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BREAKING NEWS: CIRESI CAMPAIGN MANAGER UNLOADS ON FRANKEN OVER SERIAL DISHONESTY ON IRAQ
By Michael B. Brodkorb | February 29, 2008
I heard rumblings yesterday from a dedicated reader of Minnesota Democrats Exposed that Mike Ciresi's campaign had sent out a mailing contrasting Ciresi's and Al Franken's public comments about the war in Iraq.
In an e-mail sent out in the last hour, Mike Ciresi's campaign manager accuses Team Franken of distorting "the truth by saying it is negative to use a candidate's own words about the critical issues facing this nation." Team Franken responded to Ciresi's mailing with letter of their own which according to Ciresi's e-mail, "avoid[ed] the truth about Al Franken's public statements about the Iraq war and his ability to handle the pressure of holding public office."
Please read the entire e-mail after the page break.
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Dear Friend,
While running for President in 1948, Harry Truman would hear people yelling the now famous phrase "give 'em hell, Harry!" Upon hearing that battle cry, the president would respond, "I don't give them hell. I just tell the truth about them and they think it's hell."
This story applies to our U.S. Senate race for the DFL nomination. How? Well, yesterday, the Franken campaign sent out a letter to try to avoid the truth about Al Franken's public statements about the Iraq war and his ability to handle the pressure of holding public office. Franken's campaign responded in an attempt to distort the truth by saying it is negative to use a candidate's own words about the critical issues facing this nation.
Here are the facts:
We sent out a mail piece that contrasted what Mike and Al have said about the Iraq war. Al's comments were in his own words and these were the comments that the Franken campaign did not address, because they can't refute the truth:
· From the Al Franken Radio Show, May 1, 2006:
Franken: "I think I would have voted for the use of force, 'cause I would have believed, I believed Colin Powell.'" Al Franken would have voted for the war in Iraq.
· From the Al Franken Radio Show, June 16, 2006:
Franken: "I'm not sure that we should set a timetable myself. I may actually, oddly enough agree with Bush here." In 2006, Al Franken opposed a timetable for the withdrawal of US troops.
· From an interview with Playboy Magazine, January 2004:
When asked if he ever saw himself holding office, Franken said, "No. I would be crushed by the sense of responsibility. Voting on whether to authorize the use of force is a big decision, especially a close call. I don't know if I could handle that. That's what you're doing when you elect someone: you're giving them the opportunity to handle it."
Al Franken believes that accurately quoting his own public statements is a negative attack. Words do matter. Where Al Franken has publicly stood on the monumental and pressing issues facing our nation is essential in an endorsement process. Words do matter. It is vital that delegates evaluate public statements and make an informed decision on where a candidate does stand and has stood on critical issues. Words do matter.
How does Al Franken handle the truth? He attacks Mike Ciresi. How does Al Franken handle the truth? He ignores his own words and pretends that truth disappears once his radio show is over.
Judgment and courage to make tough decisions on critical issues is important. We believe that Minnesotans do not want a Senator who will be, in his own words, "…crushed by the sense of responsibility…" of holding public office. Minnesota has a history of electing members of Congress who took a hard stand and led the nation on difficult issues of national importance. Mr. Franken apparently believes that the use of his own words is negative – that delegates are not entitled to know his positions and his own opinions on his qualifications for holding a seat in the U.S. Senate. Words and judgment do matter if we are to change the course of this nation.Thanks for all you do,
Ciresi for Senate
Kerry Greeley
Campaign Manager
Ciresi for Senate
P.S. If you believe in electing someone with real leadership and judgment, feel free to click here and join our campaign.
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2 Responses to “BREAKING NEWS: CIRESI CAMPAIGN MANAGER UNLOADS ON FRANKEN OVER SERIAL DISHONESTY ON IRAQ”
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February 29th, 2008 at 7:19 PM
Ciresi’s Campaign manager, Kerry Greeley, listed three bulleted facts with accompanying documentation of sites, and dates: May 1, 2006; June 16, 2006; January 2004.
CONTRAST Greeley’s statement to Bill O’Reilly’s very recent statement when he was talking with Representative Michelle Bachmann, where O’Reilly stated:
“That guy [Franken] shouldn’t be elected to run a dog kennel.”
Greeley dealt with FACTS; O’Reilly dealt with DOG KENNELS.
March 1st, 2008 at 4:53 PM
[...] The contrast mailing from Mike Ciresi's campaign sent out about Ciresi's and Al Franken's public comments about the war in Iraq is now available on Ciresi's website. I wrote about this fight between the two campaigns yesterday. I can't see why Team Franken would scream foul, as this is a really fair mailing. If there is one thing I have learned about Team Franken is that they don't think Franken should be held accountable for his record. [...]