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MDE EXCLUSIVE: CONDESCENDING LETTER FROM AG SWANSON ABOUT BILL OFFENDS LEGISLATORS; LETTER ATTACKS WAR RATHER THAN SHOW SUPPORT FOR LEGISLATION
By Michael B. Brodkorb | February 16, 2007
I received the above letter from Representative Kurt Zellers. It is a letter that Attorney General Lori Swanson sent to legislators about H.F. 532.
I'm not questioning or attacking the legislation, which according to Representative Zellers has bipartisan support. But I can report that numerous legislators, including Representative Zellers were offended by the tone of Attorney General Swanson's letter.
Aside from misspelling "Bagdad" and "Wilmar", Swanson letter's is full of condescending langauge. Her letter seems to attack the war in Iraq, rather than show support for H.F. 532.
Attorney General Swanson's letter also includes statements very similar to the language Senator John Kerry used in his "botched" joke:
"And the soldier doesn't get a lot of comfort when hearing about the young wiz kid with the college degree who has replaced him at work. He hears that they paid the kid a reduced wage, that the kid is customizing the employers' software, and that he gets rave reviews from the customers."
It's a shame Attorney General Swanson used H.F 532, a bill with bipartisan support, to launch an attack on the war in Iraq. Her letter offended both Republicans and Democrats.
Please check back to Minnesota Democrats Exposed for more on this developing story.
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24 Responses to “MDE EXCLUSIVE: CONDESCENDING LETTER FROM AG SWANSON ABOUT BILL OFFENDS LEGISLATORS; LETTER ATTACKS WAR RATHER THAN SHOW SUPPORT FOR LEGISLATION”
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February 16th, 2007 at 1:08 PM
Sounds a lot like Mike Hatch may have written that one.
What was her motivation for writing?
February 16th, 2007 at 1:34 PM
With all due respect to the AG (read, not much), this is one of the bitchiest letters I’ve ever seen from a public official.
Who does she think she is? And why would she write something like this?
I’m actually pretty disgusted by the tone of this letter.
February 16th, 2007 at 1:49 PM
This is what happens when you elect narrow minded idiots who act like spoiled children.
Swanson is nothing more then a puppet for Mike Hatch who has tantrums like a two year old.
February 16th, 2007 at 2:09 PM
What a shock! Republicans don’t like a democrat’s take on things.
What next? Aborting viewed as bad by GOP?
February 16th, 2007 at 2:25 PM
So– where exactly is she wrong?
Sean
February 16th, 2007 at 2:47 PM
Michael, did you read the letter? Where does is attack the War on Iraq? She is supporting the troops.
You are, once again, off base.
February 16th, 2007 at 2:53 PM
I’ve read the letter.
February 16th, 2007 at 2:55 PM
Just think how bad it would have been to have Hatch as gov and this dimwit as AG running the state together.
Boy did the state miss a big bullet there!
February 16th, 2007 at 2:56 PM
It’s disappointing you don’t support the troops.
February 16th, 2007 at 3:12 PM
Tim: I support the troops. It’s sad that Attorney General Swanson used this bill with bipartisan support to attack the war and insult our troops.
February 16th, 2007 at 3:36 PM
Once again the Democrat posters have blinders on.
February 16th, 2007 at 4:18 PM
I seem to have missed it– can someone tell me where shes’ wrong?
Sean
February 16th, 2007 at 4:58 PM
This is the most disingenuous post I’ve ever seen. This letter is an impassioned plea for sympathy for our troops and the struggles they and their families go through on our behalf. It suggests and supports things that our state can do to make things easier for our troops and our family. Yet you have the gall to call it a condescending attack on them? You’re the worst kind of shill.
February 16th, 2007 at 6:30 PM
I am looking at this and I am asking myself for the first time. It is a matter of perception as to whether this letter is fine, not ok, condescending etc.
My question, though, is, “Why is the AG sending this letter and involved in this debate?”. This does not seem to be something the AG needs to even be involved in. Maybe I am missing something, but I don’t get it.
February 16th, 2007 at 11:15 PM
“This letter is an impassioned plea for sympathy for our troops and the struggles they and their families go through on our behalf.”
Because that’s just what the troops have been waiting for – the AG of MN to publicly pity them.
Then again, “I Support the Troops” has always meant “I Feel Sorry For Those Poor Brainwashed Simpletons” when it comes from the Left.
February 17th, 2007 at 3:52 PM
It shouldn’t matter to you if this letter comes from a Republican or a DFLer. How can you be so callous and myopic? Don’t you think that as AG, she’s privy to the stress that deployments have been putting on the families of troops? Doesn’t the AG keep track of things like divorce and bankruptcy? Or lawsuits filed against those on deployment? Isn’t it common for any department to register its opinions about possible legislation?
Stop using the troops as a political football. This bill has bi-partisan support and it’s something everyone should be able to get behind without being criticized by the likes of you Mike.
February 17th, 2007 at 7:20 PM
Swanson’s letter points out how much pressure our troops and their families are under at home, and asks for support and understanding.
It is her office that sees predatory businesses like payday lenders attacking the families of the troops. She asks support for legislation to protect those families, to help preserve them.
What the hell is the problem here? A Democrat dares to support the troops and publicly calls for support for them?
This thread is a pitiful attack on Swanson doing the right thing for America’s military.
February 17th, 2007 at 11:48 PM
“Don’t you think that as AG, she’s privy to the stress that deployments have been putting on the families of troops? Doesn’t the AG keep track of things like divorce and bankruptcy?”
Who elected Lori Swanson Mother Hen? You honestly think that it’s the responsibility of the Attorney General to “keep track of” the marital and financial (ie: intimately personal) lives of Minnesotans?
You are correct about one thing – I don’t care which party the author of this tripe belongs to.
Brian – as I stated earlier, I don’t equate pity with support. It’s the whole “I support the Little Guy” scenario. I cannot think of a bigger insult than to be referred to as a “Little Guy” by of all things a politician. I understand her heart is likely in the right place, but the language she uses reeks of arrogance. Which makes it kind of hilarious that she’s unable to spell Baghdad or Willmar.
February 18th, 2007 at 12:04 AM
One more thing that really bothers me about Swanson’s letter.
In closing, she states, “No family who has a loved one at risk on the other side of the world should have to enter the door of a pay-day lender, a mental health crisis center, or a DOMESTIC ABUSE SHELTER.”
What is she eluding to with the domestic abuse reference? Is she trying to imply that returning soldiers are prone to battering their spouses? It doesn’t make sense that a person would be abused by someone who’s still on the other side of the world, so I’m left to conclude that Swanson believes that soldiers are coming home as mentally ill wife beaters.
February 18th, 2007 at 2:57 PM
One thing she is dead wrong about is that housing allowances are in fact adjusted based upon the local costs of housing. The housing allowance in the metro area is higher than outstate MN, just as the housing allowance for a soldier stationed in DC is higher than a soldier staioned in NC.
Every State has family readiness centers that support family members from all services and components. Stateside commisaries are no cheaper than Cub Foods, commisaries matter much more to families living outside of the country. Tricare is accepted as insurance almost everywhere so the health care issue is another red herring.
As for the new kid at work, USERRA preserves returning veterans job rights. While there have been some returning veterans who have had some retrun to work issues, they get resolved by existing agencies under existing laws.
The left is looking to create victims one way or another. The left needs victims to survive. I am an Iraq war veteran and I am not a victim! Well, OK I am a victim of Ramstad’s and Coleman’s sell out to the Dems, but that’s it!
February 18th, 2007 at 4:28 PM
If that’s how you read the letter, I’m sorry for you. I can’t imagine what it’s like to be so jaded. It must be painfully numbing to be alive Mike. I’m sorry.
And by the way, victims of PTSD are more likely to emotionally, verbally, and physically abuse their spouses, male or female. But I guess anyone who tries to lift a finger to ease the burden on our soldiers and their families will be met with your righteous furry. Way to go.
February 18th, 2007 at 10:16 PM
PAULP—-you reinforce my point when you talk about VICTIMS of PTSD. Liberals view veterans as victims. We are not. Some of us suffer side effects from our experiences, but DO NOT CALL US VICTIMS! We do what we do willfully, and we willfully bear the consequences.
February 19th, 2007 at 6:26 AM
paulp, it looks like you already are jaded if you think the tone of Swanson’s letter is acceptable.
The VA has a wonderful program to help veterans with PTSD.
There are many groups out there already offering help the families of the deployed service members as well as to the troops themselves. Last June, there was an event called the Patriot Ride where motorcycle riders paid a minimum of $25 a head to do a group ride with the funds going to help out the families of deployed soldiers from MN. (the minimum donation was higher if there was more than one rider on the motorcycle) All along the route, sponsor businesses were patronized, and those businesses gave a portion of the proceeds to the cause.
All funds raised from this ride went to Minnesotans’ Military Appreciation Fund (MMAF). The MMAF is a state-wide fundraising initiative by the citizens of Minnesota for the Minnesota military personnel and their families. The MMAF is a non-proft organization so all donations are tax deductible.
MMAF shows our troops how much we appreciate and respect their efforts by providing cash grants to all soldiers, and the families of soldiers who are killed in combat. It also shows the nation we’re a proud state, dedicated to our troops.
My hubby spent one whole weekend with a group of guys from the organization we belong to helping the wife of a deployed soldier. When he was deployed, he was in the process of remodeling their only bathroom and doing some other major home remodeling. The bathroom was left pretty much without the walls or flooring up. My hubby and the group of guys he was with finished up their remodeling, that way the poor wife didn’t have to suffer through the mess and the hubby wouldn’t have to worry about it when he returns home. (and no, they didn’t charge her anything to do this work).
So now paulp, the question is, just what are Swanson and you doing that will actually help the troops and their families. By the way, your whining and being supercilious doesn’t count.
February 19th, 2007 at 12:48 PM
Hey, what’ya know, I’m “righteously furry”!
That sure helps to ease the painful numbness of life.