And why is it that liberals want the government out of the bedroom, yet want to bring the bedroom into the classroom?

What does any of this have to do with the issue at hand, which is the use of an email account operated by a public entity by a professor whose salary is paid by the public for the purpose of soliciting research assistance for a Senate candidate from one political party?

The point is, in fact, that Coleman’s campaign did not receive the same treatment because Kenney did not solicit research assistance for Coleman’s campaign. Rather, she solicited research assistance for Franken’s campaign. If Kenney truly wanted the email to be a private, personal email, then she would have: a) used a personal account to send the solicitation and b) not implied that the research is to be conducted under the auspices of the Humphrey Institute. The effect of both of those actions by Kenney is to impliedly associate the Humphrey Institute with her solicitation for research. As such, she now has a professional obligation to solicit research assistance for Coleman’s campaign as well.

For a grad student, working for a senatorial candidate is a great opportunity. I don’t care if it is Franken, Norm or Ole Savior. So, when a professor uses a junk mail listserv to offer that chance, I see it as a great opportunity, not a great threat to the American way. And I am calling you all out on jumping to the conclusion that Norm Coleman would not receive similar treatment. You want to believe there are boogeymen in the bushes so badly, you won’t even test your hypothesis before anointing it true.

Beyond that, your argument boils down to: “The other kids do it”… without ever substantiating which kids, and when.

Your’s is a piss poor argument.

Most of the commenters here are expressing some legitimate concern over what appears to be misuse of taxpayer resources to advance the cause of a particular political campaign. We also have stated, many times, that it matters not whether it is a liberal or conservative campaign.

My guess is, you’d be comfortable defending and justifying cold-blooded murder so long as it was a Democrat who pulled the trigger.

Smaller less intrusive government, and holding the line on government spending.

What in the heck is Pawlenty thinking by increasing the budget by $2.9 Billion. There goes the surplus and then some.

I’m afraid the Rep’s have lost their way. Are we going to become the mirror image of the leftist finger pointers, or actually lead.

I’m thinking the same thing. As much as I’d love to jump all over something, this just doesn’t seem like a huge scandel. To me, the University putting on the Catholic bashing play is more of an issue (just not an issue for this list).

You’re crazy, male prostitute Fred.

I’m a Humphrey student and this issue is way overblown. The Humphrey personal listserv is notorious for spam. In the last week alone I have received e-mails for textbooks, people not turning the lights off when they leave a room, a grandmother’s car for sale, and a student sledding event over the weekend. Every weekday I get about 15 listserv e-mails, of which I find about one or two personally useful.

Professor Kenney merely sent out a personal e-mail looking for like-minded individuals. Any student or faculty member can do the same. In fact, I’m sure I’ll be receiving e-mails asking for support or interns from all major candidates and political parties. Anyone who wishes to not receive such e-mails, can unsubscribe from the listserv at any time.

Seriously, I’m sure we all have more important things than to hype up this non-issue. Personally, I’m going to read my public finance homework.

Night all.

How is it that conservatives want politics out of political science classes, but have no problem putting religion into primary schools.

I have no doubt that they would post an opportunity on the Coleman campaign if approached.

I think it is inappropriate either way (and unlikely at best on the right) that a professor, in her capacity as someone organizing for a specific campaign, would use a taxpayer funded resource to organize students for that campaign.

And if they did, there would be outrage on the left.

Political discourse on campus defines what campus life should be (in part). That is different than the one-sided abuse of public resources.

He isn’t going to be besmirched by a right-wing blogger.

And he isn’t going to back down because of this kind of bad press.

I bet Franken gets into this race in the next several weeks, and this makes it more likely.

Call me crazy, but I think that public policy students working with candidates is a rather good idea. The last thing we need is more people in politics who learned everything they know from a textbook about politics.

If the Humphrey Institute will ONLY help democrats, I will be the first to say that heads need to roll. But you have yet to prove anything close to that. What you have here (as usual) is a poorly crafted conspiracy theory.