First of all, there’s a huge amount of hypocrisy when Coleman’s campaign files a frivolous, factually incorrect 11th-hour lawsuit against Franken that will go nowhere.
More importantly though, reporters and investigative journalists have been working on this for months, according to MNpublius sources. Remember that famous Cullen Sheehan press conference from October 8? This wasn’t just about suits. Reporters were already likely understanding the connections between Nasser Kazeminy and Hays, thus following the money. Hear the Pioneer Press’ Rachel E. Stassen-Berger:
In a press statement released moments ago, U.S. Senator Norm Coleman dropped a bombshell: reporters for the Star Tribune had a copy of the lawsuit before it was filed:
“Let me tell you how this arose. This is not about public documents researched by an investigative reporter. No. Sometime last week, even before this Texas lawsuit was originally filed, a copy of these false allegations was delivered in Minnesota in an unmarked envelope to two Minneapolis Star Tribune reporters.” Source: Coleman for U.S. Senate Press release, October 31, 2008
11th hour indeed - reporters have the lawsuit before it was filed.
Sounds like Mikey is conceding the hypocrisy. As to his comment-So what?
This reminds me of the timing of George W. Bush’s DUI arrest coming out in 2000. I think it was the Friday or Saturday before the election.
It almost worked that time, too.
What does it matter that the reporters had the lawsuit before it was filed? That changes no truths nor facts.
It is not like Republican politics refuses to play some hard ball… welcome to the big, bad world Mr. Braodknob. You just got ratfucked like the Republicans have done to Democrats for years. I’m glad to see it is payback time.
This reminds me of the timing of George W. Bush’s DUI arrest coming out in 2000. But it doesn’t remind you of Normy’s habit of last minute frivolous lawsuits. Interesting.
Brodkorb could make a strong argument if he could say “The allegations were submitted anonymously to the Star Tribute, the Star Tribune investigated the allegations, and they were proven false. Right now, he can’t say that. All he can say is that the information was submitted to the Strib, but that doesn’t bear on the truth of the claims in the complaint. I will say, that if the Complaint was verified and the Plaintiff is subjecting himself to puerjury chrages, then these lame defamation threats aren’t going to be a deterrent.
This business about the lawyer saying “this isn’t about the election” also does not help out Norm. The Coleman’s can benefit from the unlawful activities of their benefactors but not be legally culpable. That is all the Plaintiff’s attorney was saying.
I suspect that this won’t influence the election because it is being raised so late, and the issue is so complex. That’s too bad, because I think that the voters could benefit from a full hearing on this matter.
Aaron’s correct, this is NOT an “11th hour” story; not at all.
The facts are: this has been simmering; Team Smokescreen has been stonewalling; and now it’s finally boiled over.
Mikey, I don’t think bombshell means what you think it means.
Brodkorb — and Coleman — are wrong, at least according to the plaintiff’s lawyer Casey Wallace, who attests that no media outlet, including the Strib, got the suit early.
If they did get the story early, it means the Strib sat on it, perhaps hoping the whole thing would go away.
As far as Presidnet Bush’s DWI arrest went, maybe it couldn’t be verified until shortly before the election. Have you ever tried to get old information out of a rural courthoouse, DtM (it was like pulling teeth for me to find out how to pay a year-old parking ticket in New Ulm)?
Right, they sat on it hoping it would go away… except for questioning him the other day and, you know, writing stories about it and shit. I don’t dispute that this ain’t your daddy’s Strib, but no reporter is going to sit on this.
And pushes old DWI arrest story was……………………true…and admittedly true.
“Bush’s” not “pushes” — my lord, that was embarrassing.
A famous line from Watergate comes to mind here: Follow the money.
I’m just saying the timing here is pretty humerous. And both sides do it. Certainly not a GOP or Dem trait.
I’ll be glad when this is all over in 4 days, even if the outcome is a government that I think is not right for America. I’ve been wrong before, so maybe Obama and a blank check congress will be good for the country. I’ll probably have no choice but to find out.
Well, David Brauer at MinnPost is reporting that the Strib did NOT have a copy of the lawsuit before it was filed:
Star Tribune managing editor Rene Sanchez confirms his paper did not have a copy of the Texas “DonorGate” lawsuit last week.
That contradicts U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman’s statement this morning alleging, “Sometime last week, even before this Texas lawsuit was originally filed, a copy of these false allegations was delivered in Minnesota in an unmarked envelope to two Minneapolis Star Tribune reporters.”
Says Sanchez, “We did not get a copy of this lawsuit until after it was filed Monday.”
Way to go, Normie!!!
Can’t see what difference it makes how long reporters have been on this story, unless it was held until after the election. Even now it is quite late for this complicated story to sway many votes, besides mine.
I think I can now support Al with some enthusiasm in GOTV this weekend. Like DtM said let’s end this thing and get on to finding out the effects of policies implemented by an Obama administration, with the support of Senator Franken. Too bad it will take many years to straighten out the mess that the Bush administration has left us and Obama will need a second term to make real progress.
I’ll probably have no choice but to find out.
The real question is, “In four years when the country’s economy is in the process of healing, and the country’s reputation in the world community is in the process of being restored and wages for middle class Americans have risen and unemployment is down and in just about every measurable statistic, the United States of America is better off then we were prior to President Obama’s first term, will you finally admit, the conservative philosophy is toxic?”
Don’t worry DTM. There are enough of us DEMS out here that will hold these guys accountable. I know it is hard for some GOPers to believe, but we love our country as much as they do (not saying you are one of them). It is about GOVERNANCE not POWER.
Personally, I want my party to straighten things out for as long as it takes, so believe me, I will certainly be keeping watch and making sure they do the job they are elected to accomplish.
I was just polled for Norm, and I had to say I wouldn’t vote for him now if he was the last politician in Minnesota. Ya just can’t trust him, and it is now coming to light. GOPers should have learned when he suddenly changed parties because he knew he couldn’t run for governor as a DEM.
It’s time to vote for change. See you at the polls!
I have a feeling that this won’t be the last connection between Nasser Kazeminy and Norm Coleman that we’ll hear about. I don’t mean to say that additional crap will hit the fan for Norm between now and Tuesday, just that this relationship seems to need a lot more daylight.
Sounds like some serious misinformation is being disseminated by the Coleman campaign.
First - claiming the suit was withdrawn, (it wasn’t)
and now - is it the campaign or just Brodkorb who is claiming something else again -
that supposedly the paper had the filing in advance?
Why should anyone believe Coleman OR the apologists at this point?
They’ve apparently been proven to have flawed, and/or entirely WRONG stories.
This economy will heal whether it is Obama, McCain, or Mickey Mouse in office. The great thing for the new President is that he can claim the turnaround as his.
“”First - claiming the suit was withdrawn, (it wasn’t)”“
Technically, the suit was withdrawn when settlement talks were improving. When they collapsed, the suit was refiled. The mere fact that there were settlement talks in progress eliminate the frivolity of this case.
Personally, I don’t think the Coleman’s are directly involved in any wrong doing, however, how they and the campaign are handling the situation casts a suspicious light on them. Why blatantly lie at a news conference (saying the Strib had the story early, when they didn’t)? Why point fingers at Team Franken or the DFL, when Barkley actually has ties to Texas? Why point the finger at anyone when the filer is a Republicans who has made it clear that A) there is no political bent to the suit, B) A 90 day period expired and he filed first to be on offense instead of defense in a complicated corporate matter, and C) he ‘feels sorry’ for the effect this may have on the campaign, but he just wants his money back.
Seriously, Team Coleman fumbled the ball on the handling of this situation, especially if the Senator is clear of any illegalities. They turned a non story into a story, starting from the SUV escape hatch, to the Statement filled with lies. The debate tomorrow could be real interesting.
Flash