In 2001, Paulsen proposed prohibiting PAC contributions for Minnesota politicians. Discussing the bill in 2001, Paulsen said, “Eliminating PAC contributions will restore integrity to the political process and give citizens the confidence that their voice is more important than special interests groups.” Paulsen added, “We must act to negate the very perception that special interest money controls the way our government is run.” Now, Paulsen’s own campaign committee treasurer, Reid LeBeau, is himself a registered lobbyist. [State Representative Erik Paulsen press release, 3/21/01; Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board, Registered Lobbyists, accessed 8/29/08]

The Paulsen campaign is drowning in corporate PAC money. The hypocrisy meter is clearly in the red.

Captain Madia had kept his commitment to NOT accept contributions from corporate PACs.

Ashwin Madia has the courage to change.

In 2001, Paulsen proposed prohibiting PAC contributions for Minnesota politicians. Discussing the bill in 2001, Paulsen said, “Eliminating PAC contributions will restore integrity to the political process and give citizens the confidence that their voice is more important than special interests groups.” Paulsen added, “We must act to negate the very perception that special interest money controls the way our government is run.” Now, Paulsen’s own campaign committee treasurer, Reid LeBeau, is himself a registered lobbyist. [State Representative Erik Paulsen press release, 3/21/01; Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board, Registered Lobbyists, accessed 8/29/08]

Erik has no shame, and is drowning in corporate PAC money.

Captain Madia has kept his commitment NOT to accept contributions from corporate PACs.

Ashwin Madia has the courage to change.

Not at all. The difference is - Dems and GOP’ers actually have a chance to win. Dillon has no clue about congress. He hasn’t answered questions put to him by email yet……which party would he caucus with? Dems or Republicans? The two other independents caucus with the Dems. Which party would he seed with for committee assignments? If he stayed “independent”, he’d ensure that he would always be the bottom in a caucus of 1. (The other two indies seed with Dems.) Precisely how would the bottom seniority, no caucus, no party “congressman” actually “serve” us? It’s time for reality. Madia and Paulsen are raising money because they have to compete to win - to serve the people of the 3rd - not just for a vanity run for office. Without his millions, Dillon would be just another indie tilting at windmills.

They are whoring for money like it is going out of style. At some point in the campaign they will be exposed for the special interest empty suits that they are.

The only man of substance in this campaign, David Dillon, has refused special interest contibutions. How impressed would you if Red Guy and Blue Guy did the same?

Executives screw employees and stockholders, but you jerks blame lawyers.

You should be ashamed, but you’re a repbuliCon so you’re quite capable of cheerfully lying through your teeth.

I asked the Bonoff people to prove that she was an “executive” at Tonka Toys and they could not. Wonder why ? So, here we have a person who claimed who was an “executive” at a major corp like Tonka Toys and could not prove it. Her own ex-husband and major supporter admitted she was nothing more than a P.R gal.

How much more direct a question regarding someones “executive” experience do you need Dan. What is laughable is your ability to stand up for the “crony” establishment. You must be clearly worried that questioning Paulsens “crony ” job at Target is going to get more play as the campaign rolls along.

I guess you did not read the part where her own ex admitted that she joined Navarre Corp as a PR gal. I guess not, because u where too busy defending her “accomplishements” that u heard thru a friend of a friend of a friend.

Her folks tried to trash my assertions for months together but could not provide a scinitlla of evidence that she was a business execu at Tonka Toys. Now why was that Dan ?

“Now, you ar hung up on the fact that Paulsen got a job through what you label croneyism. How laughable.”

What is laughable is you trying to defend it. I guess the truth hurts. Say DTM, some of us lefties have real jobs after a real education. I guess that helps in spotting these crony deals that you are busy trying to cover for your man Paulsen.

“Everybody knows that corporations that built America are out there to stick it to the little guy, right? You’re sounding a bit like Obamas speech last night.”

You sound like McCain and Bush. Trying to justify the crony empire they have built in Washington. Try for a moment to discover competence of the real kind. It helps.

I sense a theme.

You wrote ad nauseum in the spring about how Bonoff got her job through croneyism. You could stand that people referred to her as a businesswoman.

Now, you ar hung up on the fact that Paulsen got a job through what you label croneyism. How laughable.

When in doubt, call it croneyism. What an easy scapegoat, and the best part is when you insert the word “corporation”, you can give it a negative connotation and not back it up with any fact. Everybody knows that corporations that built America are out there to stick it to the little guy, right? You’re sounding a bit like Obamas speech last night.

Cherly - valid points, and thanks for raising the dialogue up a notch from the worn rhetoric that rm spews. I guess my issue was not that Madia defended trail lawyers — that is typically a DFL position. My issue was that when Dillon or Paulsen (don’t recall which) brought up their 5 point plan on how to deal with rising healthcare costs, all points having merit can cost-savings behind them, Madia was quick to jump on the tort reform point as attempting to have a “boogeyman”. No, it wasn’t them trying to find a boogeyman, it was them trying to fix the issue of healthcare costs in a very pragmatic approach.

It was just telling to me that Madia knows where his base is, and it certainly affects his policy views.

I do know other state legislators who work real jobs when session is not on. They aren’t cushy, that’s for sure. Their employers have tight demands on them, long hours, nothing special. Paulsen’s job seems too cushy and too cuddly by half.