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MESABI DAILY NEWS: “SECRETARY OF STATE RITCHIE’S CAMPAIGN FOCUS ON ETHICS BURNS HIM BADLY”
By Michael B. Brodkorb | November 29, 2007
"Mark Ritchie ran a successful campaign for secretary of state last fall against Mary Kiffmeyer citing what he claimed were ethical lapses in her office that were born of partisan politics.
Ritchie now has a major ethical issue of his own to deal with because of — well, partisan politics.
Ritchie has admitted to giving his campaign a list of participants in a state-sponsored 'civic engagement' program so they could be sent a newsletter asking for a political contribution.
Ritchie had previously said that he never authorized his campaign to use the list.
Wrong.
Ritchie clearly turned the list over to his committee and names on it, then received an invite to an upcoming fund-raiser and links to Ritchie’s Web site for anyone who wants to donate money to help the secretary of state with his campaign expenses.
In this case, how do you spell hypocrite — R-i-t-c-h-i-e.
If he was on the outside looking in and this was something that would have been formulated by the person he followed into the secretary of state’s office, Ritchie would be calling for Kiffmeyer’s resignation.
But you can bet a campaign donation that he will fight doing that all the way through a Legislative Auditor’s investigation that is now in the works — and most likely afterwards, regardless the findings." Source: Mesabi Daily News, November 27, 2007
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I love this line: "In this case, how do you spell hypocrite — R-i-t-c-h-i-e." Brutal.
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9 Responses to “MESABI DAILY NEWS: “SECRETARY OF STATE RITCHIE’S CAMPAIGN FOCUS ON ETHICS BURNS HIM BADLY””
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November 29th, 2007 at 9:06 AM
Are now at five or six newspapers who have smacked Ritchie over this issue?
Once Jim Nobles gets done with his investigation, I’m sure dozens of other newspapers will go after Ritchie.
Ritchie really is an embarassment as a statewide elected official. He should take a leave of absence or step down while the investigation is underway — how can he lead the office with this cloud over his head?
Once again, great work, MDE.
Stay vigilant.
November 29th, 2007 at 9:33 AM
Y’know what’s funny is this is what Christian Sande and his staff kept saying would happen if we supported Ritchie. I voted for him at the convention, think they were just doing smear tactics. Turns out they were right, Secretary Ritchie has lost my support, if not for the actual incident, but for the cover-up!
November 29th, 2007 at 9:42 AM
The number of editorials against Ritchie has to set some sort of record. Put another way, has there ever been, in Minnesota’s history, this many editorials blasting a minor statewide official.
I could see scenarios where, over the years, a goodly number of papers jumped all over an incumbent governor or incumbent U.S. Senator. But has anyone ever seen a case where this many papers blast away an incumbent SOS? (Or an incumbent state auditor or, when we had one, an incumbent state treasurer.) As I say, this appears to be setting some sort of record.
November 29th, 2007 at 9:49 AM
Great point, S. Jackson.
Is Ritchie going to grant any interview requests? His silence has been deafening.
Regarding Christian Sande: I bet he’s pissed that he’s not SoS right now.
November 29th, 2007 at 10:16 AM
He wont give interviews because the last time he did that he lied and created this whole mess for himself.
November 29th, 2007 at 10:17 AM
I think we have an interesting scenerio coming up. We have a Secretary of State with zero credibility(really should resign) and a special election that needs to happen with Senator Neuville getting a judgeship. I sure wouldn’t want Ritchie in charge of election results.
November 29th, 2007 at 10:24 AM
Richie’s political career is dead. He just hasn’t admitted it yet.
November 29th, 2007 at 10:29 AM
I hear Democrats are gravely concerned about the shadow this casts over future elections.
The last thing they want is any doubt among the public that they are playing by the rules, especially in light of the questionable tactics of groups like ACORN in recent elections.
November 29th, 2007 at 10:36 PM
You know folks there seems to be an editorial page missing. Lets see the Saint Paul Pioneer Press weighed in. the Minnesota Daily weighed in.
Help me I live in Minneapolis. I also to subscribe to a paper that I called the “Democrat Tax and Spend Rag” What’s the name of that paper again?
You know the editorial page in the past that told us conceal carry couldn’t work. Lots of deaths will take place.
You know that editorial page which hasn’t met a tax increase it doesn’t like.
You know that editorial page which accused the Bush Administration of many crimes including violating the law when the energy bill was being drafted.
You know that editorial page that wrote editorials the two days that Florida State Supreme Court made rulings favoring Al Gore for President.
It’s the Minneapolis ??????
Walter Hanson
Minneapolis, MN