Democratic operatives planned, engineered Wellstone political rally

Capital Hill Blue ^ | October 31, 2002 | DOUG THOMPSON

[mondonico]

Political operatives at the Democratic National Committee in Washington developed the plan to turn the memorial service for Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone into a political rally, top party sources tell Capitol Hill Blue.

The party also urged the Wellstone family to ask Vice President Dick Cheney to not attend the service and concocted the excuse that security for the VP would disrupt the event even though Secret Service security was required for former president Bill Clinton, who was invited and who did attend.

Rick Kahn, the Wellstone campaign worker and friend, worked the highly partisan crowd into a frenzy with strong rhetoric urging them to get out and elect replacement candidate Walter Mondale.

"That was the plan all along and it was one of the reasons we didn't want Cheney at the event," says one Democratic political operative who spoke only under promise that his name not be used. "It was a high stakes gamble but this is a campaign that demands high risks."

The secret plan was developled at the DNC headquarters in Washington and approved by party chairman Terry McAuliffe, the source said.

Kahn was then briefed and urged to turn the memorial event into a political rally. Wellstone campaign manager Jeff Blodgett's apology Wednesday afternoon was also part of the plan, designed to provide party deniability, the sources said.

"There were two agendas at work," one source said. "We needed to draw attention to the election. Between the sniper and Iraq, the election has been lost in the news. And then we needed to energize the Democratic base and Wellstone supporters in Minnesota."

While Kahn's firey rhetoric, and walkouts by Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura and GOP Senate Leader Trent Lott, fueled controversy, Democratic political operatives in Washington congratulated each other Wednesday.

"Mission accomplished" was the message of the day at the DNC and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee offices.

Sources within both committees also said the Wellstone event is only the beginning of plans for media-generating activities through the election next week.

"This is war," one operative said. "The Republicans are too busy planning war on Iraq. They won't even see us coming."

The DNC and DSCC did not return phone calls seeking comment on this report.

© Copyright 2002 Capitol Hill Blue

[goodnesswins]

"This is war," one operative said. "The Republicans are too busy planning war on Iraq. They won't even see us coming."

THIS makes ME sick.......but, maybe the paeons will NOW see what's really important to the Democrats - THEIR POWER, not OUR SAFETY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ( I can wish )

[VRWC_minion]

As Gomer would say: Suprise, surprise, surprise.

[Feiny]

I am shocked, shocked I tell you!

[johniegrad]

I think they have miscalculated. There still is some common decency left here in Minnesota even in the DFL camp. People saw this for what it was and the lack of subtlety is not being well received here. They may be congratulating themselves for turning voters away from them.

[twyn1]

Ummm...not top be jerky about it...but how reliable is "Capital Hill Blue" ?? I always wonder about "unnamed sources"

[Free_at_last_-2001]

SICK BASTARDS

[Reelect President Dubya]

"This is war," one operative said.

"This is wah."

I wonder which Democrat political operative it was?

[Paul Atreides]

"It was a high stakes gamble but this is a campaign that demands high risks."

As usual, with dims, the end justifies the means.

[danneskjold]

Of course, on Crossfire last night, Dem apologists were claiming it was Wellstone's sons that engineered the whole thing.

Snippet from complete text found here

CARLSON: No, I mean to defend the indefensible behavior of your party. I'm not even going to ask you that the Wellstone's campaign has already apologized for its behavior yesterday. I want, instead, to broaden it, and I want you to listen to something that Tom Daschle said at a rally yesterday about the death of Senator Paul Wellstone.

He said "There is so much energy than there was two or three weeks ago. I think part of the reason for that is that people lament Paul Wellstone's passing and want to do this in part for him." This, being, of course, voting for the Democrat.

Now people are accused of politicizing all sorts of events. And sometimes it's true. But to politicize a man's tragic death, that is about as low as you can go, isn't it?

MARK MELLMAN, DEMOCRATIC POLLSTER: Look, this memorial service last night was put together by Paul Wellstone's sons. They are the ones who lost a father, a mother, a sister. Who are you to tell them how to celebrate the life of their late father? That's absurd. You ought to be ashamed of yourself.

MELLMAN: They have the right to memorialize their father in whatever way they want. And their father was a man of principle, who stood up for principle.

(CROSSTALK)

CARVILLE: Take a deep breath. I want you to respond. This is the spokesman (UNINTELLIGIBLE) for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, who said, "Wellstone's death would inspire Democratic voters and increase turnout." Now she's not a family member. She's leveraging and the party is leveraging his death politically. And that's disgusting and there's no excuse for that, is there?

MELLMAN: Nobody's leveraging his death for political gain.

[anniegetyourgun]

The beginning of 'media-generated' activities? HEY MAINSTREAM MEDIA....PREPARE TO BE USED AGAIN, WITHOUT PAYMENT.

[KSCITYBOY]

Democrats have become a lot like the Saddam and his cronies.

[Blue Screen of Death]

Ummm...not top be jerky about it...but how reliable is "Capital Hill Blue" ?? I always wonder about "unnamed sources"

Yeah, I am kind of leary on this one. I have trouble with DNC sources high enough to know this turning and leaking this information. I would really like to see it confirmed by something more than an unnamed source.

[FryingPan101]

scumballs

[dead]

Of course, this means that Geraldine Ferraro was lying again!:

Geraldine Ferraro, on FoxNews, blames tone of Wellstone Memorial on his sons!

Can that be possible?!?!?

[Prolifeconservative]

I can just see Daschle in a back room with Wellstone's son right before the memorial rally and saying....."C'mon Sparky, snap out of it, wipe those tears away..go out there and stir that crowd into a frenzy by saying something like 'we will win, we will win, we will win'....You can do it kid....now put that hankerchief away and go out there and make the Democratic party proud...C'mon son, the senate is at stake here...you can do it...."

[anniegetyourgun]

Notice this was approved by Terry M. He'd approve the rape of his mother if he thought it would gain another DEM vote or two.

[gore_sux_2000]

I have to agree with you on that one. Plenty of folks eyes have been opened here in Minnesota. It is definitely not playing well here at all. They really overplayed their hand this time.

[Diogenesis]

Democrats' Solemn Memorial Service Political Fund-Raising propaganda Telethon.