Wellstone campaign chairman apologizes for service's partisan tone

The St. Paul Pioneer Press ^ | Oct. 30, 2002 | ARON KAHN

[seamus]

In the wake of the controversial memorial service for Sen. Paul Wellstone Tuesday, the head of the Wellstone campaign apologized Wednesday for the event’s sharply political tone.

"It was not our intent to inject that into the service," campaign chairman Jeff Blodgett said of comments made at the Tuesday night ceremony. "I take responsibility for that and I deeply regret it."

Blodgett said the event at the University of Minnesota was not scripted and the comments of individual speakers were not previewed. Organizers simply asked participants to speak from their hearts, he said.

"I regret if people took offense or were taken by surprise ... We are a hurting bunch here," Blodgett said, referring to campaign members’ sadness following the Eveleth plane crash that killed Wellstone, his wife, daughter, three aides and two pilots on Friday.

Blodgett said he'd spoken to campaign treasurer Rick Kahn, who gave one of the most partisan addresses, but declined to reveal their conversation.

"It probably would have been best not to get into the election," Blodgett said.

Some officials from local TV stations are said to be complaining that they were misled into televising live a partisan political rally.

"That was never the intention," Blodgett said.

[seamus]

"We are a hurting bunch here," Blodgett said.

In other words, we weren't too hurting to organize this pep rally for Dems, but we're too "hurting" to listen to any more criticism once the event blew up in our faces.

If Blodgett really wants to put this behind him, he should push Mondull out there for some debates so Minnesotans can "move on" from the pain of Wellstone's death and concentrate on who the better candidate is. Naturally, the Dems are hiding Mondull, refusing to hold debates. They don't want to run with their candidate, they want to run on the memory of Wellstone.

Despicable. I hate Dems.

[Maelstrom]

Don't hate them...

...just recognize what they did for what it is: necrophilia

[dfwgator]

"That was never the intention," Blodgett said.

BULLSH!T!!!!

[eureka!]

Liar. This thing was staged as such. Now, let the news be that the Rats are lying about their planned rally. Here's hoping that good Minnesotans are as disgusted as I am, or even one tenth as much...

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Wed Oct 30,12:41 AM ET

Former President Bill Cliton and his wife domestic partner, U.S. Sen. Hillary Pardon Clinton (news - web sites), greet Jesse Hi-Jackson before a pathetic memorial diservice Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2002, in Minneapolis for U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone-Marx, his wife, daughter and three staff members who died Oct. 25 in a plane crash in Eveleth, Minn. (AP Photo/Stacy Wescott, Pool)

[Mike Fieschko]

Some officials from local TV stations are said to be complaining that they were misled into televising live a partisan political rally.

S U C K E R S !!!

[onedoug]

To call this utter nonsense would be way to charitable. The tone was set when Chaney was uninvited.

[Conservative independent]

This is the DemocRATS MO. They carefully plan an event like this, then "apologize" afterwards - once the intended message has been planted in minds of the uniformed and party faithful.

As a conservative independent, I would be appalled if the GOP behaved the same way.

[syriacus]

"I regret if people took offense or were taken by surprise ... We are a hurting bunch here

Sure. Just like Clinton was hurting at Ron Brown's funeral.

I wonder if the Democratic levity at Wellstone's memorial will translate into loss of business for Democratic funeral home directors.

It's easy to picture bereaved families wanting to make sure that they have funeral directors who will behave appropriately.

[Conservative independent]

This is the DemocRATS MO. They carefully plan an event like this, then "apologize" afterwards - once the intended message has been planted in minds of the uniformed and party faithful.

As a conservative independent, I would be appalled if the GOP behaved the same way. However, I don't think they would stoop to the level of holding this type of "memorial."

[XJarhead]

"I regret if people took offense or were taken by surprise ... We are a hurting bunch here," Blodgett said,

Okay, let's assume that the individual speakers were "hurting" and let their emotions carry them away. So we'll forgive them.

But how about the masses of Democrats in attendance who booed the pictures of the Republicans who came to pay their respects? How is that the fault of the "hurting" speakers?

[billhilly]

APOLOGY=The most potent word in political language. The word used to mean: If I don't say I'm sorry, I'm about to get my ass kicked. It was most often used by juveniles who had not yet learned how to keep from offending.

Recognizing the usefulness of an "I'm sorry", politicians began to plan their strategy around it. They recognized that they could do anything, no matter how outrageous, and if caught, an apology, with fake sincerity, would always get them out of their tight spots.

These days society demands apology, and Brer Rabbit chuckes.