Wellstone 'Mourner' Urges GOP to Forfeit Election

NewsMax ^ | 10/30/02 | Limbacher

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

In a bizarre plea to the GOP to forfeit the race for Paul Wellstone's Senate seat, a Wellstone family friend told the memorial service for the late liberal Tuesday night that both local and national Republicans owed it to Wellstone to abandon their support for his GOP opponent, Norm Coleman, as a tribute to the dead senator's memory.

"Can we not set aside for just one week all of the partisan bickering, all of the political strategy and all of the nastiness," Rick Kahn told the crowd gathered at the University of Minnesota's Williams Arena. "So that we may come together as a people in deepest morning to celebrate and truly honor his memory."

Then Kahn made a personal plea to some of the Republicans gathered in the room that he said were Wellstone's friends in the Senate.

"Sen. Domenici, Sen. Brownback, Sen. Lugar, Sen. Hagel and Sen. DeWine who are here tonight are all Republicans for who Paul had the utmost respect and who he considered to be true friends," Kahn said to rousing applause.

"Can you not hear your friend calling you one last time to step forward on his behalf to keep his legacy alive and help us win this election for Paul Wellstone."

Kahn then turned his attention to the Minnesota GOP.

"Rep. Jim Ramstad, you are the highest ranking Republican elected official in the state of Minnesota. You know that Paul loved you. He needs you now. I am begging you please let the people of this state hear your voice on his behalf to keep his legacy alive and help us win this election for Paul Wellstone."

Kahn went on to urge both Republican and Democrats to "come together a week from tonight..... where we can together shout out Paul Wellstone's name in joyful celebration on one last election night."

[Nuke'm Glowing]

That "memorial" service had all the dignity of the Jerry Springer show.

[sauropod]

Yeah, right.

'Pod

[donozark]

This is just plain sick! I am surprised they didn't sit Wellstone up in the coffin like an old-time Irish wake! The left has no shame...

[Phantom Lord]

"So that we may come together as a people in deepest morning to celebrate and truly honor his memory."

Ya, tons of mourning and honoring his memory last night at the "memorial service."

It was no memorial service. It was a policital rally on the scale of the national parties nominating conventions!

[Reelect President Dubya]

I am too sure the DEMONcRATS would step aside if a Republican senator had died. </sarcasm>

[anoldafvet]

If the Republicans don't do it, maybe Ted Kennedy can resign his seat in protest.

[LandofLincoln]

It is Sen. Wellstone's memory that should encourage every single Republican to go to polls and vote next Tuesday

[Mamzelle]

I think your comment sums it up better than any...I kept muttering "Vulgar! Appalling! Grotesque!" but it was the "Jerry Springer Brings you the Wellstone Memorial and Mud Wrestling Show."

[dfwgator]

Republicans to Kahn, "NUTS!!"

[F16Fighter]

Memo to Democrats: (Sob, sniffle) POUND SALT!!!

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

I'm thinking that Wellstone went down on purpose (something like Torricelli but it hurt more, temporarily) because he wanted to forfiet his seat to Republicans. Why would DemocRATs go against Wellstone's final wishes??? I think that is very mean spirited of the DemocRATs.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Wellstone 'Mourner' Urges GOP to Forfeit Election

If Norm Coleman died would Mr. Kahn urge democrats to abandon Wellstone and vote for Coleman's replacement? Of course not. The guy's pathetic!

[the_Watchman]

In order to honor the dead, it is a standard tribute to lead a horse without a rider behind the casket. An interesting political cartoon would be a picture of Wellstone's funeral procession with Mondale riding the horse! Now, who is honoring the dead?

[Dallas]

WE'RE BACK........

Republican Senate candidate Norm Coleman, with his wife Laurie at his side, restarts his campaign with a rally at Holman Field in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2002. Coleman, who was battling the late Sen. Paul Wellstone, D-Minn., is expecting a challenge from former Vice President Walter Mondale. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

[mhking]

In a bizarre plea to the GOP to forfeit the race for Paul Wellstone's Senate seat, a Wellstone family friend told the memorial service for the late liberal Tuesday night that both local and national Republicans owed it to Wellstone to abandon their support for his GOP opponent, Norm Coleman, as a tribute to the dead senator's memory.

Bizarre is probably the understatement of the year. If it weren't so maddening and sad, it would be worth a "Hold muh beer" alert, simply for the absurdity.

The only thing missing was the vendors in the aisles selling beer and peanuts! This "memorial service" had all the decorum of a WWE match on "SmackDown!"

[conservativemusician]

Coleman should campaign his butt off in Wellstone's memory.

Love the picture of Klinton and Mondull in mourning.

[bpcontra]

If this was Wellstone's funeral, I wonder if he said "...Until death do us part-isan" at his wedding.

It's no wonder Dick Cheney was "uninvited" to the memorial service. It became a free and televised forum for the democRATS. Its disgusting that they would take advantage of a man's death to further their own political prowess.

[BaghdadBarney]

Macabre... what's ironic is this "political pep rally at the Minneapolis morgue" comes only 2 days before Halloween... And Rick Kahn? I think the guy should seriously consider checking himself into a sanitarium...

[Puddleglum]

Dancing on the grave, pouring his corpse into the Democratic Campaign-mobile gas tank and seeing what mileage they can get from it. Sad. And the hypocrisy of calling on the 'Pubbies to cease campaigning "out of respect" while they have this big old campaign wing-ding. It makes me puke.