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LEGISLATOR THREATENED: END CAMPAIGN FOR CONGRESS OR DAMAGING INFORMATION WILL BE USED AGAINST YOU; LEGISLATOR DOES’T END CAMPAIGN, MN PUBLIUS POSTS INFORMTION
By Michael B. Brodkorb | February 27, 2008
This is a really sad story. According to the Rochester Post-Bulletin, Representative Randy Demmer received a threating phone call instructing him to end his campaign for Congress, or damaging information would be released against him.
"A couple weeks ago, state Rep. Randy Demmer received an ominous call. It was a warning, delivered through an intermediary from Washington, D.C.: Drop your candidacy for U.S. Congress or information about a sexual harassment lawsuit settled a decade ago would be dredged up to damage your campaign." Source: Rochester Post Bulletin, February 27, 2008
Click here for the complete story.
Demmer decided to fight back and not be intimated by the threats:
"'It is not in my personal makeup or character to be intimidated by threats or 'blackmail' and I have decided to bring this issue to light before it is portrayed as something that it is not,' Demmer wrote in his letter to delegates." Source: Rochester Post Bulletin, February 27, 2008
Click here for the complete story.
Since Demmer didn't end his campaign for Congresss, the "damaging" information that was threatened to be used against him found a welcomed home on the liberal blog MN Publius, as they published it earlier this morning in an "exclusive" post that was first teased last evening.
Even after being hand-feed the story, MN Publius still got it wrong. In an earlier version of their "exclusive" post, MN Publius claimed that Demmer was currently being sued, when in fact, this matter had been resolved over ten years ago.
I'm not taking a side in the GOP battle to replace Congressman Walz. But I will take a stand against liberal bloggers who publish material used to threaten and intimidate people to end their campaigns. The bloggers behind MN Publius should be embarrassed for unknowingly being associated with the threats against a legislator.
Topics: MN Publius, Randy Demmer | 25 Comments »
25 Responses to “LEGISLATOR THREATENED: END CAMPAIGN FOR CONGRESS OR DAMAGING INFORMATION WILL BE USED AGAINST YOU; LEGISLATOR DOES’T END CAMPAIGN, MN PUBLIUS POSTS INFORMTION”
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February 27th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
I’m surprised that the gals over at MN Pubic got that much right. They’ve reached the point of being obsolete and they’re unable to do their own research and leg work so they simply become the dumping grounds for rumor and innuendo.
It’s par for the course for a has-been blog like MN Pubic.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
“The bloggers behind MN Publius should be embarrassed for unknowingly being associated with the threats against a legislator.”
You are a very, very funny man.
Sean
February 27th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Michael, as a strong voice from the right, what do you say about this:
“Demmer said he suspects the effort originates in Republican circles, because he’s not even the endorsed candidate to oppose Democrat Walz yet. He said he received a call from a Republican in Washington, an apparent ally, who had received a package with the information and called to warn him.”
Did the GOP turn to the “Has Been Frat boys” to do the dirty work?
So, Republicans don’t like Demmer or Day–can we assumer Brian Davis will be the one to take on Walz this Fall?
February 27th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Michael,
Be sure you reitterate that Demmer said…..
“that he suspects the effort originates in Republican circles, because he’s not even the endorsed candidate to oppose Democrat Tim Walz yet. He also said he received a call from a Republican in Washington, an apparent ally, who had received a package and called to warn him”….a quote from another PB article in the same day’s edition.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Sean: I think you should be embarrassed.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
No more embarrassed than you should be over your ‘reporting’ on Keith Ellison.
Goose-gander– that kind of stuff.
Sean
February 27th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Sean: Once again, sloppy work from MN Publius. Add in the threats to a legislator and you have the makings of a really sad story.
You should be embarrassed.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
The MN PUBLIUS headline was a bit erratic and should have been worded better.
Yet, nothing like your headlines Michael.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Sean: Here’s an idea: stop leaving comments on MDE for a few minutes and write a post about the Rochester Post-Bulletin story that discusses that Demmer was threatened. This story broke over 5 hours ago and you haven’t even had the guts to update your story. Once again, you should be embarrassed.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
You’re a work of art. Like one of those crazy Picasso when you see it from 50 feet away it looks nice but when you see it up close it’s like someones kid swallowed a bunch of crayons and threw up– but a work of art none the less.
Sean
February 27th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Mike:
Just remember that Sean apparently still owes me six bucks and doesn’t want to pay so he has no honor.
Walter Hanson
Minneapolis, MN
February 27th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
speaking of headlines, ya might want to fix the
DOES’T
right here. However, i am envious of your SEO-savvy strategy of headlines of astounding length – and URLs to boot. Strategery, people!
February 27th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
if Demmer’s fundraising is indicative of how his campaign is going, this won’t be his undoing (the public’s dislike for him will).
February 27th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Sean sounds like your typical liberal. Do any of them ever speak without being rude? They never tell the whole story, make things up, and don’t let people with opposing opinions post on their sites. Sean, grow up son.
February 27th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Sean and Zack are hacks at best who have to ban any who bring any challenges to their uber liberal blog they claim has no bias.
While not quite as crazy as democratic underground, not much better either.
February 27th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
I’m assuming that no one has read the lawsuit? But everyone has an opinion about it? There are some potentially troubling details in the suit, including a deposition in which Mr. Demmer would not answer a question about whether he knew about the alleged peephole in the women’s bathroom . . . and having a manager at his shop that had/has a criminal record that includes arson and criminal sexual assault(and yes, this is the same employee named, with Mr. Demmer, in the lawsuit.)
Deposition:
Question to Mr. Demmer: At any point in time since 1994, have you become aware of holes in the walls between the bathroom in the Kasson Store and the adjoining spaces that would permit someone to see into the bathroom?
Mr Cambronne – For the reason stated in the recently completed deposition of Mr. Koontz, I am going to instruct the witness not to answer questions about that issue.
There may be a logical answer for this but silence is not one of them. Mr. Demmer should simply answer these questions frankly and move on . . .
February 27th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Sheesh, Mike, You are embarrassed because someone borrowed your modus operandi. It certainly can’t be anything else.
AS for this story, like the McCain hit, it is an internal hit from the Right. Its how it works
http://www.bluestemprairie.com/a_bluestem_prairie/2008/02/post-bulletin-r.html
http://www.bluestemprairie.com/a_bluestem_prairie/2008/02/brian-davis-is.html
February 27th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Republican ratfucking! Karl Rove and the College Republicans would be so proud.
Pass the popcorn.
February 27th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
MNObserver – a lost Troll full of crap -get back in your cave!
February 27th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
Pete: “They never tell the whole story, make things up, and don’t let people with opposing opinions post on their sites.”
I think you could say the same of MDE. This story is just one example of selective storytelling. Why didn’t MDE include this part of the story?
“that he suspects the effort originates in Republican circles, because he’s not even the endorsed candidate to oppose Democrat Tim Walz yet. He also said he received a call from a Republican in Washington, an apparent ally, who had received a package and called to warn him”
Pete, it happens all the time on this blog: the lie of omission. I don’t see how you can point fingers.
February 27th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
Liberals have no capacity to be embarrassed because they have no conscience.
February 27th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
Hi Sean. I am not a gander, nor a goose. And I think you are a pantload.
Same goes for MNob.
February 27th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
I believe the story is about the threat and a liberal blog being a willing particpant in publishing the report after the threat. He does not point to the Democrats as being behind it, in fact it appears that the Democrats here got defensive because THEY assumed at first it was done by a Democrat. There was no need for Michael to point the finger at who was doing it since the story here is about a left wing blog being more then willing to do something like this. One final word for you Andy – DUH!
February 27th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
All I can say is this is the type of crap you can expect when you Brian Davis lacks judgement and hires Mr. Biers as his campaing manager.
February 28th, 2008 at 7:56 am
Just another example of the volume of hate on the Left.