me after my fellow Freedom Bro, Dustin Hurst, published an article they decided was worth attacking me for, and not just me, but the ISAA, the Dispatch, and then all the work we have done for years to help conservatives in Idaho, on top of then making personal attacks against me.

Dustin’s article was very complimentary of Rep. Heather Scott, and he explained that she is untouchable in her re-election bid next year. Scott is good friends with Walker and Paradee, and they are ardent supporters of hers. While Dustin and Scott have had their disagreements this year, they decided to use his article to unleash this disgusting, vile display of attacks on me and the organizations I am a part of and that do a lot of good work.

This wasn’t an isolated incident from these two. It’s part of a year-long campaign to tear down respected conservatives and organizations in Idaho. In terms of damage, Walker and Paradee have done more to undermine the conservative movement here than anyone else in recent memory—damage that Gregory Graf could only dream of (don’t worry if you’ve never heard of him because he’s irrelevant).

To be clear, this article isn’t really about Walker or Paradee. It serves as a warning to anyone considering entering the political sphere in Idaho. If you’re not careful, you can fall victim to access politics—and some will even use your desire for access to do their dirty work.

Selling Out to Power

At some point, Walker and Paradee aligned themselves with House Speaker Mike Moyle (R–Star). Moyle has become the center of a major rift in Idaho’s conservative movement. One faction, led by Rep. Heather Scott, supports him. The other faction is led by the Idaho Director of the State Freedom Caucus Network, Maria Nate, who does not support him.

Walker and Paradee supported Moyle in his race against challenger Rachel Hazelip, who many considered the more conservative candidate in 2024.

Walker also voiced her support for Moyle on social media despite appearing to admit that Hazelip would be more conservative.

In the post, Walker hesitantly backed Moyle, saying she feared worse outcomes like Rep. Megan Blanksma (ousted for supporting illegal immigration) or Rep. Jason Monks, the current Majority Leader.

At that moment, Walker hadn’t completely sold out—but she had compromised. She supported a less conservative candidate to maintain access, I presume, to Rep. Scott. Had Walker decided to support Hazelip, she may have strained her relationship with Scott, I can only guess.

Then, the 2025 legislative session began, and the Scott faction solidly aligned behind Moyle, with Walker and Paradee in tow.

This picture—Walker and Paradee standing at the Speaker’s seat with his signature gavel—perfectly illustrates access politics. On the surface, there’s nothing wrong with taking photos with lawmakers, or the Speaker in particular. But when those pictures become a tool to prove your proximity to power and justify attacking others to maintain that access, you’ve crossed a line.

They bragged about this picture on X.

And the proximity to power likely doesn’t end there. They likely have the Speaker’s personal cell phone number. And while there’s nothing inherently wrong with that (I have it too), if the cost is your integrity, you’ve become part of the problem. If you become afraid or unwilling to hold the politicians to the standard they profess on the campaign trail, you are part of the problem, and that is the danger of access politics.

The Ultimate Display of Loyalty

Months after that photo, a new image emerged:

I actually laughed out loud when I saw this picture, because I don’t know that I’ve ever seen anything quite like this in Idaho when I look for examples of access politics. Moyle even calls them, “Moyle’s Loyals” in his post.

Again, there is nothing wrong with fishing or shooting with lawmakers. But when politicians use these outings to secure loyalty and silence dissent—and when you’re willing to attack others to keep the invitation—it becomes access politics at its worst.

Since Walker and Paradee began their move to support Moyle, they have attacked the most conservative groups in the state, namely, the Idaho Freedom Foundation, Idaho Freedom Action, Stop Idaho RINOs, the Idaho Second Amendment Alliance, and the Idaho Dispatch.

These weren’t policy disagreements. The attacks were personal, vindictive, and an effort to cancel and destroy groups that have helped make Idaho the great conservative bastion it is.

And their attacks weren’t just levied at these groups but also at some of Idaho’s most conservative lawmakers. They mocked Sen. Christy Zito and Sen. Glenneda Zuiderveld as “menopausal moms.” Whether intended as a joke or not, that’s an appalling insult and unprofessional—especially coming from women who claim to be conservative.

They also ridiculed Nate’s religious affiliation, suggesting she only changed it because she was planning a run for governor—a claim I’ve never heard from her in the decade I have known her.

Ironically, being Mormon has historically helped candidates in Idaho. Lt. Governor Scott Bedke is a Mormon and seemed to do just fine winning a statewide race.

Moyle himself is Mormon and has expressed interest in running for governor.

Are Walker and Paradee going to mock Moyle as well for being a Mormon if he does run? Are they going to tell him to change his religion because it “doesn’t poll well” in North Idaho? That’s unlikely because it puts their access at risk.

So why the mockery unless it’s just meant to be cruel?

Personal Attacks and Lies

That brings us to earlier this week, when Paradee mocked me for—of all things—putting my kids to bed. Months ago, she began attacking me online and spreading falsehoods. I offered to speak privately and respectfully so she could understand my side of a debate we were having online. I was doing my part to try and keep the conservative factions from more public scrutiny. She refused.

At some point, I mentioned to either her or Walker that I had to step away to put my kids to bed. It’s a long nightly routine—especially with children who have autism and learning disabilities. We read scriptures, talk, pray, and do bedtime prep together. It takes a really long time.

Instead of showing understanding, Paradee mocked my parenting decisions and lied to her followers, claiming I was lying and didn’t have the receipts to back up claims in our dispute.

That’s the kind of behavior I expect from liberals, not people claiming to be conservatives.

Later, after calling me a “has-been” and lying about me even more to her followers, Walker took the opportunity to mock the Idaho Second Amendment Alliance, the Idaho Dispatch, banned one of my supporters on X, and referred to me, Nate, Dustin, and others as “whore lobbyists.” That’s an interesting choice of words for someone who is also, by Idaho definition, a lobbyist.

If leading the charge for Constitutional Carry in Idaho, helping fight to expand it (twice) after its original passage, fighting for expanded Stand Your Ground, fighting for an expanded Second Amendment Preservation Act, overturning over 80 violations of Idaho’s firearm preemption statute, and leading a no compromise gun rights group makes me a “whore lobbyist,” then I’ll keep doing it for the gun owners in Idaho who continue to fight along side of me.

Who’s Giving the Orders?

Are Paradee and Walker acting on behalf of Moyle? Of Rep. Scott? I don’t know. But if they’re defending these politicians by spreading lies and launching personal attacks against conservatives, something’s deeply wrong. To date, I don’t know that I’ve seen anyone publicly call for these women to stop their constant attacks, and I think many are too scared to tell them even privately to do it because of how disgusting they are when someone challenges them.

When Gregory Graf, one of the most vile and lie-filled people in Idaho politics, is giving you praise for your attacks on conservatives and conservative organizations, you need to look in the mirror and ask what you might be doing wrong.

And yes, I know some of you will say, “But Greg, doesn’t your friend Dustin get personal?”

Sure. Dustin has admitted that. He even left X because he realized it was distracting from his work. He’ll tell you himself—he can be a jerk, and I’ve told him to focus on the issues. Go ahead and ask him how many times I have talked to him about it.

I’m not perfect either. Neither is Nate nor John Heida, who leads Stop Idaho RINOs. No one is. But we do our best and recognize our own mistakes and weaknesses. We also try to keep our focus on destroying the liberal movement in Idaho.

The difference? People do call Dustin out, and more importantly, he recognizes his weaknesses! I don’t see anyone holding Paradee or Walker accountable, and they certainly don’t realize how much damage they are doing to conservatives in Idaho. In fact, according to Walker, they’re being encouraged to continue their attacks.

Anyone who challenges Walker and Paradee faces a torrent of smears and harassment, which may explain why people in the conservative movement don’t want to call them out. Who wants to be lied about and called a whole bunch of disgusting names for simply trying to get them to stop?

It’s worth noting that Sen. Zito, Sen. Zuiderveld, and the rest of the “Gang of 8” largely ignore Paradee and Walker. As far as I know, they’ve never said anything about them other than disagreeing with their attacks.

Zito has told me herself that they are just trying to stay focused on the fight at the capitol and that they try to ignore all the noise from social media.

Principles Over Proximity

“Yes, Greg, but aren’t you friends with Sen. Zito?”

Absolutely. And she’ll be the first to tell you: if she ever sold out, I’d call her out for it. She has asked me to do as much if it were happening. That’s accountability—and that’s the kind of integrity politics needs more of.

Again, it’s okay to be friends, even good friends, with politicians. However, if you can’t separate your friendship from holding them accountable to the standard of liberty, then you care more about your access than the accountability they need.

If you’re not constantly vigilant, your closeness to power, prestige, and proximity to it can steal your soul.

So don’t sell yourself to the highest bidder. Stand by your principles.

Note: I didn’t want this. I have attempted to help keep the peace in an ongoing war within the conservative movement in Idaho. Behind the scenes, I did everything I could to keep folks from attacking each other. I haven’t said anything publicly for nearly a year in an effort to stay out of it; however, Walker and Paradee decided it was time to drag me into it, and so I’m going to explain what I believe is happening and warn others about the danger of access politics.