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MN GOP: CORPORATE LOBBYIST AMY KLOBUCHAR REFUSES TO DISCUSS CORPORATE LOBBYING CAREER
By Michael B. Brodkorb | June 30, 2006
"Amy Klobuchar's stubborn refusal to be straight with Minnesotans about her career as a corporate lobbyist will make it difficult for voters to trust her. Klobuchar often talks about open government and denounces corporate lobbyists, but she refuses to discuss her lengthy history as a corporate lobbyist and her campaign prevents citizens from documenting public events. It's classic Klobuchar hypocrisy: say one thing, do another." – Republican Party of Minnesota Chairman Ron Carey
Klobuchar Campaign Promised To Be "Crystal Clear" On Issues:
Campaign Manager Calls Klobuchar "Crystal Clear On The Issues," Promises Klobuchar "Will Continue To Be So." "A bit of a ruckus has been kicked up over whether U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton has actually endorsed DFL Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar for his Senate seat, and why, if he has, she hasn't acknowledged it. … Ben Goldfarb, her campaign manager, said she 'has been crystal clear on the issues and will continue to be so … and we look forward to having Senator Dayton's formal endorsement.'" (Dane Smith, “Sen. Dayton's Endorsement Of Klobuchar Is Questioned," Star Tribune, March 14, 2006)
But Corporate Lobbyist Klobuchar Refuses To Answers Questions About Her Lengthy Lobbying Career:
Star Tribune: "Asked Later About Her Own 13-Year History As A Lawyer/Lobbyist Before Entering Public Life, Klobuchar Said Only That She Had Been A Lawyer In The Private Sector And A Prosecutor And That It's Her Prosecutorial Experience That Is Most Relevant." (Patricia Lopez, "Klobuchar Wants Congress Gift Ban," Star Tribune, June 29, 2006)
Larry Jacobs Of The Humphrey Institute: Questions About Klobuchar’s Lobbying Career Are "Fair Game, And A Question She Has To Answer At Some Point." "Larry Jacobs, head of the institute's center and host of the event, said later that much of what Klobuchar proposed 'has been around a long time, and the odds of any of this passing are long.' He said the questions about Klobuchar's lobbying experience were 'fair game, and a question she has to answer at some point.'" (Patricia Lopez, "Klobuchar Wants Congress Gift Ban," Star Tribune, June 29, 2006)
Topics: Amy Klobuchar, Mark Kennedy, Uncategorized | 11 Comments »
11 Responses to “MN GOP: CORPORATE LOBBYIST AMY KLOBUCHAR REFUSES TO DISCUSS CORPORATE LOBBYING CAREER”
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June 30th, 2006 at 11:20 am
Has Mark Kennedy been very open about his time spent working as a CPA for Arthur Anderson?
What role did he play in the Enron debacle? What other clients did he serve, and what, if any, negative impact did his or Arthur Anderson’s work on their behalf have on shareholders/employees?
The moment Mark Kennedy opens up about his time with the scandal-riddled Arthur Anderson, I think Amy will be more willing to talk about her past jobs.
June 30th, 2006 at 11:20 am
Michael, I’m not trying to stick it to you on this one, but I think if you’re going to republish something like this you might want to mention your consultancy with Mark Kennedy’s campaign.
June 30th, 2006 at 11:28 am
I’ve been more than clear about my work with Kennedy’s campaign. There have been numerous posts about my work.
I’ve disclosed.
June 30th, 2006 at 12:57 pm
So, Mark Kennedy’s campaign manager Pat Shortridge once lobbied for Enron, Mark Kennedy worked as a CPA for Arthur Anderson, and you think that AMY has some explaining to do?
Are these the sort of core ethics that Minnesotans seek in their Senators? Tens of thousands of people lost money or jobs over the work these two were doing on behalf of Ken Lay and the boys. Is it any wonder that George likes Mark so much?
June 30th, 2006 at 1:15 pm
I know that, which is why I said I’m not sticking it to you….I’m just saying that the custom is to make a brief disclosure with each post. Just sayin’.
June 30th, 2006 at 1:58 pm
For the record, when exactly did Kennedy leave Andersen?
I know that he worked for Skopko and Dept 56 in the intervening years. And the Enron blow-up occurred in Nov. 2000, a few days before he was elected to his House seat.
June 30th, 2006 at 2:40 pm
“So, Mark Kennedy’s campaign manager Pat Shortridge once lobbied for Enron, Mark Kennedy worked as a CPA for Arthur Anderson, and you think that AMY has some explaining to do?”
Um, yeah, we’d be very happy to listen to both of them explain to the public each of their own experiences.
Some voters – even some of yours – understand and appreciate that “worked for Enron” is something short of “disembowels babies with a sharp spoon.” Perhaps it might even signify “victim” in some circumstances?
June 30th, 2006 at 3:27 pm
Look at all the DFL’ers covering for Amy’s lobbying hypocracy. No defense presented, just making up bogus “charges” about Kennedy (based on nothing other than having been one of tens of thousands of CPA’s that once worked for a company.)
Pathetic.
June 30th, 2006 at 3:29 pm
Michael, when a reporter or columnist writes about something in which they have a clear conflict of interest, disclosure is made with each and every article they write, not just once at the beginning of the year in an obscure, long-lost post. You’ll even hear it on MPR/NPR when they report on one of their sponsors. You’re being disingeneous if you continue to write about the Klobuchar-Kennedy race without full disclosure of your role as a PAID CONSULTANT to Kennedy with each and every post. You are so proud of the national attention your blog is getting–do you think every reporter who reads your Klobuchar-bashing posts is aware of your conflict when visiting here for the first time. How about being honest with your readers? Do you think those reporters reading your flailing against Ellison are aware you are a PAID CONSULTANT for a Republican US Senate candidate? Don’t you think that might be fair to let them know? Maybe you should just post at the top of MDE: “Michael Brodkorb is a paid political consultant to the Mark Kennedy for Senate Campaign.” That would be the only honest thing to do.
June 30th, 2006 at 3:40 pm
Dwight: The reports aren’t calling me on the U.S. Senate race – but rather on Ellison. I have disclosed and I will continue to remind the readers of Minnesota Democrats Exposed my outside work.
June 30th, 2006 at 8:52 pm
What would you say if a reporter called you and asked you why the people of Minnesota should trust a campaign run by a former Enron lobbyist whose candidate was an Arthur Anderson CPA?
In a day of heightened skepticism of the ethics of politicians, this seems like a couple of fairly huge red flags.