Over at SCSU Scholars, King Banian weighs in on Mark Olson's expulsion from the MN Republican Caucus:
I spent a little time Saturday on the air discussing the Mark Olson situation. Yesterday a number of smaller Minnesota papers ran a story speculating on Mary Kiffmeyer's return to politics. I'll repeat what I said then, and mean no disrespect to Mrs. Kiffmeyer, who I hold in high regard: Rep. Olson deserves his day in court. The hastiness with which he has been shunted aside by Republicans is unseemly and smells of the panic of a party that hasn't figured out how to respond to badly behaved public officials in their own ranks. If Olson does step down or is expelled, then it will be time for us to discuss Kiffmeyer's return.
A comment on King's blog:
I understand that there is a destestable and obvious double standard at work when politicians get caught misbehaving. Republicans are driven from office, chased by howling mobs of media mavens and liberal loons. Democrats get tut-tutted by the press and given a chairmanship. My question is, why do Republicans have to help so willingly in the persecution of their own? - J. Ewing
Speaking of howling mobs... "Tracey" one of King Banian's right-wing fans (and a recent guest on his radio show) has a new blog called "Chris Stewart Resign Now!". Now, whatever you think about the embattled Mpls School Board member, the fact is Chris Stewart... is not accused of committing a crime.. What Chris Stewart did was author an anonymous parody of a candidate on a blog. The same blog did a satire of me... (at least I think it was satire).
So... does the right-wing blogosphere agree that satire is cause for asking an office-holder to resign, but getting arrested for and admitting to throwing ("placing") a spouse on the ground three times is no-big-deal conduct for a state representative?
9 comments:
I love the stuff at Pams House Blend! Good find!
Keep up the great work.
Thanks for covering the Olson story, Hal.
Don't forget the weekly calls for Congressman Ellison to resign.
Why? Every week it is dire and
different.
- He did not go to whitehouse to kiss W's butt.
- He did not swear on the stack of bibles.
- He had parking tickets.
- He is a muslim.
Next week:
- He is against the War and will stop money going to the war.
or the old favorite, he is a muslim.
True.
Time for a trivia question.
Name the three DFL representatives who voted for Mark Olson's PRT amendment in 2005?
Clue:
http://www.minnesotavotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=143505
Olson admitted his guilt in talking with police investigators and with the news media. The GOP had no choice but to throw him out.
...and he refused to enter a plea.
Pogo in 2005 introduced and passed a PRT bill that exempted PRT from sales, property and income taxes.
"We have met the enemy and he is..."
POGO!
I must remind you that Chris did far more than created an "anonymous parody" of a congressional candidate. We tied him to far more vile and dispicable crap than the Tammy Lee site...and this was all proven. He hasn't been convicted of anything, but the facts are tough for him to argue (which is why he didn't when he was on the Final Word with us). The call for his resignation has more to do with his character and his unwillingness to "own" what he has written online for many years. Further, it goes to the question of whether he is truly fit to serve the parents and children with his clear distain for conservative blacks and all whites. To refer to what he has done as "satire" and "parody" diminishes the acts...
But I'll answer your question re: mark olson. I tend to agree that he does deserve a day in court, but I don't think he deserves to remain in office and he should do what is right by his constituents and step down. It is FAR from "no big deal" as you stated. Put it another way - if Jefferson from Lousiana deserves his day in court, doesn't Olson?? Shouldn't Jefferson step down when you consider there is just as much proof to his guilt as in the Olson case??
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