Remember, this is the same creep that was stalking and videotaping himself harassing a woman in a Perkins parking lot at night after planting illegally placed signs next to Madia’s office. It’s the same guy who finds exploiting an eight-year-old girl in a negative attack ad “hilarious.”
In his recent set of three posts on Michael Brodkorb’s whisper campaign and MNGOP rumor mill headquarters, Minnesota Democrats Exposed, he “exposes” and links to photos of young women and asks his readers to question what “skinny b*tches for Madia” means to them.
It is unbelievably shameful for the former Communications Director of the MN GOP, the former Research Director for the MN GOP and a consultant to numerous state-wide campaigns to push a story with copied images of young female staffers of his opponent and framing them such a disgusting context.
On Minnesota Democrats Exposed, many times Michael Brodkorb will pose a “simple question” or a very short post while his commenters finish his thought so he doesn’t have to say the words himself. It’s a common way to spread rumors, lies and to frame conversations about a topic. In the recent three separate posts and threads, he fostered the following excerpts of conversation to describe the photographs:
“When did the DFL start pimping their daughters?” “DFL is now DFLP Democrat Farm Labor Pimps” “Do I think their management is pimping them? Yes, Absolutely yes.” “To be clear, the gal at the top of this page is kind of a babe.” “She’s cute. Is she single?” “I wonder. Do you think the Democrat party pays workinggrrlz comp. for it’s staff skanks?” “Madia for Congress: Hiring gorgeous women.” ”The Democrat party, and the Ashtray Madia campaign does not discriminate it’s skankery based upon gender, sexual orientation or fashion sense.” “Word to the wise, fellas: If Democrat skanks, or skinny b*tches for Madia show up at your fraternal orginization, wrap that rascal!”
There’s much worse that I won’t reprint here. Most of it is blatant objectification of DFL staffers and nothing to do with the campaign. Brodkorb even allows linking in the comments where people actively grabbed their own copies of the photos and labelled them such as “madiaskank2.jpg” to share with others. All while the top of the post and the names of some of the images contain the women’s real names.
Michael Brodkorb does not delete these comments and allows them to foster. He even linked his posts to another site that took his lead and took it farther by calling these women “street walkers” and “skanks.”
This disgusting activity by the Paulsen campaign’s consultant should never, ever have a place in Minnesota politics. What happens when these women try to find their next jobs? Will Erik Paulsen condemn this activity from his highest paid consultant or will he let it go like he did with the racist and bigot in the Minnesota House?
The Paulsen campaign should be absolutely ashamed they have allowed themselves to go this low and Erik Paulsen should condemn these actions.
Aaron: None of the comments you “quote” were left by me, as I run an open and unmoderated comment section. This is really a stretch, but you already knew that.
Michael -
You do not run “an open and unmoderated comment section.” That is complete fiction. You regularly delete comments and ban commenters. Of course you are perfectly within your rights to do so, but to claim you don’t is just not true.
Michael,
It’s your site. Take some responsibility. You don’t pit ideas against ideas, you pit citizen against citizen. You plant the seed and then let the dogs loose. You are like those professional protesters, who show up to stir the pot, then step aside to watch the carnage. You try to tell your minions that it is American against anti-American. And the you have the nerve to say not my fault?
Nice,
Alec
Zack: Contrary to your statements, I do run an open and unmoderated comment section. The comments referenced in Landry’s post could have been left by anyone, including Democrats. This disclaimer appears on MDE: “The statements, opinions, policies, and views expressed on Minnesota Democrats Exposed (except comments left on my posts by other bloggers and interested parties) are solely mine.
Going forward, the “Landry Standard” or “Team Franken Embedded Blogger Standard” will now be equally applied to MN Publius.
Yes, Michael. There are no embedded Republican bloggers on your holier than thou web site.
I just like to thank M.B. for reminding me what truly offensive behavior looks like as I sort through all the stories and ads in making up my mind about which candidates to support. At least Franken’s old jokes and comments, while at times sexist or vulgar, didn’t target real people.
Both Norm and Paulson are unimpressive in their reluctance to distance themselves from offensive tactics and associations, as reported on here at MN publius. MDE is a sleezy site that I hesitate to click over to when posts from there are linked.
The GOP used to call itself “the party of ideas,” all the while practicing character assassination. Now it has increased efficiency by assassinating character without any veneer whatsoever. Shameless! The outcome of the election will be the verdict on the effectiveness of pure character assassination.
The GOP used to call itself the party of “Personal Responsibility”, and “Ownership Society”.
What happened?
Brodkorb knows what he’s doing.
I’ve seen him intervene and have to check Chestnut about his language and at times demanded decorum. This was over the top and distancing himself through the ol’ I just let people comment is not enough. He also has a responsibility to his candidates.
They talk about Al joking about rape yet, he sits back and promotes the rape of these women reputations after the republicans stole pictures from their private account and posted them. Brodkorb thinks this is OK?
While Erik and Rammer hold a press conference to denounce these “scurrilous” posts? Maybe they could send the “talking heads” Michel and Carey and they could think up some more names for these young staffers who did nothing wrong. Do you think Erik is sharing these photos and posts with his “sheltered” wife and daughters…let’s hope not!
“I do run an open and unmoderated comment section”
False
After the “Breaking News” about Franken becoming angry with Coleman following their debate in Duluth, all of the comments that I had posted were deleted for no apparent reason except for the fact that they were coming from the wrong side of the fence…the left. Other posts coming from the right side of the fence, some of which featured cursing, weren’t touched at all.
Truth Report for Michael Brodkorb: F
*Now* do you guys regret co-hosting a happy hour with this scumbag?
Neither MNPublius or MDE are unmoderated. They both regularly delete posts or entire threads. Both are made primarily up of posts designed to be deceptive when they aren’t outright lies. The people that run them know this full well while they pretend to be more ethical than the other.
The primary purpose of either forum is to foment hatred and fear of those that disagree. Brodkorb and the Publius gang are all perfect representatives of their parties. If any of them had the ability to feel shame now would be the time.
Mr. Hat:
My comments critical of Brodkorb been blocked on MDE when I use my posting name. When I create a new name and apply the same post, the message is allowed on MDE. This has never happened on Publius.
Michael Brodkorb’S unconscionable recent post fomenting hateful, personal attacks against these young women have backfired. Many people have emailed Mr. Paulsen concerning his “part time consultant’s” behavior asking his female communication director how she feels about MDE scurrilous attacks on the girls. Many others have emailed the link to MDE’s blog to undecided voters and rational friends making the comparison between Brodkorb’s posting and Michele Bachmann’s “Anti-American” comments. Words are inadequate to explain the revulsion felt around the 3rd CD. This man has no shame! NO SHAME!
I would agree with cdeesend, NailingJello and others. MDE routinely blocks posts; his claims to have an unmoderated and free-discussion site are an outright lie. Only the narrative MDE wants to have is allowed through. Similar to the other posters, I’ve attempted to submit an extremely civil comment, only to have it immediately blocked.
It’s a shame that MNPublius has to be compared to MDE. While MDE, by definition and title (and implementation), is meant only to foment suspicion and hatred and announce attacks, at least MNPublius occasionally has a discussion on issues, rather than only dedicating itself to adolescent attacks. Sure, they show up, but at least that’s not its sole intention, and shows that the owners try to have a higher purpose in mind.
I would also submit that Erik Paulsen and Michael Brodkorb both have daughters and wives. I wonder how they would feel if this kind of crap were levied at those loved ones?!
I know Erik is a board member of a Missouri Synod Church right here in Eden Prairie. Wonder how that pastor and congregation might feel if they saw what Erik’s campaign is paying for?! Bet Michael goes to church too. Real good values…
Those young women have families, and some of them are newly high school graduates. Their only crime appears to be that they work for “the wrong campaign”.
Shame on Erik Paulsen, and shame on Michael Brodkorb!
“*Now* do you guys regret co-hosting a happy hour with this scumbag?”
Not speaking for the Gents running this blog, but I - for one - don’t regret going at all. And I take exception to your referring to Michael as a “scumbag” - that’s easy to do when posting “anonymously” - as I don’t for a minute think Michael’s a “scumbag”.
I don’t for a minute condone the attack on those women; I think it’s a terrible thing to do.
It’s also hardball politics; it’s a high-hard one that’s tossed at the head.
And it’s also one that should NOT have been there to toss at. Employers these days routinely scour facebook and other social networking sites, both pre- and during employment. Those pictures shouldn’t have been there in the first place; once there, they could have, should have, been caught internally.
They weren’t; Team Paulsen is in a desperate position; they tossed the high-hard one.
That’s playing to win.
Again, I don’t condone the high-hard one - but I understand it. And while Michael may be many things, “scumbag” isn’t one of ‘em.