The Star Tribune's continued unfair and unbalanced coverage of MN-SEN race
Today the Minneapolis Star Tribune ran an article today entitled Playboy, junta tied to Senate hopefuls. This is further evidence of their lop-sided and disingenuous coverage of the Minnesota Senate race. The Strib failed to write about Norm's contributions from and close ties to the DCI Group who lobby for the brutal dictators of Myanmar when it broke. They are only willing to write about it when someone hand delivers them a faux controversy to counterbalance anything bad that they write about Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN).
They were waiting for the Republican Schlockmeister to feed them some copy. There are just too many cases where there is a direct linkage between what the Republican Schlockmeister spews forth and what the Star Tribune publishes. Today is another example.
Meanwhile, DFLers are calling on Republican incumbent Norm Coleman to divest his reelection campaign of nearly $10,000 received from the political-action committee and employees of a lobbying firm that represented Myanmar's military regime.
(Star Tribune)
I have previously noted that the Strib is in a death-spiral of declining readership, newsroom cutbacks and the resulting shoddy journalism. Their reporters are stretched so thin that they can do little independent reporting of their own. Furthermore, considering the Republicans running the paper, this intertwining of a real issue with a ginned-up congtroversy is a classic Republican maneuver too lower the negative impact on Norm.
The Strib, channeling the Republican Schlockmeister, bring the titillating news to their readers that a porn empress helped Al raise money. They relegate Norm's connections to the Myanmar dictatorship to the inside pages knowing full well that fewer people will read the inner pages and learn about Norm's connections to DCI.
They conflate a fundraiser held by Hugh Heffner's daughter, a prominent progressive activist, Democratic fundraiser and philanthropist married to a former Illinois State Senator, to somehow being on the same level as receiving money from a group that lobbies for a brutal dictatorship. Whenever Republicans accuse Democrats of anything, they are doing it themselves and usually way worse.
Hefner has used her filthy lucre made running Playboy Enterprises for many good causes. She helped start EMILY's List which is dedicated to getting pro-choice women elected to office. She was instrumental in raising $30 million to build the CORE Center in Chicago, the first outpatient facility in the Midwest for people living with AIDS. She's on Obama's national fundraising committee.
Myanmar's dictatorship ruthlessly kills its own citizens. They are in the process of neglecting to help millions impacted by last month's typhoon. Their incompetence and unwillingness to help is reminiscent of the Bush Administration's neglect of New Orleans.
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The Coleman strategy is to throw dirt when caught
The Coleman strategy is to throw dirt when caught doing dirty deeds. See, Coleman's tightness with that brutal junta in Mynnamor is being exposed. Time to dust off one of dozens of "disgusting" deeds by Al. Get the spotlight off of Norm and his missing moral compass.
Now the political problem for Democrats, especially Al Franken supporters is...
there's lots of material from which to choose from to throw dirt at Al. He did very funny satires, pushed boundaries, connected it to humor. Unfortunately, cut and past experts of the mean and Republican persuasion are set to crucify him every time he starts to gain on Norm. Al is vulnerable, and I am genuinely scared for the Democratic party in Minnesota.
Yes, I support Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer and believe that he is the better representative of progressive politics; he is most electable as he has such strong positives dirt will be hard to find on him and harder to make stick. But I am being honest when I tell you that I have felt fear in the pit of my stomach all day. We have a problem, fellow Democrats. Al is a very nice man with admirable intentions who I resect and like, but he is very politically vulnerable, and will not be able to beat Norm Coleman. Our best bet is to change course at the state convention and endorse Jack.
I'm scared too, but for another reason
I feel Big Roz's fear....I think Al Franken is not as electable as his supporters think he is... But my fear is that if he does get endorsed, and then finds a way to get elected, he is not going to provide us with the kind of leadership that this country and the world so desperately needs at this time.
Al has put out a slick video encapsulating his recent visits to people's living rooms around the state, listening to us regular people and the struggles we are having making ends meet...Al provides a sympathetic ear. He gives some meandering comments and a half-hearted plan addressing the economic troubles we are facing.
A sympathetic ear and plan that, in generalities, addresses some of the surface issues, is not going to save this country from the troubles we are facing. I would despair that this is the best we have to offer at this time.
Except that it's not. We happen to have an absolutely brilliant and passionate choice in Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer. I am giving all my positive vibes to the chances that the remaining state delegates who are still stuck on Franken, see the light and realize that Jack is a rare and wonderful opportunity to elect someone of intense courage and compelling vision, wisdom, integrity, a lifetime of being steeped in the issues.. please let's not pass up this opportunity to get someone of Jack's quality into the Senate!!!!