Archive for the 'CD3' Category

Feminism Has A Layover In Minnesota

by Megan Gamble | 0 Comments

Gloria Steinem made the rounds in Minnesota today, starting with MPR’s Midmorning interview, a fund-raising lunch with womenwinning* and an odd video interview with the Star Tribune (in which we never see the interviewer).  I recommend the MPR interview - mostly because the Star Tribune’s starts with: “So, some might say that for American women in politics, it was The Best Year Ever… but what is The Most Important Thing that we still need to do?”

Many of the issues we hear Gloria address in these interviews are regarding people’s basic questions about feminism and an abbreviated understanding of sexism in American society.  Gloria Steinem is a very smart and very talented individual, so it is quite annoying to see her pigeonholed as the poster child for second wave feminism.  This also robs us of deeply exploring more current and perhaps relevant dialogue and scholarship about feminism, and challenging us to use a more third wave feminist lens.

Along these same lines, she does address (on MPR) the New York Times op-ed that was harshly criticized last year before the election… but I’ll let you listen yourself.

*Really, womenwinning?  Your name is two words squished together and half boldface?  Really?

June 15, 2009, 10:27 pm | Category: CD3 and General |

Madia Opens Law Firm

by Zack Stephenson | 6 Comments

Ashwin Madia, the 2008 DFL endorsed candidate for Congress in the 3rd District, has opened his own law office:

Dear Friends,

I am excited to inform you that I am starting a new business venture, Madia Law LLC – a dynamic and aggressive law firm that will serve Minnesota’s consumers, small businesses, and immigrant communities…

…Madia Law will focus on consumer law, business litigation, and immigration law. Consumers have been defrauded by powerful interests with alarming regularity in recent times and I want to use law to help even the odds. Small businesses often need strong representation on a variety of issues but can’t afford massive litigation costs – I want to help. Finally, Madia Law will seek to represent underserved immigrant communities that need legal assistance in navigating complex immigration laws.

More information is available at the firm’s website. Best of luck to Ash in his new endeavor.

May 13, 2009, 12:36 pm | Category: CD3 | Tags: .

Paulsen’s 1st Quarter FEC Report

by Zack Stephenson | 0 Comments

Erik Paulsen is almost certain to face a top flight challenge in 2010.  Rumor has it State Sen. Terri Bonoff is seriously considering another run.  If she decides to jump in, she would the DFL frontrunner.

Paulsen, however, is not waiting to find out who his opponent will be.  Filings released today reveal that Paulsen raised over $221,000 in the 1st Quarter of 2009. That’s a pretty healthy sum for the first quarter of the cycle during a recession.  His cash on hand is not as impressive - only 190,000.  If a Bonoff or some other DFLer gets into this race sometime in the near future, they should not have much trouble staying at financial parity with Paulsen.

In related news, 4th District Congresswoman Betty McCollum reported raising a little over $100k in the 1st quarter, she has a similar ammount on hand.

April 14, 2009, 10:13 am | Category: CD3 | Tags: , , .

When do we call Bachmann worse than crazy?

by Jeff Rosenberg | 30 Comments

For a long time now, she’s been Kooky Michele Bachmann. But at what point do we stop calling her “crazy” or “kooky” and start calling her something more dangerous? Despite nearly constant criticism, her overheated rhetoric has not diminished at all. It leads me to wonder: Does Bachmann really believe she is at war with some sort of communist regime?

Just think about some of her recent rhetoric. During the election, she called for an inquiry into whether members of Congress had “anti-American views.” Recently, she’s called herself a “foreign correspondent behind enemy lines” and called for Minnesotans to be “armed and dangerous.” She seems unable to control herself. Now she sees even the most benign Federal programs in stark, revolutionary terms. Here’s what she said about a proposed expansion of the AmeriCorps service program:

I believe that there is a very strong chance that we will see that young people will be put into mandatory service. And the real concerns is that there are provisions for what I would call re-education camps for young people, where young people have to go and get trained in a philosophy that the government puts forward and then they have to go to work in some of these politically correct forums.

Increasingly, Bachmann seems unable to focus on her day-to-day responsibilities to her district and her country. Instead, she’s caught up in some imagined revolution against the leadership of her country. At some point, we need to ask: At what point does Bachmann stop being a “kook” and start being a serious danger?

April 7, 2009, 7:25 am | Category: CD3 and Misc. National Politics | Tags: .

Gavin Sullivan: Madia Won’t Run Again

by Zack Stephenson | 13 Comments

Gavin Sullivan has a pretty good scoop today.  Ashwin Madia, the DFL nominee in CD3 last time around, will not run again.  Here’s Madia’s response to Sullivan’s question:

‘I want to run again for office, and I want to win next time. However, for a number of reasons, I don’t think that I’ll be running for Congress in 2010. I had a good shot at it, I gave it everything I had - as did my team - and I came up short. While, in retrospect, I think I made some mistakes that I’ll correct the next time I run, I think somebody else should run against Paulsen in 2010 - and beat him.’

Despite the fact that he lost, I came away from the 2008 elections impressed with Ashwin Madia. His upset of Terri Bonoff in the endorsement race was simply stunning. Say what you will about the tactical choices his campaign made in the general election, but no one can argue that Madia didn’t work his ass off to win that race. I am glad he plans to run for office in the future. I hope he starts out a little further down the food chain next time. I think Madia would be a fantastic addition to the state legislature.

February 9, 2009, 8:53 am | Category: CD3 | Tags: .

New KSTP/SUSA Polls Even More Laughable Than Before

by Aaron Landry | 7 Comments

KSTP just aired their exclusive SUSA poll, which of course in the past has been a fantastic display of polling incompetency in Minnesota. This is what they published tonight:

CD6: Bachmann 46, Tinklenberg 45, Anderson 6
CD3: Paulsen 46, Madia 41, Dillon 10
Sen: Coleman 44, Franken 39, Barkley 16
Pres: Obama 49, McCain 46, Other 3

Regular MNpublius readers have seen a lot of polls and SUSA has always been the right-wing outlier. One reason is that SurveyUSA only polls people it knows are likely voters. The problem with that, is that in 2004 for example, over 20% of the electorate voted with the same day registration process. If there is a remotely similar situation this Tuesday, be mindful that SUSA would have not polled any of those people.

Another way to look at this is to compare KSTP/SUSA to other polls. Here’s FiveThirtyEight’s breakdown of recent polls on the presidential race in Minnesota:

So when Survey USA and KSTP say that Obama is only leading by 3, how far off might their polling for Senate, CD3 and CD6?

If you’re interested, dig into the crosstabs: CD3, CD6, Senate, President. Normally I consider the crosstabs are worthy of further analysis but I don’t feel like bothering digging into a throwaway poll.

UPDATE: Paul Demko at Minnesota Independent points to Nate Silver of The Plank and FiveThirtyEight:

Don’t worry too much about that SurveyUSA result in Minnesota, which shows Obama just 3 points ahead. SurveyUSA’s polling in Minnesota has been very, very weird all year; they’ve never shown Obama with larger than a 6 point lead in their likely voter model, and had McCain ahead in the state as recently as October 1st. SurveyUSA does not have a Republican lean in general, but in Minnesota, it has consistently had a huge one.

November 2, 2008, 11:52 pm | Category: CD3, CD6, MN 2008: Senate and White House '08 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , .

Erik Paulsen Rips Off TPT Footage, Gets Legal Action

by Aaron Landry | 11 Comments

As if the darkening of Ashwin Madia’s skin in a Republican ad wasn’t enough, Erik Paulsen refused to condemn it. On tape. In fact, he says he hasn’t watched TV since August and says he hasn’t even seen the ad. Erik Paulsen: have you really not seen the ads that are running involving your race? And you really don’t condemn it when your allies darken Madia’s skin in TV ads?

Talking about CD3 ads, I guess the campaign tailspin going on in Eden Prairie right now involves Team Paulsen using footage illegally:

In his most recent television campaign ad Paulsen uses footage of his opponent Ashwin Madia from a TPT show Almanac that aired earlier this month. This ad has appeared on local television outlets, Rep. Paulsen’s website and is posted on YouTube, TPT reports.

From a TPT press release (emphasis mine):

In previous campaigns, we have requested that candidates - Democrats, Independents and Republicans - cease use of similar material, and all have complied…Twin Cities Public Television has sent two formal requests to the Paulsen campaign to remove all TPT footage from their ad; as of today, that request has not been honored.We are therefore issuing this statement, taking appropriate legal action…

Way to go, Team Paulsen.

October 31, 2008, 10:11 pm | Category: CD3 | Tags: , .

Paulsen’s Environmental Record, What Gives?

by Matt Martin | 0 Comments

Jeff Rosenberg provides good reminder over at MNCR this morning: Erik Paulsen has refused to come clean on his environmental record.  He’s refused to outline even basic positions such as whether he believes in global warming, but his record in the State House shows an anti-environment streak.  Check out MNCR for the full post:

We just can’t be sure whether Erik Paulsen believes in global warming, because he refuses to tell us. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if he didn’t: that would be right in line with his horrendous record on the environment. Paulsen consistently votes against bills that would reduce pollutants and emissions that contribute to climate change. He also regularly votes against stronger standards for renewable energy.

The worst part, though, is that Paulsen seems to know that 3rd district voters won’t like his views on the environment. As a seasoned career politician, he knows that he can only win by sweeping his real policies under the rug. He’s no moderate like Jim Ramstad was, but he hopes he can appear like one just long enough to fool you.

October 31, 2008, 10:29 am | Category: CD3 | Tags: .

The Media on Republicans Altering Madia’s Skin Color

by Aaron Landry | 9 Comments

Two days ago, KARE 11 ran their story on how Republicans have darkened Ashwin Madia’s skin color in an ad attacking him. Now a lot of others are digging into this story more:

Daily Kos: MN-03: More Republican Ugliness

Star Tribune: Fun with Photoshop

City Pages: Paulsen campaign accused of darkening Madia’s skin in TV ad

Crooks and Liars: NRCC Darkens Ashwin Madia’s Face In Ads

Wall Street Jorunal: TV Ad Stirs Controversy in Minnesota House Race:

“It might be possible to dismiss these actions as a customary, yet unfortunate aspect of negative advertising,” said Eric S. Fought, associate communications director of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor party. But he said that he believed viewers would “know what Paulsen and his allies intended with darkening the images of Madia.” The Paulson campaign didn’t return calls.

October 31, 2008, 9:23 am | Category: CD3 | Tags: , .

KARE11: Anti-Madia Ad Shows Skin Color “Noticeably Darker Than Reality”

by Aaron Landry | 32 Comments

I cannot believe how shameful the Republicans have been this cycle. Watch the report yourself:

UPDATE: A release from the Minnesota DFL: 

Minnesota and national Republicans desperate to hold onto the state’s Third Congressional District seat have stooped to new lows.

A report on Twin Cities-based KARE-11 news this evening cites two independent sources who say that a new television ad from the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) darkens the skin tone of DFL congressional candidate Ashwin Madia (MN-03), who is of Asian Indian American background.

KARE-11’s John Croman filed the report. The video is available here.

Professor Clay Steinman of Macalester College, who teaches about mass-media messaging and consumer responses, is featured in the story. Steinman said:

“Even if we think that we are not racist, people of all races, when confronted with images that are darker and different, have a kind of visceral, negative response.”

Croman also quoted Dean Alger, a political-advertising expert and media consultant, as saying:

“Distortions and exaggerations are a part of the game. But in his words, the darkening of the Democrat’s photos are beyond distortion and are what he calls a subtle effort to convey the message that Ashwin Madia is different.”

The NRCC’s response to Croman? “We stand by the ad.” (You may view the ad here. The three images that the NRCC doctored in their TV ad are available on the Madia campaign’s websitehere, here and here.)

KARE-11’s report tonight follows a press conference earlier this month at which Minnesota GOP officials declared that Madia did not fit the district from a “lifestyle” or “demographic standpoint” — or, in the words of Minnesota GOP Chairman Ron Carey, Madia is “not one of them.” The Star Tribune reported:

“Meanwhile, a Paulsen surrogate, state Sen. Geoff Michel, R-Minn., took the podium at a news conference last week to question Madia’s ties to the district because, among other things, he has not raised a family there or paid a mortgage or gone to a PTA meeting. State GOP chairman Ron Carey also recently urged voters to examine ‘the demographic standpoint’ of the candidates to determine which one to vote for.” [Star Tribune, 10/5/08]

You may view video of the GOP’s comments here.

October 29, 2008, 7:41 pm | Category: CD3 | Tags: .

Paulsen, Bachmann, Coleman Rally With Extremist Partisans

by Aaron Landry | 11 Comments

As Erik Paulsen and Norm Coleman strive to present themselves as “moderates,” Eva Young points out that Norm Coleman headlined an “fringe” event with Michele Bachmann.

Rachel E. Stassen-Berger adds:

Dennis Prager, Michael Medved and Hugh Hewitt, conservative radio superstars who Hewitt called the “three tenors of talk,” were in Minneapolis Tuesday night to “Talk the Vote” before a crowd of more than 3,000 cheering supporters at Orchestra Hall.

They were joined by Republican office holders and candidates, including Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Sen. Norm Coleman, Rep. Michele Bachmann, state House Minority Leader Erik Paulsen, who is vying for 3rd District U.S. House seat, and others.

Paul Schmelzer then digs into the trash talk and extreme partisan rhetoric spewed at the event. It’s rather disgusting.

If Paulsen and Coleman are trying to position themselves as the “moderates” they’re not, what made them think it was a good idea to party with the extremists and Michele Bachmann?

Matt Adds: I just wanted to note how unbelievable it is that Coleman feels comfortable appearing onstage with someone that declares, in front of Coleman’s eyes, that equality “is not an American value.”  And that just 2 years ago stated that if Congressman Keith Ellison won’t take his oath of office on a Bible, he shouldn’t be allowed to serve.  Going so far as to say that Ellison taking his oath on the Koran would embolden terrorists… which is, of course, why George Bush’s State Department immediately recruited him for a number of good will tours around the Mid-East.  I expect this of self-proclaimed far-righters like Paulsen and Bachmann, but it is just amazing that someone who has (falsely) claimed that he’s a centrist would dare appear on stage with these moon-bats under a week before the election.  I guess you can’t hide your true colors forever…

October 29, 2008, 9:29 am | Category: CD3, CD6 and MN 2008: Senate | Tags: , , .

SUSA/KSTP CD3 Poll Weird As Ever

by Aaron Landry | 3 Comments

Regular readers of MNpublius and other poll watchers know that polls coming from Survey USA and KSTP have consistently leaned to the right. This time, the CD3 poll just got a bit weirder: they decided to change David Dillon to “Other.” While there are a number of ideas why they may have done this, it certainly makes the poll inconsistent compared to previous polls. Joe Bodell takes another look:

That is, SurveyUSA seems to think that the electorate on Tuesday is likely to be 34% Democrats, 32% Republicans, and 30% independent-with-a-small-i. Call me skeptical. Barack Obama at the top of the ticket is carrying heavy coattails going into next week, and the electorate is more likely to be closer to 40% self-identified Democrats than it is to be 34%.

The other number I have a hard time believing in light of all the other polling we’ve seen this year is that just 79% of self-identified Democrats are behind Madia. In an environment in which the Republican brand has been so drastically damaged by corruption, greed, and George W. Bush, Erik Paulsen’s “I’ll be a moderate” message just doesn’t ring true — because it’s not. Using SurveyUSA’s composition numbers, if Madia consolidates about 9% of those 19% SurveyUSA thinks are behind Paulsen or “other”, that would be a nice margin of victory for Madia.

Point being, even though it is a weird poll, Survey USA may have said something that’s likely correct:

The contest is a jump ball at this hour.

In the last few days here, people really need to know who Ashwin Madia (and Erik Paulsen) are and you can help: Contribute, Volunteer.

October 29, 2008, 9:20 am | Category: CD3 | Tags: , .

Harassment By Erik Paulsen’s Consultant Spawns Viral Email Protest

by Aaron Landry | 13 Comments

MNpublius just forwarded an email (with a very long list of recipients) that has been circulating for awhile today:

We must respond to this misoginistic attack on young women staffers by this blogger who is Erik Paulsen’s paid consultant.  I’m going to ask you to do several things:

1)  Click on this link to understand my outrage. http://www.minnesotademocratsexposed.com/2008/10/26/more-evidence-of-madias-postive-and-uplifting-campaign/

2)  Write xx@paulsenforcongress.com. She is Erik Paulsen’s communications director or call Erik Paulsen at xx@paulsenforcongress.com (952) 934-xxxx

3)  Forward this request to every woman you know who will write in to express her disgust with Paulsen’s campaign and his paid minions.

4)  Keep track of how many people write. Let’s aim for 100 emails before lunch today.

5)  Please email me that you have written to Erik Paulsen.
 
Thank you. 
 
I am approaching every women’s organization I know.  We are powerful. We can make a difference.  We cannot remain silent!

While MNpublius has absolutely nothing to do with this viral email it is not at all surprising that people are outraged and disgusted with the behavior of Paulsen’s highest paid consultant. To be honest though, it would be a lot more effective to tell the media to cover this than it would be to bombard the campaign with emails.

Either way, will Erik Paulsen condemn these actions?

October 28, 2008, 2:08 pm | Category: CD3 | Tags: , .

Avista Capital Partners Endorsements For CD3, CD6

by Aaron Landry | 9 Comments

Even though I’ve been heavily cynical about the Star Tribune, I did want to note about their endorsements for tomorrow’s paper. David Brauer points out:

In the Sixth, editorialists avoid nuclear outrage by picking Tinklenberg. They weigh in for the first time on you-know-what; Bachmann’s “anti-America” paradigm “adds to the list of bizarre incidents and statements that undercut her credibility as a political leader.”

Even though the Star Tribune has gone far to the right, nobody in their right mind can endorse Bachmann. Interesting though, is that they absolutely destroy Erik Paulsen but cannot bring themselves to endorse Madia so they opt for a “non-endorsement“ instead:

But Paulsen’s endorsement interview was disappointing. His answers on energy, health care and foreign policy lacked depth, detail and vision. Paulsen performed better at debates, but did not make the case that he has the depth needed to be a strong, independent leader in Congress.

Paulsen was a fiscal and social conservative in the Legislature, voting for measures that this newspaper opposed. Why he’s casting himself as a moderate in this race is unclear. His conservative credentials are solid; he should have run on them.

Paulsen is farther right than the Star Tribune and they’re criticizing him for not running on his conservative credentials? They even point out how he’s trying to run as a moderate. While I am not at all surprised by the Star Tribune not endorsing Madia, the fact that they trash Paulsen so badly is rather telling.

October 27, 2008, 9:29 pm | Category: CD3 and CD6 | Tags: , , , .

Did Ramstad Whisper a Madia Endorsement?

by Aaron Landry | 1 Comment

Paul Schmelzer notices Jim Ramstad in the National Review Online saying the election is “going to be a tsunami.” In regards to a large Democratic win in November, Ramstad is likely correct. Schmelzer reads further: (emphasis mine)

Ramstad: “Republicans need to get back to governing from the center. We Republicans need to get away from the addiction to base politics. Karl Rove’s playbook isn’t working anymore.”

That line could almost be perceived as an endorsement of the Democratic candidate in Ramstad’s 3rd Congressional District, where DFLer Ashwin Madia, a former Republican, is facing off against Erik Paulsen, who as a 14-year Minnesota legislator has consistently earned high scores from rightwing social conservative groups like Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, the Minnesota Family Council and the Taxpayer’s League of Minnesota. (Here’s Paulsen’s voting record.)

Not only is the Karl Rove playbook not working for Erik Paulsen, Schmelzer is correct to point out how absolutely unlike Ramstad Paulsen actually is.

October 27, 2008, 8:51 pm | Category: CD3 | Tags: , , .