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ST. CLOUD TIMES REPORTER CONFIRMS DCCC SENT HIM INFORMATION ON BACHMANN VOTE #2
By Michael B. Brodkorb | August 6, 2007
St. Cloud Time reporter Larry Schumacher has a new post about the passage of the 35-W bride repair relief package that was sponsored in the U.S House by Congressman Oberstar and co-sponsored by Walz, Kline, Ramstad, McCollum, Ellison, Bachmann, and Peterson.
Due to a confusing article from the St. Cloud Times and behind-the-scences maneuvering by Democratic operatives, two "Dump" blogs are trying to make the claim that Congresswoman Michele Bachmann and Congressman John Kline chose partisan politics over the interest of Minnesota by voting for a procedural motion to adjourn before final passage of the 35-W bridge repair funding package.
Below is my fisking of Schumacher's post.
- Schumacher: "When they voted to adjourn they thought they were done with the bill, and didn't know that the Senate would amend the bill (on Saturday, I believe) and require them to bring it back for another vote."
Reality: The Senate amended the bill on Friday evening. Had the Democrats not passed a motion to adjourn, they could have passed the final bill on Friday.
- Schumacher: "It seems to me that a vote to indefinitely delay action on $250 million in bridge funding for Minnesota is newsworthy."
Reality: There was no vote to indefinitely delay action. A motion to adjourn would have lasted 16 hours maximum (the Democrats' motion lasted 11 hours).
- Schumacher: "King [Banaian] objects that Brogan's story left out important context, such as why the Republicans wanted to adjourn and the fact that the adjournment vote came before the bridge bill was introduced. Fair enough, but . . . there are contextual details that get left out all the time, for better or worse."
Reality: The Democrats brought the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) bill to the House floor without giving a copy to Republicans. The Republicans motioned to recess so they could read the bill before voting on it, and the Democrats refused to let them. They motioned to adjourn because it's the only tool available to the House minority that would allow them to break and read one of the most important bills in Congress before voting on it. I'm rather surprised that Larry would dismiss this, saying "contextual details get left out all the time, for better or worse."
- Schumacher: "Brodkorb points out that Democrats voted to adjorn as well and criticizes Brogan for not including that in her story. Yes, but they did so at 9:39 p.m., long after the story had been filed and bill had been approved."
Reality: Final passage of the 35-W bridge repair relief package occurred on Saturday evening around 8:26 p.m and not on Friday evening as Schumacher claims. The reality is that every member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota voted for a motion to adjourn before final passage of the 35-W bridge repair funding package. This is an undisputed fact.
The entire back-and-forth on the blogosphere over this issue reflects poorly on the reporting done by the St. Cloud Times on this specific vote. If Brogan's article wasn't contextually misleading, then we wouldn't be having this debate.
Even Schumacher's analysis missed the point that final passage of the 35-W bridge funding package occurred on a voice vote on Saturday, after every member of the House of Representatives from Minnesota voted for a motion to adjourn.
King and I will likely be discussing this issue during Saturday's radio show and invitations will be extended to both Schumacher and Brogan to appear. Please check back to Minnesota Democrats Exposed for more information.
Topics: Uncategorized |
August 6th, 2007 at 8:58 pm
Michael,
Why don’t you invite Congresswoman Michele Bachmann to appear as well? The two reporters could ask her the questions necessary to clear this whole thing up. Having them on without the Congresswoman to provide first hand knowledge seems pointless.
If the FISA bill was the issue, why was it not mentioned by you until now? Why was it not mentioned Saturday, yesterday at the latest? Why didn’t Congresswoman Bachmann simply respond with that when Brogan contacted her office.
It is quite interesting that you are spending so much time and energy on this yet Congresswoman Bachmann refuses to respond to the MSM.
August 6th, 2007 at 9:34 pm
Tim: My focus is on the accuracy of reporting done by the St. Cloud Times and the “Dump” blogs.
August 6th, 2007 at 10:47 pm
Tim,
As long as you’re concerned about Members of Congress not sitting down with the MSM, I’d just like to know the last time Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton sat down for an interview with the MSM.
August 6th, 2007 at 10:58 pm
Michael,
My focus is on the truth.
If Congresswoman Bachmann refuses to adequately explain her actions we can’t get to the truth. Without the truth, how can any of us possibly judge accuracy?
Larry Schumacher is a fair guy. I trust him to ask the good questions we, Bachmann’s constituents, would like answered.
Me thinks your focus is on spinning this story the way you want it spun. Lack of truth allows spin.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:04 pm
I just want to point out that the irony of Michael Brodkorb criticizing anyone for passing along party rumors as facts is too obvious to require elaboration.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:13 pm
Chris,
I’m sure you could find the answer to that on Google.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:35 pm
I’d second Tim’s suggestion. Also, do you know whether Michele Bachmann will be present at the Financial Services Committee meeting that is going to be held in Minnesota? She sits on that committee. That might be a time for her to set the record straight with journalists.
August 7th, 2007 at 6:25 am
Buzz off Fecke. Don’t you have some lies and half-truths to tell your grandmother?
In reviewing the time line, it’s reasonable that the first motion to adjourn was intended to allow time to read the legislation before voting on it. … hell, anytime Democrats are trying to ram-rod legislation through the house without giving members time to read it is newsworthy, and terrifying.
Still, some others are right to ask Bachmann, et. al. to have that response ready for a news reporter who asks… On the other hand… THE REPORTER IN THIS CASE DIDN’T BOTHER TO ASK.
I agree, bring ‘em all on to your show Michael. Could be illuminating for all involved. And at a minimum, this cub reporter could get a (much needed?) lesson in civics.
August 7th, 2007 at 7:53 am
Fecke, did you find that line in an AP story or is that a Fecke original?
August 7th, 2007 at 8:13 am
“Fecke original”
Isn’t that an oxymoron?
August 7th, 2007 at 8:19 am
“This is an undisputed fact.”
Well, gee, taking into account the immediately preceding paragraph in the post, apparently not…
August 7th, 2007 at 8:23 am
Eva,
You have Bachmann derangement syndrome. It’s actually pretty funny.
August 7th, 2007 at 8:24 am
I love how Tim and Fecke and Eva all deflect the real issue. Every single Member of Congress from the MN delegation voted to adjourn. Yet only Kline and Bachmann are being scrutinized. Why not ask Walz and Ellison, or Oberstar and Peterson?
August 7th, 2007 at 9:26 am
There is no way these two “journalists” will appear on your show Michael.
They are the questioners, not the questionees. How dare you scrutinize their work product.
August 7th, 2007 at 9:39 am
Another on target exposition of leftist nincompoopism by MDE. Well done Michael!
Mr. Schumacher is no friend of the right. His paper is consistently biased and not on any republican legislators list of folks to call immediately when they want elaboration.
This is simply a case where the St. Cloud Times acted unethically in their reporting. Brogan bit on the bait from DCCC. Schumacher took joy in publishing a half-truth that defames the party he clearly opposes. He is the Eric Black of St. Cloud. But I think Eric would have had the character to publish an accurate follow-up story including statements from Bachmann and Kline.
But not Schumacher. Some folks just can’t admit when they are wrong.
August 7th, 2007 at 9:46 am
Chris,
Thanks for the 100% true and 100% misleading statement.
Every member of Congress ever has voted to adjourn.
How is asking Congresswoman Bachmann to appear on the radio with these reporters an attempt to “deflect the real issue?”
Only Bachmann and Kline of the Minnesota delegation voted to adjourn last Friday before the 35W bill was voted on by this Congress.
That is the issue.
You, once again, are trying to create doubt through confusion.
August 7th, 2007 at 9:51 am
No Tim, that’s not correct. The Democrats also voted to adjourn before the 35W bill was complete.
The difference, apparently, is timing… and also, that the Republicans wanted to read a different, more critical piece of legislation before voting on it… you know, because when you’re voting, you should know what you’re voting for or against… especially if a Democrat hands the legislation to you.
August 7th, 2007 at 9:52 am
Drew,
How can the St. Cloud Times publish a follow up with statements when Congresswoman Bachmann won’t talk to them?
The only response from Congresswoman Bachmann I am aware of is her appearance on Michael’s radio show last week. She won’t respond to the St. Cloud Times / Gannett.
I really do appreciate Michael, Chris, Chestnut and you keeping this story alive. Were it not for Michael and you guys this story would have been history on Sunday.
August 7th, 2007 at 9:53 am
It’s amazing how ridiculously dumb and dishonest Democrats are. It really is. Passionate, but stupid.
The DFL really is the party of the ignorant and emotionally retarded.
August 7th, 2007 at 9:53 am
Tim, the reporter was, apparently, too lazy to call Bachmann for comment. That’s not the same as Bachmann not talking to her.
Idiot.
August 7th, 2007 at 10:07 am
Chestnut,
From the article:
“Bachmann’s office did not respond to e-mails or a call for a comment.”
This past Saturday on Michaels’s radio show Congresswoman Bachmann claimed that she had documented evidence that the emails from Brogan were returned
August 7th, 2007 at 11:11 am
Thanks Tim… … so who’s lying? Brogman or Bachmann? Were the messages returned or not?
Even if they weren’t returned, is that so odd? The story was filed hours before Bachmann left the House chamber…
Eh… mostly, this is nothing to do about nothing.
August 7th, 2007 at 11:34 am
What is so very funny is the hatered for Michelle Bachmann by the liberals and yet there will be not a damn thing they can do about it!
They hate the idea of a true conservative in office for as long as she wants.
Kind of like half of the DFL party, they just automatically get seats just because of how many are brainwashed into voting for anyone with a “D” behind their names. Things are changing all the time though! Look at Michelle Bachmann, no matter how hard the liberals try to knock her off, she keeps coming back stringer than ever and set in her resolve. 
I like Michelle a lot and wish I had her in my district! I wonder if we could clone her?
Cry, whine and bitch all you want my liberal friends, you know you are not going to be able to unseat her any time soon.
I hope my liberal friends are getting set for 2008 and getting early prescriptions filled so when November comes and you all tossed out left and right in not only local races but nationally!
The taxs you all tried to pass, the bridge issue, the convention coming up and now most likely the DFL will push for too much over the road and bridge issues and we will see the DFL slam a tax increase for more than just roads and that will sour the poele of MN on voting for the DFL again.
August 7th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
I need to correct my first comment in this thread.
Congressman Bachmann DID, in fact, mention the FISA bill excuse on Michael’s show this past Saturday. My mistake.
August 7th, 2007 at 3:18 pm
Tim I suppose one gets used to the taste of his own foot in his moth but do you not ver get tired of being so very wrong so very often?
You are so worried about trying to post a “gotcha” here your are lost about what is truth or fiction.
Chris,
Thanks for the 100% true and 100% misleading statement. ~ Tim
Well Tim thank YOU for the 100% untrue and misleading posts.
You are a total asshat.
August 7th, 2007 at 11:48 pm
BK,
You once again put your real self on display for all to see.
When you make a mistake and are called on it you scream and throw a temper tantrum and call names. Well, honestly, that’s every post you make here.
I am big enough to admit a mistake.
Since you accuse me of of “being so very wrong so very often” I assume you have 10’s if not 100’s of examples to back that up. Put them up and show everyone how right you are about me.