On June 3rd, 2007, Dan Browning and Pat Doyle broke a story that rocked Minnesota's political world and would have repercussions we're still feeling today; it dealt with the now-infamous "Tostenson Memo". Written by long-time MN GOP Finance Director Dwight Tostenson, it detailed the financial shenanigans - "Cooked Books" if you will - of the party, and became the basis for the Federal Election Commission's near-record $170,000 fine last year. The GOP is still paying that fine off (unlike their rent). That newspaper story came out just before the MN GOP's State Convention, the current chair, Ron Carey, was being challenged by a guy named Joe Repya on, boiled down, a "clean up/reform the party" platform.
Joe lost, Ron (and, status quo) won, and the Party's problems Joe was running to correct: got worse.
The 2008 MN GOP State Convention in Rochester is mostly remembered for the shabby treatment of Ron Paul and his supporters. Paul was a bona fide candidate for the GOP nomination for president, even though he didn't have a (deleted, for censors) chance in (deleted, again) of getting it. Doesn't matter; as a party member, he should have been allowed to speak - Ron Paul wasn't.
And then there's the treatment of Ron Paul's supporters at the Convention. Well, leading up to it, too - as you can read by linking here for but one account. There's plenty more out there, like this one.
One significant event at that 2008 MN GOP State Convention isn't remembered so much; fortunately, one Convention Delegate caught it on tape - let's look!
Oh, and pay very, Very, VERY close attention to what then-Chair Ron Carey says, "right" at the very end!!!
(direct link to YouTube)
To recap that video: there's a white-wash/cover up concerning the GOP's FEC Reports; Joe Repya asks two pointed questions; Tony Sutton goes ballistic; Ron Carey bloviates! And what exactly did Carey say, "right" at the end?
"At the end of the day, those that are criticizing us are to be shamed - because the truth will get out and the truth shall set us free."
WHAT??!?
And then, in compete violation of Robert's Rules, State GOP "leadership" ended the convention.
Shameful. Sadly, today's GOP has no shame. It's like I always say: You Couldn't Trust The GOP Then, You Still Can't Now, And Tomorrow Won't Be Any Different.
Today, Joe Repya has an op-ed in the Star Tribune; it's entitled "End of the state GOP as we know it?"
I'd recommend everyone read it, and remember: the problems Repya was talking about five years ago, back in 2007? Repya was correct.
I'm still wondering, though - isn't it about time a prosecutor started taking a hard look at the problems Repya has been talking about all these years?
Stay tuned!