Posted on 11/01/2002 10:44:43 AM PST by Oldeconomybuyer
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.
1. Freeper Redleg Duke overheard Bob Shrum on the phone with Clinton and other bigwigs democrats. RD was on a commuter train and overheard Shrum working on Harkin's speech. Redleg Duke posted this information the day of the speech, before it had been given. I hope he will link his thread to this one as supporting evidence.
2. According to a reporter writing for the Minneapolis Star-Tribune the concession stands were open during the memorial pep rally. Hot dogs were served. I am assuming that concession stand operators were given at least 24 hours notice to have the stands stocked with perishables such as hot dogs. Since concession stands were open, the solemnity of the occasion was never an option, and the organizers therefore knew ahead of time that the flavor would be that of a rally. Any attempt to portray the rally as simply "something that got out of hand" is therefore a lie.
I also found it offensive when billed as a memorial service, although it wasn't one, in a shameless bid to get free air time.
I am NOT surprised .. they Party of Bill Clinton has been calling the shots for the Democratic Party for some time ..
I don't think I have seen anything like it before .. but one thing I do know .. they will stop at NOTHING .. because regaining power is EVERYTHING to them ..
And to be honest .. if those old time democrats really care about the future of this country .. they best help stop these Goons ..
BUMP! Wake up, Minnesotans! You are being hijacked.
Any memorial for a major public figure would get media attention. This may have been exploited but that's not to be unexpected.. or that's my opinion.
Now that it's over with it's time to utilize the next 4 days to try and elect the GOP candidates. Maybe the event will backfire but I think we need to move on to the positive things of our candidates.... The democrats are pushing polls showing how they are closing in, working phone banks, mailing literature, etc. I've gotten more attention from the Sanchez campaign this year than I've ever gotten from several combined campaigns of the past. I've gotten mail pieces almost everyday for the past two weeks, two phone calls and a personal knock on the door. (I think this was selective to voters that have voted in the last election or so as they didn't go to every house) They are working like I've never seen them in my area.
I think we will see a close election with the House remaining with the Republicans and the Senate is a toss up with a possible retention by the Democrats at this point. My hope is the undecideds break hard for the GOP candidates.
Truer words were never spoken.
Thanks for the ping, PKM.
BEAT COLORADO!
Yesterday, Bob Shrum, noted DemocRAT strategist, hurriedly called contacts, digging up "accomplishments" to include in the eulogy that Tom Harkin is to "deliver from the heart" today at the Wellstone Memorial Service. I sat near him in the First Class Car of the Acela Express from Boston, where he was coaching Shannon O'Brien to be an attack dog, to Newark, where he was scheduled to meet with Lautenburg that evening.
He used a variety of sources. A virtual RAT focus group. Look for such accolades as "campaign finance reform", "saving the family farm from big agri-business" (Can anyone say Tysons Foods?), "saving social security", and of course "prescription drug benefits".
Look for Tom Harkin spewing alligator tears and try to dig up or get out the vote for sympathy.
I listened to his cell phone calls all the way to Newark! It was sickening! These are RATS...It is all about power. To them, while the "early bird gets the worm, the second RAT gets the cheese!"
I vote for complicit! Just, what, two short weeks ago a major speech by "W" regarding Saddam/Iraq got short shrift(as in NO air time) by the networks, and now a card carrying socialist senator's memorial service is carried live and gavel to gavel; hotdogs and all! We should be so lucky the Ministry of Information would be worthless. Would that it were so; they are a serious threat to all of us and their "worth" to Dims cannot be measured. They are the only entity that keeps the Dims' ship afloat.
FGS
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