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MN GOP PRESS RELEASE: “WILL THE REAL MATT ENTENZA PLEASE STAND UP?”
By Ryan Flynn | April 23, 2009
Republican Party of Minnesota Chair Ron Carey today released the following statement after Matt Entenza launched his campaign for governor.
“Matt Entenza’s announcement and rehabilitation tour across the state serve as a mere sideshow to distract from a checkered history of blind ambition culminating in his withdrawal from the 2006 attorney general campaign in disgrace. This record of dishonesty, lack of transparency and power-hungry politics and his inability to be truthful about them makes him completely unfit to serve as our state’s top elected official.â€
FLASHBACK: The Record Matt Entenza Wants You To Forget
Entenza Forced To Withdraw From 2006 AG’s Race After Controversy Surrounding His Truthfulness About Opposition Research He Requested. “Democratic state Rep. Matt Entenza dropped his campaign to be Minnesota’s attorney general on Tuesday, one turbulent week after revelations that he paid a researcher to gather information on a fellow Democrat. .. Entenza’s campaign was thrown into turmoil with the revelation that he had hired a Chicago researcher to get information on current Attorney General Mike Hatch, a fellow Democrat.†(Brian Bakst, “Entenza Drops Out Of AG Race,†Associated Press, July 18, 2006)
Entenza Admits He Hired Researcher, Says He Didn’t Qualify As An Investigator. “The Chicago-based researcher hired by Rep. Matt Entenza to seek data on the workings of DFL Attorney General Mike Hatch’s office also inquired with a local sheriff about a parking ticket Hatch got in 2003. Thursday’s revelation shows that V.J. Bustos’ search for data extended beyond Hatch’s professional duties and into his personal life. Entenza, the DFL-endorsed candidate for attorney general, has denied trying to dig up dirt on his fellow Democrat, now the party’s candidate for governor. … Last year, Entenza rejected as ‘fantasy’ an Internet report that he had hired a private investigator to look into Hatch. He said Thursday that he didn’t believe a researcher qualified as an investigator.†(“Research On Hatch Went Deeper Than First Reported,†The Associated Press, July 13, 2006)
Entenza Initially Claimed Scope Of Researcher Was Limited To “Boring†Public Records Of AG’s Office, Then Was Broader Than He Asked For, And Said It Only Cost A Few Hundred Dollars. “Entenza said Thursday the investigation involved only obtaining some ‘boring’ public records from Hatch’s staff. He denied there was any political purpose behind the request. Hours later, Entenza acknowledged the Chicago firm conducted a wider probe of Hatch, including checking up on a parking ticket Hatch got in 2003. Entenza denied he ordered the wider investigation, approved of it or even knew about it until Thursday. But he apologized to Hatch. Entenza said several times last week that he paid only a few hundred dollars for the investigation he sought, but he has provided no documentation for the expenditure.†(Patrick Sweeney, “Entenza Takes Hits From All Sides,†Pioneer Press, July 18, 2006)
Entenza Amended Campaign Finance Reports To Disclose $40,000 In Opposition Research Payments That Had Previously Been Unreported. “Matt Entenza, who this summer abandoned his Democratic campaign for Minnesota attorney general in the midst of a controversy over his hiring of a Chicago firm to investigate Mike Hatch, said Friday that he paid $40,000 for research that was more extensive than he previously admitted. In addition to Hatch, the current attorney general who is now a Democratic candidate for governor, Entenza’s research focused on Gov. Tim Pawlenty; Rep. Jeff Johnson, the Republican candidate for attorney general; and Entenza himself.†(Patrick Sweeney, “Former Candidate Admits To Detailed Opposition Research,†Pioneer Press, September 2, 2006)
2006 Campaign Wasn’t First Time Entenza Was Involved In Questionable Finance Schemes:
2004: After The Election, Entenza Admitted He Gave 21st Century Democrats $300,000. “Entenza was listed as the third-highest giver to the 21st Century group since 2000, according to a website report by the Center for Public Integrity, a campaign finance watchdog group. Entenza gave $300,000 in three installations of $100,000 each, in July, August and October.†(Mark Brunswick, “Expert Sees some Gray In Entenza Donation,†Star Tribune, November 6, 2004)
2004: 21st Century Democrats Spends Several Hundred Thousand On DFL Legislative Races. “A big national political fund-raising group is playing a significant behind-the-scenes role in Minnesota this year, registering young voters and trying to help the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party win control of the state House. The 21st Century Democrats, which is based in Washington D.C., and is the 18th-largest political action committee in the country, has longtime ties to Minnesota and has been a player in St. Paul city politics for more than a decade. … The group’s spending in Minnesota this year, especially on behalf of the House candidates, is remarkable because so much of the money comes from outside the state. . … Rep. Matt Entenza of St. Paul, the House minority leader who is directing the DFL campaign to win control of the House, said Democrats need all the help they can get to match campaign spending by Republican-oriented groups.†(Patrick Sweeney, “Big PAC A Player In State Races,†Pioneer Press, October 14, 2004)
2004: 21st Century Democrats Hired And Paid Campaign Field Workers For DFL House Candidates. “State Rep. Matt Entenza, who led Democratic-Farmer-Labor House candidates to a string of victories in this week’s election, donated $300,000 of his own money to a national political committee that registered young voters in Minnesota. The same national committee, through a subsidiary, also hired and paid campaign field workers for DFL House candidates led by Entenza, of St. Paul.†(Patrick Sweeney, “GOP Raps Entenza Donation,†Pioneer Press, November 6, 2004)
2004: Campaign Finance Expert Says Entenza Could Almost Buy The Speakership. “’He’s spending an incredible amount of money in ways that I almost think are making it possible for him to buy the speakership of the House,’ [Hamline Professor David] Schultz said. If DFL candidate had won a majority with two more House seats in November, Entenza would have been in line to be elected speaker.†(Patrick Sweeney, “Entenza Reveals $260,000 Donation,†Pioneer Press, December 4, 2004)
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Watching this debacle is going to be far too much fun.
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37 Responses to “MN GOP PRESS RELEASE: “WILL THE REAL MATT ENTENZA PLEASE STAND UP?””
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April 23rd, 2009 at 12:06 PM
A big national political fund-raising group is playing a significant behind-the-scenes role in Minnesota this year, registering young voters and trying to help the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party win control of the state House. The 21st Century Democrats, which is based in Washington D.C., and is the 18th-largest political action committee in the country, has longtime ties to Minnesota and has been a player in St. Paul city politics for more than a decade. … The group’s spending in Minnesota this year, especially on behalf of the House candidates, is remarkable because so much of the money comes from outside the state.
April 23rd, 2009 at 12:24 PM
Matt must get one heckuva allowance from his wife.
April 23rd, 2009 at 12:56 PM
At some point during the campaign, Entenza is going to have to discuss health care. How can he do so without laughing about the millions his wife, Lois Quam, walked away with after the UHC stock scandal. (Google the following: lois quam backdated stock options )
In order to be taken seriously, Entenza must renounce his association with Quam.
April 23rd, 2009 at 1:23 PM
Matt Entenza is a mistake the Democrats can’t afford to make and don’t need to make.
April 23rd, 2009 at 1:44 PM
[...] The Ghanaian Journal added an interesting post today on MN GOP PRESS RELEASE: â [...]
April 23rd, 2009 at 3:56 PM
I think I’ve made if fairly clear I’m a democrat. That said: DFLers, don’t endorse this joke. Matt has too much Norm Coleman-like baggage.
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:18 PM
What you all don’t realize is that people are sick of negative campaigning. This state has serious problems (such as the highest unemployment rate in DECADES) thanks to Republican Tim Pawlenty (funny how the Republicans always fuck everything up and us Dems have to fix it…) and arguing about petty shit that happened in the past is no way to fix education, health care, and the economy. I can’t wait to see how stupid and clueless you Republicans look when you start slinging the mud. Your smear campaigns only hurt you, but why should I stop you? It’s the best way Republicans can help us Dems! Did the American public vote for McCain’s smear campaigns against Obama last fall? No! They voted for Obama because he gave concrete solutions to fix our problems. That’s how you win campaigns! Suck it Republican losers!!!
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:04 PM
Any word yet on VJ Bustous and his involvement?
Was he spotted at any of the “non-profit/backdated stock option” paid for events surrounding Entenza’s announcement?
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:17 PM
U of MN.
What did I miss? Have the Republicans been in charge of the Minnesota House or Senate the last two years? Things were going fairly decent up until a couple of years ago.
By the way; I fully support Entenza. I think he is a fine example of Democrat double standards and would put the finishing touch on the failures of the House and Senate.
I do have one question for you. Please give us one “concrete resolution to fix our problems” that Obama provided detail on during the campaign. Just one. Thanks!
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:30 PM
Yeah, I’m hoping Entenza goes away soon. I sure hope somebody more appealing rises to the top of the list. The sooner the better.
April 23rd, 2009 at 8:12 PM
Oh come on AC, Entenza is the cream of the DFL crop. He is the party leader for goodness sakes.
April 24th, 2009 at 12:08 AM
Matt Entenza is no one’s dream candidate.
That said, and given the chance, he will wipe the floor with whomever the feeble republican bench places up to try and keep the seat Gov. Vanity is about to fumble away for y’all.
April 24th, 2009 at 2:02 AM
The Democrats posting here are acknowledging that Entenza is pond scum.
I predict that if he gets the endorsement, or becomes the DFL front runner, the Democrats here will all begin licking Entenza’s nut sack.
I say this base on what happened with Al Franken.
April 24th, 2009 at 7:49 AM
Leroy is running scared Entenza, Marty, Dayton – who will it be?
Doesn’t matter because they are all losers.
April 24th, 2009 at 8:17 AM
I don’t think Matt Entenza is “pond scum”. I don’t use that language about Republicans, and I certainly don’t use it about Democrats. Entenza is a good and decent man, he just isn’t a very good candidate.
I would love to tone down the rhetoric here and everywhere else. I love hard hitting debate and discussions about the difficult issues that confront us, but I want to do it without personal attacks. I disagree with Republicans on a lot of things, but I also think that without very many exceptions they are doing the best they can according to their light. Apart from the agreement thing, I would say pretty much the same thing about Democrats, and that include Matt Entenza.
April 24th, 2009 at 8:24 AM
Entenza is not pond scum. He is simply an average candidate in what promises to be a crowded field of really good candidates.
I stand by what I said. Should he get endorsed, he will wipe the floor with Carol Molnau, Mark Olson, Michele Bachmann or whatever other retread y’all put up to replace the guy Iowans will soon know simply as tenth place Timmy.
April 24th, 2009 at 8:28 AM
Hiram, calling Entenza is justified. Please re-read Ryan’s post.
“Entenza is a good and decent man, he just isn’t a very good candidate.”
Hiram, calling Entenza “good and decent” is like calling danbrome a “moderate and heterosexual.”
April 24th, 2009 at 9:03 AM
“Please re-read Ryan’s post.”
I did. What in particular do you think is so awful? He hired a researcher who may or may not have been an investigator to look at Hatch. Apart from the inexcusable semantic quibbling, what’s so terrible about that? Do Republicans not do opposition research about Democrats? If not, why not?
Matt seems to have supported Democratic candidates financially. Oh, the horror. Surely, no Republican has ever contributed money to Republican candidates.
April 24th, 2009 at 9:17 AM
Hiram, the cover up is usually worse than the crime.
I agree with you that Hatch should be investigated. I think one of the unintended consequences of the investigation is that Hatch/Swanson got nervous and ended up spending $15,000 of taxpayer money on privacy doors. For much less money, they could have used a state- owned car (with a big back seat) and put a dark window tint on it.
April 24th, 2009 at 9:21 AM
I never thought sound proofing the attorney general’s office was a particularly bad idea. The AG deals with a lot of sensitive information.
April 24th, 2009 at 9:38 AM
Hiram, why do you think Entenza is a “mistake.”
Are you saying that he never should have been born because his father was a drunk? Talk about a personal attack!
Entenza had a tough childhood, which explains why he turned out to be pond scum. I wouldn’t go so far as to say he should have never been born.
April 24th, 2009 at 9:58 AM
“why do you think Entenza is a “mistake.â€
He allowed himself to get caught up in a personal feud with another Democrat, one he wasn’t even running against. Nominating him would be the mistake, particularly because there are so many better candidates out there.
April 24th, 2009 at 10:44 AM
Entenza didn’t “… allow himself to get caught up….”..(.what does that even mean?).
The common theme here is his DISHONESTLY.
Why is it that lying and dishonestly …from Clinton, Pelosi, Wellstone, Franken, Entenza etc. etc. etc. is just so accepted by democrats?
April 24th, 2009 at 10:58 AM
Hiram, so you don’t hold it against his mother for not aborting him? How unliberal of you!
“He allowed himself to get caught up in a personal feud with another Democrat.”
We know he investigated Hatch becuase he was in a personal feud with him. He had personal feuds with many DFLers, which one do you speak of?
April 24th, 2009 at 12:23 PM
‘Entenza didn’t “… allow himself to get caught up….â€..(.what does that even mean?).”
Was I too obscure? It’s hard to know exactly what went on here, but apparently there was bad blood between Entenza and Mike Hatch, possibly over health insurance issues. Instead of putting such personal issues aside, Entenza hired a researcher (or possibly investigator) to look into whatever he could find about Mike Hatch. I don’t know that the problem with this is dishonesty as such. There isn’t anything dishonest in hiring such researchers. The problem I had was that he was putting his personal issues ahead of the party’s interests and as it turns out his own. It wasn’t so much a problem of dishonesty as a lack of judgment.
April 24th, 2009 at 12:24 PM
“We know he investigated Hatch becuase he was in a personal feud with him. He had personal feuds with many DFLers, which one do you speak of?”
Obviously, the Hatch issue, the one that resulted in his leaving the AG race in 2006.
April 24th, 2009 at 12:26 PM
“Why is it that lying and dishonestly …from Clinton, Pelosi, Wellstone, Franken, Entenza etc. etc. etc. is just so accepted by democrats?”
Again, I don’t see any issue of dishonesty here. In reading the main posting above, Entenza’s major sin seems to be supporting other Democrats. I assure you, Matt’s record and reputation for supporting the party and it’s candidates is well know in Minnesota politics. He has made no effort to hide it.
April 24th, 2009 at 3:44 PM
Now your just playing me Hiram …. surely you can read. Maybe you can’t recognize a lie when you see one.
Here’s a hint … scroll up and look for the word “denied” as in:
“Entenza, the DFL-endorsed candidate for attorney general, has denied trying to dig up dirt on his fellow Democrat”
“He denied there was any political purpose behind the request.”
“Entenza denied he ordered the wider investigation, approved of it or even knew about”
liar liar pants on fire….
April 25th, 2009 at 8:04 AM
Hiram, Entenza’s feud did involve someone he was running against … Lori Swanson.
Do you really think that Entenza’s efforts to dig up personal dirt on Hatch didn’t include the relationship between Hatch and Swanson?
Going back to the $15,000 privacy doors, why should taxpayer money be spent to ensure that Hatch/Swanson pillow talk is kept a secret?
April 25th, 2009 at 11:40 AM
“Entenza’s feud did involve someone he was running against … Lori Swanson.”
Was that who he was investigating? Lots of people were no doubt involved in Entenza’s feud, but Hatch was the guy he had the problem with.
“Do you really think that Entenza’s efforts to dig up personal dirt on Hatch didn’t include the relationship between Hatch and Swanson?”
I think Entenza’s problem was with Hatch.
“Going back to the $15,000 privacy doors, why should taxpayer money be spent to ensure that Hatch/Swanson pillow talk is kept a secret?”
I know I don’t want to hear about it.
April 26th, 2009 at 7:31 AM
Hiram, Entenza hired the Chicago firm to investigate Hatch in February 2005. Hatch did not announce for Governor (meaning he wouldn’t run again for AG) until eigth months later.
No doubt that Entenza began his investigation of Hatch when he aniticipated that he would be running against him.
Hiram, I don’t want to hear Hatch & Swanson singing like love birds either. But why should the taxpayers be expected to pay to block out the sound?
April 26th, 2009 at 7:38 AM
“Entenza hired the Chicago firm to investigate Hatch in February 2005. Hatch did not announce for Governor (meaning he wouldn’t run again for AG) until eigth months later.”
It was generally assumed in 2005 that Hatch would run for governor in 2006. If by some chance, Hatch decided not run for governor but for re-election as AG, I think it’s very unlikely that Entenza would have run against him. More likely in fact that Entenza would have run for governor.
April 26th, 2009 at 8:32 AM
Hiram, you’ve just reinforced the point that Entenza was digging up dirt on Hatch in early 2005, because he anticipated facing off with him in a 2006 DFL primary. Whether is was the AG primary or the gubernatorial primary, Entenza is still pond scum.
Besides that, Entenza has eyes that make him look like a child molestor. The same type of eyes that Steve Forbes and Mike Erlandson have.
Entenza: Pond Scum for Governor
April 26th, 2009 at 1:06 PM
Speaking of crazy eyes …… and pond scum ….. what’s the deal on Mark Dayton, anyway ?
April 26th, 2009 at 3:40 PM
KIS, I think Dayton is hiding somewhere. He heard the pig flue is coming and went underground.
April 28th, 2009 at 1:40 PM
Hiram, Do you think you supported Entenza enough so that Lois will give you monthly check or get you a job at 20/20 ? Look what a TOTAL SHILL he turned the former STRIB reporter Conrad Defibre into !
June 22nd, 2009 at 9:08 AM
[...] thinks his lies from 2006 are “…a small factor in his 12-year record.” Click here to read a background document from the Republican Party of Minnesota about Entenza’s lies [...]