While I’ve always been optimistic about Ashwin Madia’s prospects in the 3rd Congressional District (I mean, we have a great candidate, an amazing campaign apparatus behind him, and a district that’s leaning blue), I’ve always said that I’ll know a lot more about how this race will play out after I see Ash’s first ad. Well, the Madia campaign previewed their first TV ad today and let me say this: I’m feeling great about this race.
There’s little doubt that Paulsen will shortly roll out the inevitable Ramstad endorsement ad (I wouldn’t be surprised if he makes it his intro), but I don’t think Paulsen can win this race by continuing to play the nothing-new card. Paulsen seems to think that he can ride Ramstad’s coat-tails into the House without taking any significant policy stands but if there’s one message coming from the American people this cycle, it’s that that they want real leadership that can take this country in a new, better direction. Ashwin Madia is the one to provide that leadership.
Loading ...
Hi I’m Ashwin Madia. I went to high school, college, law school and joined the Marines. So yeah, vote for me.
Pretty weak. The only part of the ad that doesn’t address his resume (basically summed up by bowhuntdude) was that you can’t go running in Baghdad.
For a thirty second introductory spot it is very well done. Little else can be expected from a first time candidate that is unknown by most in the district. It gives people an outline of who he is and gives him a certian amount of credibility. Once people get to know who they are seeing and hearing from he can talk specifics on policy. The next ads will hopefully do that.
Good introductory ad. I actually didn’t know how his name was pronounced prior to this ad… seems to me he has a pretty good background for a Congressman, and he “wants to give back to America” which seems to be a sight better than his opponent whackjob looking to tear things down from all I’ve heard. Comes off as a nice guy… they don’t let everybody be a captain in the Marines.
I agree Kerosene Hat.
Due to the success of the surge, you can go running in Baghdad now.
Bowhuntdude.
I suggest you enlist to find out just how full of shit you are.
I would agree with Kerosene Hat on this one - for an introductory spot, this is wonderful. This is a campaign that has it’s act together and is doing a wonderful job. And with the number of people they have helping at parades and events is amazing. Keep up the great work.
Yeah, maybe a first ad introducing himself is ok.
Interesting dichotomy between these two candidates. On his website, Erik Paulsen talks about how he wants to “continue fighting to keep Minnesota a great place to live.” Ahwin Madia talks about how he “briefed top U.S. generals on the status of rule of law efforts….” in Iraq and Baghdad. A photo of Paulsen shows him standing next to a soldier in camouflage attire. A photo on Madia’s website shows him wearing camouflage attire. Mr Paulsen publicizes his political ability; Madia touts his patriotism. Seems like an easy choice to me. Choose a politician or choose a patriot.
Excellent first ad; it gives the basic bio while highlighting Madia’s pay it forward approach to public service and his patriotism.
deesent, you summed it up well. Did Paulsen take a stance on Iraq yet?
Awesome first ad. Great candidate.
Wow! I’m thrilled with this ad. It sums up his background, shows him for the true patriot that he is. Great introduction to a strong candidate. It’s a shame Paulsen has nothing to come back with…let’s see…..I work at Target in middle management and lost the house under my leadership. Has Paulsen received his talking points yet on Iraq? Maybe he could meet with Ash Madia and receive a briefing about working on the rule of law in Baghdad.
MNpublius - you should post on this. MDE put up a post today about a DFL legislative candidate getting got smoking grass then turns around and IN THE SAME DAY drafts Ricky Williams for his fantasy football team.
When I was at the DFL convention and they called all the vets up, Ashwin Madia went to the back of the stage and let all the other vets get the spotlight. It probably wasn’t a great political move for someone trying to get his face out there, but it was one of the classiest moves I have ever seen. He put the vets moment above any personal political moment he might have had. Pure class act.
Good ad. Most people who don’t post on boards like this or attend conventions have no clue who he is, so it gets his bio out there.
To bowhuntdude and the other doubters….go hide with Paulsen and hope for more of the same old same old! Ashwin Madia reminds us of what real sacrifice is all about (4 years in the Marines) and he’s the kind of new leadership we need in Congress! A true Patriot, not a Bush Republican Politician….the choice is so obvious it seems trivial to even consider someone with Paulsen’s Right Wing Ultra Conservative Voting Record. The time for change is now, and Ashwin Madia is the change this district needs! Great first ad, and stay tuned for what follows.
Forgive me if I’m skeptical, but I think Madia will be taking orders from Nancy Pelosi from day 1. That isn’t leadership, that is falling into line like all the Blue Dog Democrats did this past year.
You Madia people really need to stop with this “true Patriot” nonsense.
By your logic, McCain is the “true Patriot” in the Presidential race. He served in Vietnam. Obama and Biden…?
Here and in every election, all candidates are true Patriots because they believe, right or wrong, that they can make our country better - which is why they put themselves through elections.
ACO……if you’re so enamored of Paulsen, please provide his position on Iraq for us. We’ve all been asking for weeks for it, to no avail. There are only two candidates in the race with a credible chance to win - Madia and Paulsen. Of the two, Madia is my choice - hands down.
Point taken that all candidates demonstrate patriotism by definition. However, I think the description is more apt for some candidates than others. Madia demonstrates such a deep belief in American ideals and the American Dream in his speeches, policy positions, and military service. And, he has the courage to ask all of us to sacrifice to get our country back on track. I think Obama’s speeches, policy positions and service organizing on the streets of Chicago demonstrates that same strong patriotism.
I also would never question McCain’s patriotism but I would question his judgement and policies.
It doesn’t quite compare to El Tinklenberg running around the area like a boyscout, doing good deeds for everyone. That web-ad is top-notch.
I guess they are both going with the ‘running’ theme…
Patriot — “One who loves and defends his or her Country”.
The only thing Erik Paulsen is defending is his longtime political career. Ashwin Madia loves this country enough to volunteer, during a time of war, to put himself into harm’s way for 4 years in the Marine Corps.
Yes, John McCain is a patriot. He is also a career politician. This country wants change. Obama and Madia represent that change.
Ashwin Madia will be a great Congressman.
Armchairoperative
“By your logic, McCain is the “true Patriot” in the Presidential race. He served in Vietnam. Obama and Biden…?”
McCain is a reckless indiviual. Graduated the 5th from the bottom of his class at US Naval Academy. He also crashed 4 war planes. Was known as a drinker and partier. In my eyes he is not a patriot he is seen as a reckless indiviual. We have had 8 years of a reckless president we cannot afford another 4 more years. If Paulsen Plans on showing his support at the republican convention and speaking on the behalf of McCain. He is supporting that reckless behavior in office.
In the words of Clinton at the democratic convention NO WAY! NO HOW! NO MCCAIN!
Great ad for Madia… We need more individuals like him running for office. He will give America back to the people.
I will take it further…NO WAY! NO HOW! NO PAULSEN!
Leadership would be nice given Pelosi’s last 1 1/2 years. Haven’t been able to count on Betty! or Ellison either…
I loved this ad so much that I immediatly posted it on Swing State Project. This my favorite candidate of the entire election, by far, easily.
too bad he stole the running ad from none other than GOP also-ran Mitt Romney (primary ad in Iowa). What a farce.
Nice ad, but next time don’t wear what looks like a turtleneck (I know it’s a collared long-sleeved t-shirt) under a USMC sweat shirt. Marines with turtlenecks is like professional wrestlers with tiaras.
“The only thing Erik Paulsen is defending is his longtime political career.”
When a Democrat does it, it is a long record of public service. When a Republican does it, it is somehow a longtime political career.
If Madia is walking away from a promising law career after doing it for about a year, Paulsen has foregone tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars for his family’s nest egg and financial security by giving a large chunk of his time each year to the people of EP and forgoing leadership positions in the private sector.
If you are tired of Paulsen being a longtime politician, then you should similarly be tired of Margaret Kelliher, Pogemiller, Sertich, and others.
Public service comes in multiple flavors. Paulsen has served his community, and Madia has served his country.
dtm - “Paulsen has foregone tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars for his family’s nest egg and financial security by giving a large chunk of his time each year to the people of EP”
Has he given up his day job? No. So where exactly is this “hundreds of thousands of dollars” being missed
Someone of Erik’s caliber and work ethic would have achieved an executive-level position at Target by this point in his career, responsible for a significant piece of the business and the careers of many employees. With that responsibility would come fair pay and bonus potential.
Instead, he has taken 3-6 months each year to go to St. Paul to serve the people of Eden Prairie. Yes, he gets a stiped for that, but nowhere near what he would have made with his full attention and time committed to Target.
Paulsen is not the only one. Jim Abeler is a chiropractor who goes from 5 days a week to 1 day a week when session is on. People like Pogemiller have found ways to not hold a full-time outside job, and solely be a legislator.
Two incumbents that I’ve read of so far this year are giving up their seats because they need to pursue higher-paying career opportunities in order to provide financial security for their families.
Paulsen has never given up his job — Target is able to use his talents when he is not engaged in the session. But he has sacrified much private-sector career promise in return for serving his community. This goes for other legislators, D and R, in addition to Rep. Paulsen.
I am sooooooooooooooooo glad to see a republican finally agree that it was okay for Ashwin Madia to give up his position at a highly reputable law firm in order to run for Congress. I am happy to see that you respect and understand sacrifice.
Ashwin Madia understands sacrifice. I think leaving a law firm to run for office was a small one. I think serving our country during a time of war in Iraq was a much larger one. When Madia has to vote on issues relating to war, he will have a first hand knowledge of what he is voting on and who his vote will affect.
Taking a break from Target Corporation is not much of a sacrifice. Target kept Erik there because he was a legislator and could lobby for them to build all of those Targets in every town in Minnesota. Target is also a very good employer, and I am sure they made many good consessions for Erik so he could remain in St. Paul.
DtM: Look up “blue dog” Misusing common terms like that makes you look like an ignoramus. Madia is no “blue dog” by any stretch.
“Madia is no “blue dog” by any stretch”
Then I think he is a poor fit for the 3rd.
swd — You and Oliver Stone should team up sometime. I just love how in your worldview, everyone is in cahoots. Yes, I can see the CEO of Target sitting back in his chair, Dr. Evil fashion, saying “if we let Erik go to St. Paul, but keep him on payroll, we can take over the world!! Ha ha ha ha!
How jaded. Until everyone is a federal employee, some of you just won’t be satisfied.
DTM…..of course Target looked at Erik’s position as a middle manager and made a conscious decision to keep him on board because of his house seat and leadership position. Goodness. That’s common sense - not being in cahoots. Makes good sense to me…… The point remains: having a job is necessary when part of a citizen legislature which the state legislature is. Running for a federal position makes it impossible. Paulsen didn’t sacrifice squat when serving in the citizen legislature and he isn’t sacrificing now as he remains on Target’s payroll while running for congress.
DTM:
“Someone of Erik’s caliber and work ethic would have achieved an executive-level position at Target by this point in his career, responsible for a significant piece of the business and the careers of many employees. With that responsibility would come fair pay and bonus potential.”
Would have, could have, should have….Does not get people elected…Paulsen would have, should have and could have kept the state up and running…instead he shut it down. If he were working for Target in this so called “executive level position” and used the same philosophy and shut down Target. Do you believe he would still have his “executive level position?
DTM…Ashwin Madia certainly understands the chain of command, but he isn’t afraid to buck the system if he thinks it’s broken. While Paulsen has been taking his marching orders for the last 12+ years from Pawlenty, Swiggum, Bush, Cheney, Rove, Carey and who knows who else, he has been ignoring the people of the 3rd and the state. By voting an extremely conservative “no new taxes” mentality he has helped the GOP leadership create a “haves/have not” environment in our schools, continually voted against doing anything meaningful for our energy debacle, and need I mention his vote on the transportation bill (NO). His idea of infrastructure is introducing Mandarin Chinese in our schools…..pleeeeease. If you have paid attention to Madia’s campaign, he has energized a huge number of voters (Democrats, Independents, and Moderate Republicans) to believe they can make a difference and get involved not only in his campaign but the political process. Last October very few people knew him, in November they still had difficulty pronouncing his name, but by the time the Precinct Caucuses hit, he had set the stage for a huge change in the 3rd. We are well on our way to sending this “Patriot” to Congress. And yes, giving up 4 years of civilian life for the Marines is a much bigger deal than Paulsen getting some leeway from Target so he could serve in the Legislature (do we know if his pay was cut during the sessions?). Madia also quit his job in October to run for Congress…a serious move by a very serious candidate…soon to become a serious Congressman!
Simple message…
Ashwin Madia loves his country, and is committed to public service.
Spend 5 minutes with Ash, and you come away inspired by his character and intellect. I look forward to future ads that will honor his cause, and show the voters of the Third District that…
Ashwin Madia has the courage to change.
I don’t need someone to “energize” me if their votes in DC will be all wrong. I need someone to represent me and my family. Who will best represent the 3rd? Frenzel did a great job. Ramstad did a great job. Paulsen will do a great job.
All three candidates in this race have served their community. Paulsen as a state legislator. Madia as a marine. And Dillon as a job creator. To diminish the service of any one of them is a slap on the face to all who pursue the type of service that best suits their talents.
Madia: Fiscal Conservative, Social Moderate.
It is clear that Erik Paulsen will NOT follow in the footsteps of Congressman Ramstad. Here’s why…
The people of the Third Congressional District have supported Congressman Ramstad because of his moderate positions on social issues. Do you really expect them to veer to the far-right now?
Erik Paulsen’s track record:
Accepted $73,500 from Corporate PACs, after previously proposing to ban PAC contributions.
http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/can_give/H8MN03077
Supports “Drill Here, Drill Now” as part of his energy policy.
Voted NO to Minnesota’s participation in a regional greenhouse gas reduction program.
[1] The Midwest regional cap and trade program, House Journal p. 10554, 4/23/08
Voted NO to requiring that 20 percent of Minnesota’s energy be produced from renewable sources by 2020.
[2] House Journal p. 4202, 5/19/05
Voted NO to requiring that renewable energy make up a minimum share of the electricity sold by utilities.
[3] House Journal p. 4555, 5/14/01
Opposed equal rights for same sex partners
Opposed increasing the minimum wage
Supports making women who have abortions criminals
Voted for the largest cut in MN education funding EVER
Supports protecting tax cuts for the top 2% of income earners.
etc….
Seriously, which of these Erik Paulsen policies benefits middle class families? Even one?
Check the record. Check the facts.
Ashwin Madia has the courage to change.
According to DTM, Target Corp is wholly altruistic in signing up Eric Paulsen to work for them (when he can). Say Dan, you think the rest of us in the corporate world can get such jobs with side gigs going ?
Give me a break. Eric Paulsen was a political operative who was hired by Target. It does not hurt to have a house minority leader on your payroll.
dantheman..
You say:
“All three candidates in this race have served their community. Paulsen as a state legislator. Madia as a marine. And Dillon as a job creator. To diminish the service of any one of them is a slap on the face to all who pursue the type of service that best suits their talents.”
Let the record show that we are in 100% agreement.
By the way, how did I diminished the service of any one of them? Let me know.
Oh yeah… has Erik found time to articulate his position on Iraq yet?
danbrome,
Apparently not…he must be too busy doing “business analysis” at Target to consider little issues like Iraq…..
“Then I think he is a poor fit for the 3rd.”
That fits with your philosophy.
Where X=Democrat, then X is a poor fit for Y district.
danbrome says: “Madia: Fiscal Conservative, Social Moderate.”
lojasmo says: “Madia is no “blue dog” by any stretch.”
Which is it? Seems to me that Madia will either piss off the Party or piss off the District. The 3rd CD doesn’t want a liberal in Congress, and the DFL machine certainly doesn’t want a fiscal conservative, social moderate in Congress.
Paulsen on the other hand, aligns with the views of the 3rd CD on most issues. Danbrome - of the list you cited above, I’d say that Paulsen is in lockstep with the 3rd CD on 80% of those issues.
Paulsen is a fiscal conservative. Madia tells me he is a fiscal conservative. I back the guy with the track record.
“Paulsen on the other hand, aligns with the views of the 3rd CD on most issues.”
You don’t know that.
Paulsen has been hiding his views, and he’s running from his record AND his party.
That is known.
DTM, The district has liked Ramstad’s leadership. Unfortunately, when you do your homework on Paulsen, you, too, will find that he’s no Ramstad. Madia has views much more in line with the 3rd district, i.e., aligned more with Ramstad than Paulsen. Now, if you could turn your sleuthing skills on Paulsen and get back to us on his position on Iraq, we’d all much appreciate it. He seems to have lost it and just can’t find it.
So a question for you Dems out there. If Madia went to Congress and voted as Ramstad has, would you be satisfied enough to re-elect him in 2 years, or would he not be liberal enough for the DFL caucus?
Well, I’d like to see Madia a little to the left - a LITTLE - of Rammer, but I’m looking forward to a Rammer-type record from Captain Madia. And I fully expect Captain Madia to follow in Congressman Ramstad’s ethical and honorable footsteps.
Jim Ramstad is one of the most honorable gentlemen to ever walk the hallowed halls of Congress.
Dantheman:
Was that a serious question? Do you believe that Ramstad was elected and re-elected by only Republicans? I am one Dem that voted for Ramstad. My vote will go towards Madia. After his two years in office more republicans will vote for his re-election. Just as Ramstad pulled some of the Democrat votes.
I’d be happy if he voted like Ramstad on most issues. I want to see him stay strongly behind women’s rights and equality, though. I’ve voted for Ramstad in the past as have most Dems I know.
I believe (this is just a theory) that the CD 3 Democratic convention didn’t nominate Madia over Bonoff to go to Washington and vote like Ramstad. My theory is that if Madia votes as Ramstad has, those from the nominating convention who supported him will feel disappointed.
Fiscal Conservative…I believe there’s a huge difference between Madia and Paulsen. Paulsen’s idea of sound fiscal policy is to side with “no new taxes” Pawlenty and offer a series of fee’s, accounting gimmickry, property tax increases, massive cuts to education, cuts to health insurance for uninsured and underinsured, and more. If he doesn’t get his way he shuts down the government, or like this last session he goes along with the “trashing” of six of his fellow Republicans (yes he is one, too), and now tries to get us to believe he had nothing to do with their treatment….I don’t buy it, and neither do the people of the 3rd. Madia on the other hand, spoke out immediately against the rebate checks as poor fiscal policy (both Republicans and Democrats were wrong on this along with Bush) and stressed an approach that accually deals with complex fiscal policy and is willing to make the tough choices that are needed. If he has to “piss” off the establishment once and a while..so be it! The 3rd needs someone like Madia to help Congress correct 8 years of Bush leadership. I was part of the nominating convention and I know we can count on Ashwin to vote his conscience and do what’s right for the 3rd and what’s right for the country.
Amazing ad.
Any idea which firm made it?
DantheMan,
Politics is all about dissapointment. Unless you are a purist who isn’t interested in actually accomplishing anything - i.e. Ron Paul on the right or Dennis Kucinich on the left - you are going to leave some people disapointed. Madia will dissappoint some people if he votes like Ramstad, but I think the delegates were aware they live in the 3rd District, not the 5th. And even to the delegates, I don’t think that Madia ever represented that he would be a flaming liberal if he got elected.
If we get a Ramstad who votes for the Democratic speaker, we’ll take it.
Paulson admits that he’s not like Jim Ramstad, stating that “I’m more conservative than Ramstad’’ and “I’m more a Tim Pawlenty Republican.”
I trust that voters from both parties in CD3 will agree that that Erik Paulsen is no Jim Ramstad.
In the area where I live, and it is by no means a well-heeled area, being a Pawlenty Republican has a positive connotation, not a negative one.
I beleive Erik when he says “I’m more of a Tim Pawlenty Republican”. That fits nicely with his assertion that “I’m more conservative than Ramstad.”
I have total respect for those who admire Tim Pawlenty.
But how can Erik Paulsen pretend that he will govern in the tradition of Jim Ramstad, when his record makes him a darling of the far-right Tim Pawlenty Republicans?.
Can you explain that?
Paulsen had a 92% voting record in alignment with Pawlewnty until this year, when he moderated his record a little to look more moderate, something republicans all over the country have done because Bush and the GOP have such a poor approval rating.
Pawlenty and Bush are no Jim Ramstads….as a DEM who voted for Ramstad, I will be happy to cast my ballot for the fiscally responsible, yet socially moderate candidate, Ashwin Madia.
Ahh.. fiscally “responsible” and fiscally “conservative” are two very different things. I believe that Madia probably is fiscally responsible, which means that every time to create or expand a new program, you do it by raising taxes. Responsibility means you pay as you go. Not such a bad thing.
But fiscal conservative means that you realize the value of a tax dollar, want to make it go as far as possible, and want taxpayers to be saddled with the least amount needed to run a reasonable government with necessary services. You take it seriously when you go to taxpayer and say that their family needs to contribute more of their income to run the operation of the State. That, I believe Paulsen is but have no evidence that Madia would be.
DTM,
You mean fiscally conservative like the Bush Admin? Government grew by 25% under them! We can’t afford any more “fiscally conservative” governments like the Bushies…..we need to go back to pay as you go fiscally responsible government. I take it very seriously when a person says they can run the government without raising any funds to do so. You don’t get something for nothing - as much as the Bush Admin and GOP have tried. Unfortunately our children and grandchildren will be paying off this irresponsible form of government as far as we can see into the future. I have absolutely no confidence that Paulsen has a clue why bonding every expense forward is a failure and for that reason alone I’ll stick with Madia.
Half a trillion dollars down the hole in Iraq. If that’s fiscal conservatism, we don’t need fiscal conservatism.
Hey, lo - seems that Erik “The Hustler” Paulsen’s been suckin’ up to Roy Blunt, R=K Street Project.
There goes his pledge to fix congress!!!
Well, I guess that depends upon what your definition of “fix” is…..
“You mean fiscally conservative like the Bush Admin?”
No. The Bush admin abandoned all of the conservative principles surrounding raising and spending revenue. I have said on these and other boards many times that the failure of the Bush admin on financial management is THE largest failure of the administration.
So I have 2 choices:
- abandon the GOP, a party I agree with on 80% of issues in favor of the DFL, a party I agree with 20% of the time
- vote for the IP candidate if he fits my views
- try to improve my party
I choose the third, with an outside chance of the second.
I am glad to hear that DTM is going to try to improve his party, the GOP. An uphill battle, I would say.
I will take fiscal responsibility over John McSame any day.
Madia will be responsible and conservative in regards to our economy, spending, and taxes. There is an even better way to fund a new program or increase a good one that’s working….end the multi billion dollar mistake in Iraq and get rid of all the expensive freebies that Big Oil are getting….that outta fund a whole lot of good programs and in addition, reduce the deficit! dtm, maybe now you’ll vote with the DFL of 25 % of the issues. I’m glad you want to improve your party, lots of my friends are misguided and they could use some help…..just kidding on that last comment!