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GUTKNECHT CAMPAIGN: “IT’S IRONIC… THAT TIM WALZ, SOMEONE WHO BLAMES HEARING LOSS FOR BEING ARRESTED FOR DRIVING 96 IN A 55 ZONE WHILE DRUNK, WOULD QUESTION ANYONE’S INTEGRITY”
By Michael B. Brodkorb | October 5, 2006
"It's ironic," added Anderson, "that Tim Walz, someone who blames hearing loss for being arrested for driving 96 in a 55 zone while drunk, would question anyone's integrity. The Walz campaign should be embarrassed for trying to use this terrible situation for political gain."
Walz pleaded guilty to a count of reckless driving in Nebraska 11 years ago, after troopers stopped him for speeding and suspicion of driving under the influence. According to the arresting trooper, Walz failed a field sobriety test and smelled of alcohol. Walz sought in court to have results of a blood alcohol test kept out of the record and claimed in he didn’t understand the trooper’s instructions because of a hearing problem that has since been corrected.
Gutknecht, in New Ulm Monday on a campaign stop, called the Foley case "reprehensible."
"This is disgraceful for Rep. Foley. In some ways he has disgraced the entire House. The question we have to resolve is who knew what and when," said Gutknecht.
Gutknecht said Democrats seem to be overplaying the issue for political advantage, and speculated that an investigation might show House Republican leaders knew "a lot less about this than meet the eye.”
Gutknecht agreed that an investigation was in order.
"We have to. One of our first obligations, when those young people come out to Washington, we have a moral obligation to protect them.
Gutknecht said it appears that the main wrong suffered by the page was the reception of inappropriate e-mails, that nothing physical happened. "Nonetheless, it is reprehensible, and we need to deal with it aggressively and make sure it doesn’t happen again."
Walz's campaign got the "distraction" quote from a story on Bloomberg.com, website of a financial information and analysis company. The story explores how Republicans are having to deal with not only the Foley scandal, but Bob Woodward’s new book that criticizes the Bush Administration’s handling of the war and the National Intelligence Estimate report that indicates the war in Iraq is creating more terrorists.
The report ends with a Gutknecht quote on all the issues, not just the Foley issue.
"House Republicans are trying to change the subject to matters such as the economy,” the report says.
"'Voters vote their pocketbooks, and ultimately the strength of the economy will be the ace in the hole for Republicans,' Gutknecht said.
"While he said last week’s events are 'more distractions than they are pivotal to the outcome of November’s elections,' Gutknecht added that 'it could get dangerous' if those distractions pile up." Source: New Ulm Journal, October 5, 2006
Click here for complete story.
Topics: Uncategorized | 11 Comments »
11 Responses to “GUTKNECHT CAMPAIGN: “IT’S IRONIC… THAT TIM WALZ, SOMEONE WHO BLAMES HEARING LOSS FOR BEING ARRESTED FOR DRIVING 96 IN A 55 ZONE WHILE DRUNK, WOULD QUESTION ANYONE’S INTEGRITY””
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October 5th, 2006 at 10:12 am
You know what gets me? You put up a post about how Minnesota democrats should not campaign with Steny Hoyer because of his vote against censure of a democrat and a republican who were molesting pages in 1983.
But then in this story, you leave out the fact that one of the people sure to be investigated for protecting Rep. Foley’s right to molest young boys will be coming to town to campaign for Gutknecht, and you gloss over the basis of the story, which is the following:
“In Minnesota’s First Congressional District, DFL candidate Tim Walz on Tuesday accused Rep. Gil Gutknecht of passing it off as a “distraction,†and said Gutknecht owes an apology to the children of America. He also called for Gutknecht to cancel an appearance by Gutknecht at Minnesota State University-Mankato, with House Majority Leader John Boehner, one of the House GOP leaders that Democrats say helped hide Foley’s actions.”
This isn’t grasping at 20 year old straws. This man is CURRENTLY under great scrutiny for his role in allowing Rep. Foley to keep harassing young boys. I guess if Gutknecht wants to prove that he is fine with child abuse and the people who enable abusers, this is the right guy to bring to town.
October 5th, 2006 at 10:28 am
The first and most important question that an incumbent Republican Congress-person should be asked this year is why this Republican-run Congress has been so unproductive and dysfunctional?
What happened to GWB’s domestic agenda?
Why didn’t they work out the appropriation bills prior to the election?
I realize these questions are a lot less interesting than decades old DWI arrests and cyber-sex with teenagers, but I’d say Gil Gutknecht should explain himself. He’s in the majority caucus, and the majority has done a bad job of actually governing.
October 5th, 2006 at 10:51 am
Foley was “harrassing young boys”? I’m confused.
I believe that the age of consent in Washington – the age when The People have deemed kids to be able to make responsible and informed choices about sex – is 16. Foley was IM’ing with a 16-year-old, right? So, where’s the beef?
Frankly, I think it’s just that many libs are closet gay-bashers, and this episode gives them a PC opportunity to run free with it. And, of course, it’s especially fun for them when the gay guy is a Republican.
Either that, or the age-of-consent law is only supposed to apply to those “other” kinds of people – not the lily-white, upper-class kids from suburbia.
.
October 5th, 2006 at 10:54 am
“The first and most important question that an incumbent Republican Congress-person should be asked this year is why this Republican-run Congress has been so unproductive and dysfunctional?”
- – -
Because the Loyal Opposition has decided that filibuster is the default choice now for every vote? (No one now speaks of a bill “failing a vote” – it’s always “failed to receive cloture.”)
The only bright spot is that, when we (R’s) lose the majority in one or both of the chambers next month, we’ll be returning the favor.
October 5th, 2006 at 11:01 am
Bobby-
Secual harassment is no less so if the age of the person being harasses makes them technically legal.
If Foley, Hastert et all want to campaign on the fact that republicans believe that sexually harassing 16 year-olds is perfectly fine, they should be my guest.
October 5th, 2006 at 12:15 pm
The truth is Gil Gutknecht is desperate to hold onto his seat using whatever means possible. I have known Gil for many years when he was a Rochester Auctioneer and president of the Home School Ass. when my kids and his were in the smae private school. Gil has been an ineffestive Representative.
I gave Gil a piece of my mind last year at the Olmsted County Fair. He was shaken up by my bluntness when I told him to his face, “Gil! You have sold your soul t the Wahington Whore!! You have forgotten who you work for! You do not work for G.W.Bush, your committees, or the DM&E! You work for the people in teh 1st CD! And you have been not looking out for us! We here in teh 1st CD have the power to change your job description with a flick of a pen!” Nedless to say, the other people around me adn Gil were in shock. Gil could not say anything. I was so pissed.
Now, Tim Walz has come on the scene. I too know this man to be genuine in his quest to serve others. This man has a decorated past with the Army Natinal Guard , retiring as a Command Sergeant Major after 24 years service, pkue regular Army, an Award winning Teacher, a State Championship for Foortball with Mankato West, and being a small business owner tht takes students to China on Educatinal adn Cultural exchanges with funds from his non-profit business.
I have known Tim since Spring of 2005. Within 5 minutes of meeting him, I ws fired up. This man instill such passion and excitement, he makes Gil Gutlnecht look like a limp fish in comparrison.
I attended the Chamber of Commerce debate last month between Tim and Gil. Those Republicans in atendance looked very nervous that Tim was scoring points on the issues without ever demonishing Gil personally. Tim will not lower himself to campaign on those standards.
Gil Gutknecht is now airing ads on how Tim Walz wants to raise taxes. Tim advocates raising some of the taxes given in cuts to those earning above $750,000!!! That seems reasonable.
Tim Walz is scoring points on the direction the Republican Controlled Houses of Congress is taking this country, the War in Iraq, Gi’s support of the $2.3 Billion Dollar loan for the DM&E project that runs through the city, Social Security, Healthcare, Drug costs, Veteran’s Affairs, Natinal Security, etc. Even Moderate Republicans are beginning to see that Tim Walz is right on these issues.
Gil Gutknecht is desperate because he realizes that his job is indeed in jeapordy. He has never had to defend his dismal voting record, which is 95% in favor with teh Bush Administration. Tim Walz is giving Gil Gutknecht the challange of his life. With the direction the GOP is going, Gil cannot feel ery confident at this time.
October 5th, 2006 at 12:21 pm
I also apologize for my typos.
If Gil Gutknecht wants to play according to the playbook of Karl Rove, he deserves to lose. The DWI 11 years ago is a non-issue. He paid his fines and took responsibility for that.
October 5th, 2006 at 12:52 pm
The Arrogance continues to be the focal point of the GOP…{url]http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15143036/{/url] and [url]http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/05/hastert.foley/index.html[/url]
Speaker of The House Dennis Hassert states that he refuses to step down or resign for his part in the coverup of former Rep. Mark Foley’s behavior, claims to have been taking place over several years. The arrogance of this Administration continues to reek to high heaven. How much more can the American people take from those in control of this Government?
October 5th, 2006 at 6:04 pm
Gil has become ineffective. In two years the GOP can nominate someone who can do the job. John Wade for U.S. Congress 2008
October 5th, 2006 at 7:34 pm
Good comments, Kathy! Keep it up!
October 9th, 2006 at 3:49 am
Thank you, Brian. I think the Republicans on this blog feel differently. I know I unnerve several of them.