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MN GOP SPOKESMAN ON MADIA: HE’S “PRETTY FAR OUT THERE IN THE LIBERAL FRINGE”
By Michael B. Brodkorb | April 12, 2008
Some politically naive bloggers wondered why MN GOP communications director Mark Drake attended the 3rd CD DFL convention. Here’s why:
“DFL leaders talked of the need to focus the passion that was brought to the endorsement against presumptive Republican opponent Rep. Erik Paulsen, who is running without opposition. Immediately after Madia’s endorsement, state Republican leaders said Madia was ‘pretty far out there in the liberal fringe.’
‘He’s far from a moderate and he’s far from a centrist,’ said Republican spokesman Mark Drake, who pointed to Madia’s opposition to tax relief and to surveillance programs, as well as the endorsement on Thursday by U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison.” Source: Star Tribune, April 12, 2008
Click here for the complete story.
Drake attended the convention so he could provide comment to the media immediately after the DFL endorsed a candidate. This is great bracketing by Drake and the MN GOP.
Topics: Uncategorized | 37 Comments »
April 12th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
And unlike the 6th Congressional District Republican Party, which did not allow media to video tape or audiotape the event (see TW Budig, Larry Schumacher and Polinaut’s accounts), and closes their conventions to public visitors – the DFL – to their credit – allows the public to observe – and that includes people of the opposing party.
April 12th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Does MBB include Pete as a politically naive blogger?
April 12th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
As a Paulsen supporter- I couldn’t be more thrilled about the endorsement of Madia.
Single, no-kids winning in the 3rd? yeah, good luck with that. The DFL just gave us a fantastic present- I was way more worried about Bonoff.
Madia’s web site is hilarious- we have to address global warming because “the ice fishing season is starting later and later” He looks like a kid in that family picture on his website with mom and dad…explain to me again what he understands about suburban/exurban families, a family budget or paying taxes?
April 13th, 2008 at 12:09 am
So, according to the GOP, Paulsen’s a centrist, and Madia’s a liberal fringer??!?
The amazing thing is, the GOP hasn’t figured out why reasonable people no longer believe what they say.
April 13th, 2008 at 6:57 am
Well at least the DFL has candidates who have actually been in the Iraq war and know about it first hand. Can’t say the same about the MN GOP candidates. Kind of the “I support our troops…as long as they’re not my kids” approach.
April 13th, 2008 at 7:57 am
Too bad Mark couldn’t come up with something that was true.
April 13th, 2008 at 8:18 am
Is Madia a liberal? Is he centrist? We have no idea. Does he have a voting record? Does he have any experience?
Marine experience is nice, and is appreciated. But lets not let his on-the-job training be as our Congressman in DC. The position is too risky to give to someone who talks a good game but has no history that we can analyze.
April 13th, 2008 at 8:21 am
By the way, I agree. Bonoff would have been a strong, strong candidate. Suburban mom with private sector experience who has been in St. Paul long enough to have the experience but not so long that she has much baggage …. She would have been formidable.
April 13th, 2008 at 10:33 am
Once again MBB’s bicycle “spokeman” comments.
April 13th, 2008 at 10:40 am
I’m surprised that Madia beat Bonoff. No clue what the on paper differences are for either candidate. Terri’s almost half a senate term is as thin on experience as Ashwin’s background.
Ellison’s endorsement is the kiss of death in CD 3.
April 13th, 2008 at 10:41 am
“Political naive bloggers,” is interesting.
Contrast MBB/MDE’s earlier comments with what MBB/MDE is writing now!!
April 13th, 2008 at 11:10 am
Give me a break. Ellison endorses and this means the “kiss of death.” God you guys are pathetic. Here’s a concept. Let’s put the two pitch their ideas to the voters, and then have people who they think has the better ideas, values more aligned with their own, and is the most trustworthy and or inspiring. But nooooooooo! Drew Emmer wants to make this about Ellison.
April 13th, 2008 at 11:11 am
CORRECTION: Let the two CANDIDATES pitch…
April 13th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Barak McCain, is apparently unaware that John Kline’s sone is serving the war.
Ignorance is what Democrats do.
April 13th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
WildBlue – Drew et al want to make this about ANYTHING, other than Paulsen.
With Paulsen’s extremist track-record, it’s the only chance he has.
April 13th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Ellison’s endorsement is at lease consistent, at least from the perspective as it is an endorsement from a terrorist sympathizer funded by those who wis to see America defeated. Madia is running on a surrender platform.
Will the 3rd CD voters buy it? I hope not. But it’s their call.
April 13th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Speaking of Democrats in service… Walz quit the national guard as soon as he found out he might have to go to Iraq. And, other than Madia, do any Democrats have any ties to this war… or to the military the despise, generally?
Just curious.
April 13th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Let’s see….Steve Sarvi was a infantry platoon sargeant in Iraq. Does that count? Tim Walz didn’t “quit”. He retired after 24 years of service. Are we speaking of veterans in Minnesota or all veterans?
April 13th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
WMD, these GOPers hate all veterans.
April 13th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Has Drake ever talked to Madia? Apparently Big Kahuna has and doesn’t see things the same way. I’m guessing all your readers would agree that Big Kahuna is kinda a conservative character. Here are some of my favorite quotes from good old BK on a March 27 post.
http://www.minnesotademocratsexposed.com/2008/03/27/madia-spokesman-says-bonoff-headquarters-must-feel-like-the-titanic/
# Big Kahuna Says:
March 27th, 2008
“Madia will be fun if he wins as he is a wolf in sheeps clothing. Just what I had hoped would start to happen which is moderate conservatives going in under the democRat tent and start to upset their wagon”
“I have talked with Madia, I think the left has been fooled, the guy is no liberal by any means.”
“Madia is far more conservative than any democRat posters here for sure! I know for a fact he is far more conservative than you will be comfortable with.”
“Have you actually talked with the man WildBlue? I am very seriously thinking of voting for him as he is a conservative at heart and I feel he is just taking the DFL train to get into office and will not be just another leftist pushing pork programs as most in that party currently do now.”
Looks like your team ought to start singing out of the same song book.
BTW BK, if you are going to vote for him, you might want to send him a couple bucks too.
April 13th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Good point Chestnut. Might we ask the same of you–what’s your record of military service? And Mikey? Yours? We already know Drew Emmer couldn’t pass an induction physical if his life depended on it, let alone the intelligence exam. How about Paulsen? Any of you got any kids serving? Didn’t think so. Gotta love these Yellow Elephants.
April 13th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
When Mark Drake said “He’s far from a moderate and he’s far from a centrist”, was he talking about Madia, or Paulsen, or both?
April 13th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Michael, You must have hit a nerve, the lib naysayers are out in force.
Thanks again for publishing the truth. God bless you!
April 13th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Chestnut,
I think that Tim Walz holds the record has the longest serving military non-commissioned officer in the USA House and the USA Senate.
April 13th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Fix the bicycle “spokeman” comment.
April 13th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
I would be curious as to see how many Iraq War vets that are running for Congress as Republicans this year. I know of 3 Democrats, I remember there were quite a few last cycle, but didnt hear of a single Republican. Can anyone help me out or were there simply weren’t any.
After having Ashwin at my College Dems meeting at St Thomas last Thursday, it was very obvious to me that he was not a liberal by any means. He was firmly a moderate who will work bipartisanly and who switched parties simply because the Republicans deserted fiscal responsibility, govern properly, and he finally had enough with their gay-bashing.
Honestly, the only position he holds that would be considered far-left would be in favor of gay marriage and that is it. He doesnt even think we should withdraw our troops immediatly. He has a very common-sense plan (slow withdrawal over 18-24 months while leaving 10-20k troops incase shit hits the fan) that no far left liberal would agree with, except me I think.
It is apparent what direction the GOP will take in this race, paint him as the liberal and Paulsen as the Conservative but their policy positions will CLEARLY state otherwise.
April 13th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Thanks WMD. I didn’t know about Sarvi. I am just asking about Minnesota Dems…
April 13th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Yellow,
I served for 9 years. I’m not a Minnesota Democrat…
April 13th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Hey Andrew, you asked how many Republican veterans of the Iraq war are running this year? … there are at least 17.
http://www.iraqvetsforcongress.com/candidates.htm
Not surprised you haven’t heard of them. It doesn’t fit the liberal media bullshit.
April 13th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
I hope what Andrew says about Madia is true… Though, obviously, it’d be better that actual Republicans retain the seat.
April 13th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
I hope what Andrew says about Madia is true…
It wouldn’t matter. Democrats support their leadership on procedural votes and it’s on procedural votes that the real action happens. We need a Republican.
April 13th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Chestnut,
Or maybe it is because none of them are from Minnesota?
April 14th, 2008 at 2:15 am
Is Mark Drake a military Veteran?
April 14th, 2008 at 7:16 am
Tim,
I took Andrew’s question as an expansive/national one. He asked about Congress generally, and he said “quite a few” Iraqi vets ran as Democrats last cycle.
I’m damned sure that the “quite a few” who ran last cycle weren’t from Minnesota either. Yet, we all heard much about Iraq veterans running as Democrats. … so much, that the “handful” appeared to be “quite a few.”
Now there are at least 17 Iraq Vets who are Republicans running for national office. The liberal media can’t be bothered to mention them…
In fact, if Iraq vets return and are found to still support the war, the liberal media celebrates banning them from local high schools.
April 14th, 2008 at 7:45 am
Chestnut, it’s NOT a “liberal” media; it’s an “INCOMETENT” media.
For all of your anger at them, rest assured I’m just as pissed off at ‘em.
They let BOTH party’s candidates and politicians LIE to them, and then print it anyway.
And they wonder why they’re failing.
You should take off your blinders and quit drinking koolaide.
And trying to actually “think” might help you out, too.
April 14th, 2008 at 8:41 am
Oh, thanks for the clarification Tommy. But to most of us “incompetent” is synonymous with “liberal”.
You’re the poster child for “liberal”…
April 14th, 2008 at 9:14 am
No. Chestnut – “incompetent” is synonymous with republCon.
Remind me of all the great accomplishments from the misAdministration of Boy Blunder, will ya?
This shouldn’t take long….