MDE FROM THE ARCHIVES: MN GOP WANTS CAMPAIGN REFERENCE REMOVED FROM FOUNDATION WEBSITE
The story below from 2004 is why Wetterling's politics may force name change of foundation.
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GOP wants campaign reference removed from Wetterling Web Site
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Minnesota Republican Party chairman said Thursday that the Jacob Wetterling Foundation should remove an item from its Web site congratulating Patty Wetterling on her run for Congress.
Wetterling, who co-founded the foundation after the abduction of her 11-year-old son, Jacob, plans to formally announce her candidacy as a Democrat in the 6th Congressional District next Tuesday. She will challenge Rep. Mark Kennedy, R-Watertown.
The GOP chairman, Ron Eibensteiner, noted that as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, the foundation is barred from participating in partisan politics."I hope that the Wetterling campaign will ask the foundation to remove all references to this political race from its Web site, so that it can avoid entanglement in partisan politics and focus on its core mission of protecting children," Eibensteiner said in a statement, arguing that the Web site item "supported" Wetterling's candidacy.
Under the headline, "Jacob Wetterling Foundation Congratulates Patty Wetterling on her decision to run for the 6th," the item says, "Now, Patty has made a personal choice to pursue a Congressional seat in order to use her voice at a higher level."Though her personal, religious and political views and activities have always been separate and will remain separate from our foundation, we wish her the very best in this new chapter."
It also leaves a forwarding phone number and address for the Wetterling campaign. Wetterling did not immediately return a phone message left Thursday evening, and the campaign referred questions to the foundation.
The foundation's executive director, Nancy Sabin, argued that item was not political and said the group would not take it down."Would you ever not wish a co-founder well?" Sabin asked.
"We are an apolitical, nondenominational organization with access to everyone."Sabin said the group wanted to give people a way to reach Wetterling, who will be stepping down from the board in June. Wetterling has no role with the organization beyond that, she added."Of course I support her in whatever she does," Sabin said. "I'd support her if she decieded to join a monastery ... We love Republicans, and we love Democrats. We love everyone."
GOP spokesman Randy Wanke said the party would not file a complaint."But I would hope that the Wetterling campaign would get the foundation to reconsider," he said.
If not, and the posting stays on the Web site, Wanke said the campaign should consult an attorney. Source: Associated Press, May 6, 2004
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GOP wants campaign reference removed from Wetterling Web Site
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Minnesota Republican Party chairman said Thursday that the Jacob Wetterling Foundation should remove an item from its Web site congratulating Patty Wetterling on her run for Congress.
Wetterling, who co-founded the foundation after the abduction of her 11-year-old son, Jacob, plans to formally announce her candidacy as a Democrat in the 6th Congressional District next Tuesday. She will challenge Rep. Mark Kennedy, R-Watertown.
The GOP chairman, Ron Eibensteiner, noted that as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, the foundation is barred from participating in partisan politics."I hope that the Wetterling campaign will ask the foundation to remove all references to this political race from its Web site, so that it can avoid entanglement in partisan politics and focus on its core mission of protecting children," Eibensteiner said in a statement, arguing that the Web site item "supported" Wetterling's candidacy.
Under the headline, "Jacob Wetterling Foundation Congratulates Patty Wetterling on her decision to run for the 6th," the item says, "Now, Patty has made a personal choice to pursue a Congressional seat in order to use her voice at a higher level."Though her personal, religious and political views and activities have always been separate and will remain separate from our foundation, we wish her the very best in this new chapter."
It also leaves a forwarding phone number and address for the Wetterling campaign. Wetterling did not immediately return a phone message left Thursday evening, and the campaign referred questions to the foundation.
The foundation's executive director, Nancy Sabin, argued that item was not political and said the group would not take it down."Would you ever not wish a co-founder well?" Sabin asked.
"We are an apolitical, nondenominational organization with access to everyone."Sabin said the group wanted to give people a way to reach Wetterling, who will be stepping down from the board in June. Wetterling has no role with the organization beyond that, she added."Of course I support her in whatever she does," Sabin said. "I'd support her if she decieded to join a monastery ... We love Republicans, and we love Democrats. We love everyone."
GOP spokesman Randy Wanke said the party would not file a complaint."But I would hope that the Wetterling campaign would get the foundation to reconsider," he said.
If not, and the posting stays on the Web site, Wanke said the campaign should consult an attorney. Source: Associated Press, May 6, 2004
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