Many of you know that I ran for the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2004. In an exurban district, against an incumbent with 10 years of political experience and a lifelong resident of one of our larger cities, with a large turnout of Karl Rove's fundamentalists, with Kerry's poor field organization a real hindrance, and with my opponent receiving many hundreds of sympathy votes due to his near-fatal butchering accident 6 weeks before the election... and still I came within 996 voters (out of 24,000+) of winning.
My opponent continues to vote the party line over and over, often against the best interests of the district. I have a great team of supporters and volunteer staff, all ready to rock and roll. Needless to say, I am confident about my race in 2006.
Clearly, my opponent is concerned. The hate-filled screed has begun. To read the letter in this week's local paper, jump below the fold...
Last week, I submitted
this letter to the Chisago County Press. It was a wrenching experience to watch my friend and State Senator Becky Lourey and their family say goodbye to their son, killed in action in Iraq.
Earlier today, I checked my phone messages from work. A supporter of mine, a local teacher and Air Force veteran, called to say that he had read this week's Press, and was outraged that they chose to print the letter. (I don't get to see my copy of the paper until I get home Thurs evening to look at my mail; I didn't know of any letter.)
Tim let me know that he called the local publisher to express his disappointment that such a personal attack would ever be printed. According to his message, the publisher told Tim that he hadn't seen it, but that he would ask the managing editor how it got in the paper at all. Tim also related that the publisher will be printing an apology to me in the next issue.
I will be calling the publisher first thing tomorrow to express my disappointment, and to ask for an explanation. Right now, I do not anticipate writing a response myself, as the vitriole deserves as little attention as possible.
That said, I can say that it is at the least a significant distraction for my evening. At most it makes me angry. It makes me angry that people resort to such absolute self-righteousness. It makes me angry that anyone would ever use such vile language toward anyone with whom they disagree politically, no matter how vehement the differences. It makes me angry that junk like this letter are published while our state government may shut down almost entirely in just 15 days, leaving tens of thosuands of people without paychecks, leaving parks closed to vacationing families, and perhaps costing as much as $300+ million in taxpayer dollars for severance pay to state workers. All because partisans want their guy, the Tax-man, Tim Pawlenty, to maybe, someday soon, run for President.
I am more convinced than ever that my race will be about character. It will be about changing the character of politics so we can focus on getting the job done, and getting back to the business of improving people's lives.
I proudly served in the military for five years, in part to preserve the right of free speech. I will exercise that right to respond to the June 9 letter from Jeremy Kalin.
Kalin is a self-serving parasite, sucking from the grief and pride of Matt Lourey's family to try for some political points. Shame on him. Kalin is a bald-faced liar, claiming that President Bush sent our troops to Iraq under "false pretenses." After our troops were there, we heard John Kerry, Bill Clinton and others on the near left say that they thought that Saddam had to be removed and that they believed he had weapons of mass destruction.
Jeremy Kalin is a walking waste of donor tissue. He worries that we will not remain "a grateful nation" and hopes that Matt Lourey "will be the last young man or woman we ask to make the ultimate sacrifice." Freedom is not free, and Americans will continue to put themselves in harm's way for a nation that will always be grateful.
Before Jeremy Kalin runs for public office again, he sholuld volunteer, strap on a helmet, and drive a truck for our troops. Or he should just pack up his person and his pottery wheel and move back to Minneapolis.
Mary Elizabeth Fraser
Taylors Falls
I knocked on her door last year, and was met with squawk-box talking points. I believe, however, that this letter may have been written by someone else who at one time wrote similar screed for my opponent during the campaign - often to the point of winning votes for me.
I'd love to hear your responses. Thanks!