GOP In-Fighting: David Gaither Considering Ramstad Challenge

by Matt Martin | 24 Comments
February 23, 2007, 3:32 pm | Category: CD3 | Tags: , .

24 Responses to “GOP In-Fighting: David Gaither Considering Ramstad Challenge”

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  • R. Utz
    February 23, 2007 at 5:21 pm

    I just hope David runs. I have so much to say about him. Strong legislative record and a dedicated public servant.

    He’s been such a close personal friend of mine for years.

    Go get’em tiger!

  • Becky U
    February 23, 2007 at 7:26 pm

    My guess is that David Gaither will be hesitant to make these kind of waves in the near term.

    My Republican friends tell me that he has some personal issues that he really needs to work through before he goes out and does something that will draw as much scrutiny as this surely would.

  • Shannon
    February 23, 2007 at 8:02 pm

    Can someone please expain to me, why isn’t the repbuican faithful rising up against Norm Colemen, who’s yes vote in the senate supported the same principal?

  • Dan
    February 23, 2007 at 9:00 pm

    Can I say assclown on MNPublius? Because this guy is a big league assclown.

    I think Ramstad is probably about as worred about his district being hit by a comet as his is about losing to this assclown, but does anyone think that Ramstad would actually switch parties?

  • Marian the Librarian
    February 23, 2007 at 9:11 pm

    I’m in Ramstad’s district and am a pretty hard core Democrat. I vote for Ramstad every time. I say to anyone who wants to run against him in the primary: bring it on. He could run without party endorsement and still win with 80% of the vote.

  • Crazy Brittney
    February 23, 2007 at 9:12 pm

    breaking news - Gaither was forced out of the office bc of a, er, lack of family values - little side bizniz with his very young married assistant.

  • R. Utz
    February 23, 2007 at 10:18 pm

    David Gaither has been a hard-working public servant for years. He has a great story to tell about his work in the MN Senate and for Gov. Pawlenty. I hope he will let people like me, who have worked closely with him, tell our stories.

    Republicans like strong, passionate leaders and David has both qualities.

    I happen to live in the Second Cong. District and I can’t vote for David. But I’ll do anything to help him win. I’ll even deliver coffee from Caribou Coffee in Eagan. It is a very popular place to meet for talks.

    But back to David. Run. Minnesota and Washington needs more passionate leaders. If you run, I’ll be right beside you.

  • R. Utz
    February 23, 2007 at 10:48 pm

    I don’t want to be pest, but Dan’s comments are wrong. I’m not familiar with the word he used to describe David, but I would guess it is not a compliment.

    I hope Republicans in the Third Cong. District use my stories (and other people’s) and contact with David in campaign against Ramstad. From what I know, other Republicans will be coming forward to talk about David’s hard working reputation in the legislature and in Gov. Pawlenty’s office.

  • capitol insider
    February 23, 2007 at 11:16 pm

    I have heard the real reasons why gaither left the gov’s office…I hope people like r. utz tell the real intimate story of gaither’s departure (and his assistant’s)….

  • Matt
    February 23, 2007 at 11:23 pm

    Look, no matter what Dan says, you have to give him HUGE credit for using the phrase “assclown” no less than 3 times in a comment. Huge cred Dan, huge cred.

  • MN Campaign Report
    February 24, 2007 at 7:07 am

    Ramstad won’t switch parties, Dan. However, Marian, I’m not so sure about the 80% number you throw out. During his time in Congress (17 years now), Ramstad’s district has changed beneath him. The Republican Party in CD3 has gotten more conservative and the district as a whole has gotten a whole lot more progressive.

    On one hand, Ramstad doesn’t have much of a political choice but to vote with the Democratic majority on their major initiatives, but on the other, there are quite a few disenchanted Republican conservatives around here that may be ready for someone a bit closer to their hardcore conservative politics.

  • Anne Hoops
    February 24, 2007 at 7:50 am

    I know quite a few progressive people who live in Ramstad’s district. They can live with Ramstad because he is a moderate Republican. They would have a hard time voting for a very conservative Republican. A Ramstad primary loss might be good news for the DFL.
    Anne in Minneapolis
    Type your comment here.

  • Marian the Librarian
    February 24, 2007 at 11:26 am

    Dan, I respect your right to say what you think but I for one would like to see the name-calling kept to a minimum. Let’s not turn this into MDE.

  • R. Utz
    February 24, 2007 at 12:02 pm

    It seems Marian is seeing what I and others who have worked up close and personal with David have seen: he’s a passionate public servant.

    I must be passionate about David.

  • Midwest Meg
    February 24, 2007 at 1:25 pm

    Why wouldn’t Ramsted switch parties and run as a Democrat? What would stop him? If Repubs continue to run as hard-core conservatives, I think it would be a smart move on Ramsted’s part.

  • blipsurge
    February 24, 2007 at 6:08 pm

    Sure, y’all love to believe Ramstad’s image, and it is an image, that he is a moderate Republican. But look at his voting record. He has voted a very high percentage of the time with the Republicans and with Bush. I’m sure he suppported the Bush budget. It’s true, too, that his district has changed beneath him and he’s covering his political ass by voting for the anti-surge resolution. He may believe it; but he’s also covering his political ass. He’s more Republican than you think. Just examine his voting record.

  • Dan
    February 25, 2007 at 3:37 pm

    1) Just to clarify, Assclown is a pejorative term. I am not sure why that was in doubt, but if you also think that Gathier is a dedicated public servant with a great story, maybe you need some help. I think that buffoon would probably be the closest word, at least the way I have seen it used. Jackass would also work.

    2) I’m guessing from the responses (and getting pimped for using it 3 times in a comment) that Assclown is not an acceptable word on this site. I won’t use it again, unless its really, really appropriate.

    3) What brought out the “A word” with Gathier is not just that he is another right-wing drone, but that he would do something idiotic like run against Jim Ramstad in a primary. That’s a whole other level of stupidity.

  • Eva Young
    February 25, 2007 at 9:26 pm

    Gaither left Tim Pawlenty’s office in late 2006 after the election results possibly due to the new moderate tone Pawlenty would be forced to strike and Gaither’s known conservativeness.

    EY: That is Gaither’s self-serving story on why he left the Governor’s office.

  • Marian the Librarian
    February 26, 2007 at 11:25 am

    This is a bit late but in sreponse to #14, I make no endorsements of this guy. I just don’t like reasonable discussion replaced by name-calling - from either side.

  • G. Mason
    February 26, 2007 at 11:27 am

    Let’s all be honest about Gaither. What the public doesn’t know that everyone inside politics knows is that Gaither “resigned” because he got caught nailing his assistant to the wall….and numerous other places…like the back of a volkswagon. This is on top of that fact that he’s a complete d-bag anyway.

    I must come clean on something too. The biggest mistake I ever made was allowing his kid to walk on to my football team. They deserved to fire me on those grounds alone. Luckily he shares a number with a couple of other players so that should tell you something about his chances of playing. Similar to a tree falling in the woods, if a person never steps foot on the field does he still deserved to be called a “college” ball player?

  • David G
    February 27, 2007 at 11:47 am

    You want to guess why your wife talked you into that one?

  • Lee C
    July 10, 2007 at 7:45 pm

    Dan,
    I think I need to talk to you. Is there a way to hook up?

  • Lee C
    July 10, 2007 at 9:58 pm

    Dan, I think we need to talk.

  • Dan
    July 12, 2007 at 11:20 pm

    What’s up Lee C?

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