As Jeff pointed out earlier today, Michael Brodkorb is at it again — trying to make a press story out of nothing. Rachel Stassen-Berger called him out on it yesterday and killed the story:
But even [Brodkorb] admits that any count he gets, if he gets the data, would come accompanied by a “giant asterisks.” That’s because, without the envelopes, he wouldn’t be in a position to know whether the individuals who cast the ballots comported with even the most basic requirements of absentee ballots. He could not check, for instance, whether those who cast the ballots were registered. Without that information, it’s not clear to this reporter what practical value the information would have — except for spin purposes.
Exactly. The only reason Brodkorb is doing this is for spin and media coverage. Over in the comments in MinnPost, Alan Paulson says:
The elections officials will refuse [Brodkorb’s] request. He would be wasting his time to sue. Opening the ballots would require an act of the Legislature.
While Mr. Paulson is sound in his logic, Brodkorb is absolutely not wasting his time. The whole point is to get media coverage, not to actually accomplish anything for the voters of Minnesota. Brodkorb’s the same guy that started the rumor that Mark Ritchie is a communist, harassing female DFL staffers by posting photos of them online and asking his readers what “skinny bitches for Madia” meant, called the exploitation of an 8-year-old girl “hilarious”, stalked a woman in a Perkins Restaurant parking lot outside a campaign office after placing illegal lawn signs, and now, naturally, he’s running for deputy chair of the Minnesota GOP. The whole point here is media coverage for Brodkorb and his allies, not to do anything relevant or helpful for anyone else.
This is what I don’t understand, though: the Star Tribune has traditionally published Brodkorb’s stories and tips. For example, he was going to sue over alleged double-counting of ballots and the Strib gave him an entire article. He never actually sued anyone — it was just for press coverage, as far as we can tell.
Has the Star Tribune finally learned to not fall for his traps?
Aaron, Brodkorb got 2 - TWO - posts out of MinnPost…here’s the second:
http://www.minnpost.com/politicalagenda/2009/06/08/9389/gop_activist_says_hed_protect_voter_privacy_but_wants_unopened_coleman-franken_absentee_ballots_tabulated
I actually called Anoka County’s Voting Department; apparently, “Rachel Smith” is no longer there. The person that answered told me they kicked the request upstairs, to the County Attorney.
So, yes - Michael pulled a stunt, but: this little stunt actually cost the taxpayers some dough. The County Attorney’s time isn’t free, even for political stunts like Brodkorb’s.
Then again, Brodkorb pulling a stunt which cost the taxpayers some dough is what you’d epect from a guy like Brodkorb, a paid staffer in the “Party Of Fiscal Responsibility.”
It’s also another reason why GOP now stands for GreedOverPrinciples.
Update - late yesterday afternoon, the Anoka County Attorney called me and told me they have not - NOT - yet received Brodkorb’s request.