I AM M.D.E.
My name is Michael Brodkorb and I am Minnesota Democrats Exposed.
I had previously stated that I would never reveal my identity. I may have been naive to think I would be able to expose Democrats in the land of Hubert H. Humphrey, Walter Mondale and Paul Wellstone, while keeping my true identity a secret.
In the end, my identity is being unveiled today because of lawsuit filed against me by a prominent Democrat consultant. The Democrat who filed this lawsuit did not contact Domains by Proxy to confirm my identity. Instead, I was served legal papers at my home last evening.
I decided that I would expose myself on my own blog, in my own words, rather than my identity being eventually confirmed in court documents.
Minnesota Democrats Exposed is not coming to an end. To quote a line from "A Few Good Men":
"I eat breakfast 80 yards away from 4000 Cubans who are trained to kill me. So don't for one second think you're gonna come down here, flash a badge, and make me nervous."
I don't want anyone to think a lawsuit filed against me by prominent Democrat consultant is going to make me nervous and end my blog.
Minnesota Democrats Exposed will still be a blog dedicated to a truthful discussion on the activities, statements, and tactics of Minnesota Democrats.
It is a testament to my hard work and the work of hundreds of people who have emailed me information on Minnesota Democrats that in the end, a lawsuit filed by a prominent Democrat consultant forced my identity to be revealed.
Democrats in Minnesota clearly benefit from a blog called Minnesota Democrats Exposed ceasing to exist and I am sure the mind of the Democrat consultant who filed the lawsuit against me, he will be a hero inside the offices of the Minnesota DFL Party.
I am sure some Democrats in Minnesota will think the lawsuit filed against me by a prominent Democrat consultant is wrong and petty.
I have never been paid to blog, nor has anyone I have every worked for or contracted with known that I am truly M.D.E. My blog is not created, endorsed, sponsored, or authorized by any political party, candidate, or candidate's committee.
I hope my friends and colleagues who worked with me everyday and never knew that I was M.D.E. understand why I never told them. This blog has never been about me, but rather exposing Minnesota Democrats.
I want to thank the Republicans and Democrats who have emailed me tips exposing Minnesota Democrats. I have and never will reveal my sources and this lawsuit will not change my commitment to protecting my sources' identity.
I also need to thank anyone who every visited Minnesota Democrats Exposed.
Personally, I believe that today is a great day in the history of Minnesota Democrats Exposed. But I have great concerns about the rights of anonymous bloggers. This lawsuit is an attempt to silence anonymous bloggers and for that I am sad.
I never used my right to remain anonymous as a license to post lies. I stand by my work and I will vigorusly defend myself in court.
But this lawsuit will raise legal questions about the rights of anonymous bloggers and free speech. I look forward to finally being a public advocate for the rights of anonymous bloggers.
Sadly, it is also well known to the readers of Minnesota Democrats Exposed that I have received numerous threats of violence against me for exposing Minnesota Democrats. I am prepared for what ever form people chose to use to complaint about Minnesota Democrats Exposed.
I am very excited about finally meeting the bloggers behind some of my favorate blogs and attending a future Minnesota Organization of Blogs' event.
On happy note, tomorrow evening I will be celebrating with a "coming out party." Please join me at Loto's in downton St. Paul starting at 6:00 p.m. Republicans and Democrats are invited and I encourage you all to attend.
Thank you for visting Minnesota Democrats Exposed and I hope you check back tomorrow for more posts exposing Minnesota Democrats.
I am Michael Brodkorb and I am Minnesota Democrats Exposed.
I had previously stated that I would never reveal my identity. I may have been naive to think I would be able to expose Democrats in the land of Hubert H. Humphrey, Walter Mondale and Paul Wellstone, while keeping my true identity a secret.
In the end, my identity is being unveiled today because of lawsuit filed against me by a prominent Democrat consultant. The Democrat who filed this lawsuit did not contact Domains by Proxy to confirm my identity. Instead, I was served legal papers at my home last evening.
I decided that I would expose myself on my own blog, in my own words, rather than my identity being eventually confirmed in court documents.
Minnesota Democrats Exposed is not coming to an end. To quote a line from "A Few Good Men":
"I eat breakfast 80 yards away from 4000 Cubans who are trained to kill me. So don't for one second think you're gonna come down here, flash a badge, and make me nervous."
I don't want anyone to think a lawsuit filed against me by prominent Democrat consultant is going to make me nervous and end my blog.
Minnesota Democrats Exposed will still be a blog dedicated to a truthful discussion on the activities, statements, and tactics of Minnesota Democrats.
It is a testament to my hard work and the work of hundreds of people who have emailed me information on Minnesota Democrats that in the end, a lawsuit filed by a prominent Democrat consultant forced my identity to be revealed.
Democrats in Minnesota clearly benefit from a blog called Minnesota Democrats Exposed ceasing to exist and I am sure the mind of the Democrat consultant who filed the lawsuit against me, he will be a hero inside the offices of the Minnesota DFL Party.
I am sure some Democrats in Minnesota will think the lawsuit filed against me by a prominent Democrat consultant is wrong and petty.
I have never been paid to blog, nor has anyone I have every worked for or contracted with known that I am truly M.D.E. My blog is not created, endorsed, sponsored, or authorized by any political party, candidate, or candidate's committee.
I hope my friends and colleagues who worked with me everyday and never knew that I was M.D.E. understand why I never told them. This blog has never been about me, but rather exposing Minnesota Democrats.
I want to thank the Republicans and Democrats who have emailed me tips exposing Minnesota Democrats. I have and never will reveal my sources and this lawsuit will not change my commitment to protecting my sources' identity.
I also need to thank anyone who every visited Minnesota Democrats Exposed.
Personally, I believe that today is a great day in the history of Minnesota Democrats Exposed. But I have great concerns about the rights of anonymous bloggers. This lawsuit is an attempt to silence anonymous bloggers and for that I am sad.
I never used my right to remain anonymous as a license to post lies. I stand by my work and I will vigorusly defend myself in court.
But this lawsuit will raise legal questions about the rights of anonymous bloggers and free speech. I look forward to finally being a public advocate for the rights of anonymous bloggers.
Sadly, it is also well known to the readers of Minnesota Democrats Exposed that I have received numerous threats of violence against me for exposing Minnesota Democrats. I am prepared for what ever form people chose to use to complaint about Minnesota Democrats Exposed.
I am very excited about finally meeting the bloggers behind some of my favorate blogs and attending a future Minnesota Organization of Blogs' event.
On happy note, tomorrow evening I will be celebrating with a "coming out party." Please join me at Loto's in downton St. Paul starting at 6:00 p.m. Republicans and Democrats are invited and I encourage you all to attend.
Thank you for visting Minnesota Democrats Exposed and I hope you check back tomorrow for more posts exposing Minnesota Democrats.
I am Michael Brodkorb and I am Minnesota Democrats Exposed.
30 Comments:
Thanks for being brave, Michael. I've admired it ever since I started reading your blog. Yours was the first blog I came upon and inspired me to start my own. Thanks for all you've done. Words can't express how grateful I am (and I'm sure many bloggers are) for the work you've done on MDE. Keep fighting. We're behind you.
I knew it. Welcome to the sushine. See you at Loto's. Good Choice.
You are right: I think doing this to you is wrong and petty. I share your concern for the ability to blog anonymously.
But, at the same time there are great blogs even if we know who the person is. It does nothing to discredit or defame you.
Ava wins the prize!
Perhaps you can fill us in on that lawsuit? It was not Inside Minnesota Politics, then who? What grounds?
Checks and Balances just sent me an e-mail telling me they have a "scoop" about an indentity on the 'net.
I don't think that word means what they think it means.
To the extent that you can, please keep up the good work. It's rare that I get to fulfill both "fun" and "educational" in one easy step.
I should add: knowing what I've seen of your Blois post, and guessing a bit, definitely keep the anti-SLAPP-suit statutory provisions in mind.
Hey Shawn Towle said it best in Check's and Balances:
For the record Checks & Balances, especially Publisher Shawn Towle, has never had any respect for Blois Olson politically or personally. It should not come as a shock to anyone that there is a lack of love between Towle and Olson.
I applaud you on this couragous decision. I look forward to meeting you at a future MOB event.
Curious as to why you choose to say 'prominent Democrat consultant' while not actually naming the individual(s). Isn't it a matter of public record anyway?
Kurt 'Flash'
Centrisity.com
Looking forward to meeting you, Kingpin!
On the bright side, your stories can now appear in Politics in Minnesota.
It is a shame that such petty behavior has forced your hand but it will be nice to place a face with the blog.
Welcome to the transparent world, Michael. I think you blog will only be even more successful now that you've outed yourself. That's because you'll now adhere to a more responsible line of attack, knowing full well that if you're not careful with your charges, they will come back to bite you.
Not that you were irresponsible before, mind you ;)
Michael,
Best of luck. Always know that people all around the state will support you if trouble arises. Plus, you could always move out to the boonies if the whackos get to rabid in their attacks.
Keep up the great work.
RE:"Curious as to why you choose to say 'prominent Democrat consultant' while not actually naming the individual(s). Isn't it a matter of public record anyway?"
Further reading around the blogoshpere, I now completely understand.
Flash
Appearing in PIM may not be a "brightside." I'd call it "downgrade."
You still rock, MDE.
Michael, don't hurt your elbow so much from patting yourself on the back.
You are a political operative. You can't have it both ways. You are a coward.
I'm just a guy who cares about what happens to my state. You published my home address and phone number. You are a hypocrite.
Tim Ward
I still think I am MDE! Seriously, I hope to meet you at Keegan's sometime.
See you at Keegan's sometime?
Jerry (SD63)
Michael: Were you MDE during your time with the Republican Party of Minnesota? Were you MDE during your time with the Campaign for St. Paul's Future? And how many others are there who can truthfully claim to be MDE?
Another blow to free speech from the left.
Sorry about the lawsuit, I hope you can counter sue and kick their ass.
Ditto to what Tracey wrote, word for word!
During a Q&A back in March 2005, "Minnesota Democrats Exposed" answered a number of questions left by readers in the comments section of this blog. Michael: At that time, were you MDE? Which answers, specifically, were written by you?
While I think you are a bit too far out there politically, you certainly had the right to be anonymous.
To be fair, DFL'er Blois is joined at the hip by GOP'er Sarah out on PIM. They both deserve to be taken to the woodshed regarding their thumping of anonymous blogs. You, and anyone else who chooses, should be able to post in cyberspace without retribution. (If you don't like it, that is why there is a 'Del' key on the computer)
They could not be more wrong.
In my opinion (I believe I'm still able to have one of the without getting sued, right?), Blois is (mis)using the court to bring publicity to himself and his business. He knows he can't win this thing.
1) What are the damages? Can he prove financial damages? I really, really doubt it.
2) He's a public figure. He's widely known in politics, he's a TV personality (for whatever that's worth being on Ch. 2).
3) As AP reported, your claim is true. A jury of your peers would have to give you the benefit of the doubt that Humphrey wasn't working on behalf of Blois' company when he approached Rowley's people. There is reasonable doubt - either he was working on behalf of New School or he was trying to dig up a side job. Since there's likely nothing in writing, there is reasonable doubt.
The bottom line? To me, he's spending money on an attorney for one reason - publicity to his company and PIM (a worthless rag if ever there was one - again, in my humble opinion). He'll get his fifteen minutes at your expense, sorry to say.
Keep your chin up.
Michael,
I know that there are many of us who were anxious to meet the man behind the myth that is MDE. While loosing your anonynimity makes it harder to do what you have been doing, I have no doubts that you will still be able to carry on and fight the fight. I look forward to seeing you at a future MOB event!
what exactly have you ever 'exposed' about these dastardly Democrats?
"I eat breakfast ..." Uh ... if I recall the movie, things didn't turn out too well for Mr. don't flash a badge at me.
Take a deep breathe and say, I blog, there-fore I am
I blog about, and occasionally litigate about, the right to anonymous speech.
I hope you'll keep me posted. gtbear at gmail com.
http://ballots.blogspot.com
http://vark.blogspot.com
http://majors.blogspot.com
- arbitrary aardvark
Comment to the Star Tribune:
Dear Tim O'Brien (Star Tribune),
The Star Tribune has accused Michael Brodkorb of having a political bias on his blog, but who are they to talk? The Strib is one of the most liberal newspapers in the county, and you would swear that the editorial board and columnists like comrade Nick Coleman are on the payroll of the DFL. The good thing about Nick is that he is so far left that he is hurting his cause.
Blogs were created to have an alternative to the liberal media which really should be neutral.
Thanks,
dare2sayit.com
Dear Tim O'Brien (Star Tribune),
The Star Tribune has accused Michael Brodkorb of having a political bias on his blog, but who are they to talk? The Strib is one of the most liberal newspapers in the county, and you would swear that the editorial board and columnists like comrade Nick Coleman are on the payroll of the DFL. The good think about Nick is that he is so far left that he is hurting his cause.
Blogs were created to have an alternative to the liberal media which really should be neutral.
Thanks,
dare2sayit.com
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