The above is a picture of two Coleman staffers who attended the veterans day rally hosted by Al Franken on Saturday. The rally was open, everyone and anyone was welcome, and that certainly included these two gentlemen. You may notice, however, that they are the only ones sitting down in the entire room. This might make sense if Al Franken was just stepping on stage, but the circumstances were slightly different. The man walking onto stage when this picture was taken is Dr. Robert Meaders, a veteran, the founder of Operation Helmet (a group that provides helmet liners to troops) and a Republican. As far as I can tell, and from what others have told me, they were the only two sitting in the whole room when a veteran walked on stage to talk about veterans for veterans day (more pictures after the break).
I usually wouldn’t make note of this because I honestly don’t think it says much about Norm Coleman other than that some of his employees have no class (and, let’s be honest, these two are probably fairly low on the totem pole anyway. But some have been suggesting that this rally was nothing more than a partisan campaign exercise and I simply wanted to note that the only party bringing any partisanship to this salute to our soldiers was team Coleman. While a strong Republican (who Franken extended an invite to because of his good work on behalf of veterans) jokingly jabbed Al Franken on stage, these two put their partisan blinders on. Again, this was just meant to be a salute to our Veterans but if the partisan Republicans want to try to make it out to be a partisan stunt, well, they should look in the mirror first.
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The one in the brown jacket is Tom Erickson, who up until recently worked under McClung in Pawlenty’s Capitol communications office.
I didn’t see him. Where’s the veteran in the slew of pictures you posted?
You guys are clearly delusional. Forgive the two Coleman staffers for not standing up and cheering and applauding at a clearly partisan rally to benefit one of the most partisan and divisive senate candidates anyone can find.
Matt, can you tell me that this rally was NOT partisan in the sense that it will NOT serve as a campaign ad or anything resembling partisan activity out of team Franken? I will be expecting your response before I see you throw anymore partisan bombs over this issue!
So it’s ok to show disrespect to someone who turns up at an arguably partisan event?
I’ll remember that when President Bush comes to St. Paul for the Republican Convention.
Forgive the two Coleman staffers for not standing up and cheering and applauding at a clearly partisan rally to benefit one of the most partisan and divisive senate candidates anyone can find.
The man walking onto stage when this picture was taken is Dr. Robert Meaders, a veteran, the founder of Operation Helmet (a group that provides helmet liners to troops) and a Republican.
I’m not sure if it’s accurate to state that Mr. Meaders is one of the most partisan and divisive Senate candidates anyone can find but bless him for trying to provide helmut liners to troops to help minimize severe brain trauma. The Coleman staffers were simply behaving like young asses. They would look awfully good in uniform, standing at some Green zone check point.
Leave the campaign workers/volunteers out of the debate…its bad enough we attack the candidates, but that is now part of the game.
But I always figured that the workers were left out of it. The Republicans started it last election, but we do not need to stoop to this level.
I remember those guys. They looked incredibly miserable. I went up and talked to them for a minute before the rally got going. They had their attache bags (man-purses) slung over their shoulders cross-wise. I asked if they were there to blog or something. No, they were just worried about their cars getting broken into. It was then I realized why they had their man-purses slung cross-wise — they were frightened of all the muggers in the ghetto. Republicans often get scared when they come into the ghettos of Mpls and St. Paul. I actually laughed when they said that.
I can tell you one this for sure, I’d be bored an miserable if I was at a Republican rally.
Hey Richard,
You need to wake up, unless you are that moronic. I clearly meant that Al Franken is the divisive and partisan senate candidate. Not this Mr. Meaders, quit trying to change the story.
I ask again, IF this rally was truly non-partisan and ONLY to honor veterans we will expect to see NO video or ads from it to promote the senate candidacy of Al Franken, right? You cannot have it both ways guys!
GOPgal is connected to the talking points alright. Having spent years following Franken in entertainment and on his political show, he’s pretty damn far from devisive, unless you consider calling out Bush and Co. on their mistakes…devisive??? He’s rather mainstream, and friendly to the rather conservative DLC lot, in my humble opinion. He calls it like it is, and isn’t affraid to make mistakes. Regardless of the partisan nature of the event, people should always show respect.
Yes, an image showing the vet in the background would have been perfect…but I trust the blogger’s word!