Republicans decry service as partisan [LOTT WALKED OUT!!]

Star Tribune Star Tribune ^ | 10/30/02 | Kavita Kumar, Dane Smith and Patricia Lopez

[M. Thatcher]

Though it was billed as a memorial service, many irate viewers and Republican leaders said the gathering for U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone and five others degenerated at times into a blatant political rally.

"What a complete, total, absolute sham," said Vin Weber, a former U.S. representative from Minnesota. "The DFL clearly intends to exploit Wellstone's memory totally, completely and shamelessly for political gain. To them, Wellstone's death, apparently, was just another campaign event."

[Z in Oregon]

It's unblievable that any Republican would call an agressive anti-Mondale campaign "insensitive" after last night's "exploit the dead man" political pep rally.

[John O]

The Republicans he named, he said, "were dear friends of Paul's.

This leaves me totally perplexed. How can any Republican have friends that are democrat? Wouldn't that be like road runner voluntarily copulating with Wiley Coyote? The only question I ever have for democrats (including family members suffering from that particular mental illness) is "How can you sleep at night?"

The speech provoked scores of calls to GOP headquarters and Republican U.S. Senate candidate Norm Coleman's campaign, said Bill Walsh, the state party's deputy executive director.

"They overplayed their hand, and our phones are ringing off the hook," he said. Many callers were offering to contribute money, Walsh said.

Backlash is a wonderful thing.

God Save America (Please)

[Z in Oregon]

Ventura is on the radio this AM in outrage. Reports his wife was crying on the way home because of the direction the "memorial" went. A lot of people in MN are pissed today. Bush is here later this week. MN GOP should DEMAND his stump speech here is televised.

Right on. And Coleman should be right beside Bush. If the Democrats hold a nationally televised rally, the Republicans have to hold a nationally televised rally of their own.

[concerned about politics]

I was struck with a similar thought. After my own father passed away, I considered speaking at his funeral, but ultimately realized the folly of the idea. I wouldn't have made it through the first sentence without breaking down. The Wellstone offspring was eerily composed, almost robot-like.

They may actually still be in shock.
The first thing people feel when they lose a loved one unexpectadly (or three!) is a sence of denial. "It's not real." They may think they're helping mom and dad.
The next stage of grief is anger. Let's hope they direct that anger where it really belongs. At the people who exploited their grief for a power grab.
After the denial and anger comes the real sorrow. That's when those in shock will break down in endless tears. That's when they'll look back at what has happened. This will let them know their true character and who it was that truely had respect for their loved one(s).

[TrappedInLiberalHell]

Hey, Trent Lott has actually shown some guts lately.

Auditioning for Majority Leader should the Republicans win back the Senate?

[Undertow]

those wellstones are some ugly people

[1Old Pro]

The Democrats are dancing on Wellstone's grave in their haste to insert politics and their desperation to keep the senate.

PATHETIC DEMOCRATS

[no dems]

Those people who are "pissed"; are they just Republicans or are there any pissed independents and Dim-o-crats?

[skeeter]

Norm Coleman was actually there. Security had to move him out of a section because it was "unfriendly."

The Democrats resemble a party of brownshirt thugs a little more each day.

[CougarGA7]

I dont see why anyone would be surprised that this turned into a political rally.

You see Demorats at least 99 percent of the DEAD VOTE every election. What a better time to campaign to your dead constituents than at a memorial.

[Solson]

Sorry to burst your Alan Page bubble, but he was there last night, standing and applauding at some of the most partisan speeches last night. In fact, some GOP sources are calling for Alan Page to recuse himself from the current Absentee ballot lawsuit(when it reaches the MNSC) because of his partisan participation last night.

[CougarGA7]

Insert "get" between "Democrats" and "at least"

[Illbay]

"This was their event," said former U.S. Sen. Rod Grams, R-Minn.

Huh? Who's "they"? So former Sen. Grams thinks that funerals of politicians "belong" to the party of that politician?

I'd like to see a comparison of this sorry farce, and the funeral of GA Sen. Paul Coverdell a couple of years ago.

Did his funeral "belong" the the Republican party? Did they use it as a non-stop political convention? Did Sen. Grams speak at the funeral, and exhort everyone to "vote Republican in tribute to Sen. Coverdell"?

[woofie]

My goldfish died ....I want a memorial for her ....one just like the Democrat's

[timpad]

Sorry to burst your Alan Page bubble, but he was there last night, standing and applauding at some of the most partisan speeches last night.

Thanks. Sometimes, you just need a wake up call. I'm going to see if I can donate to Coleman.

[Marysecretary]

EXACTLY. They ARE spawns of satan and this is a spiritual war like no other war we've ever seen here in America. We'd better wake up.

[Marysecretary]

It's probably the only thing that's keeping them going right now. Can't help but feel sorry for them. The truth will hit eventually and they will feel such pain.

[Lee'sGhost]

"Democrats would slap a campaign sticker on a coffin. I watched the memorial/rally, and it was just plain ghoulish."

What a great political cartoon showing their hypocracy that would make. Vision a picture of the Clintoons, and Kennedy et al, standing around the coffin as it's being lowered into the grave. Hitlary says: "I bet the slime ball Republicans can't wait to resume campaigning." On top of the coffin is a huge sticker that says, "Vote for Mondale!"

[mombonn]

scrofulous

What a great word! Thanks.

[Spunky]

Mark Kulda, managing editor of WCCO-TV, Channel 4, said the station received dozens of calls during the service. When asked whether he thought stations were giving free air time to Democrats, he said, "When this event was organized, it was organized as a memorial service. In our mind, it was entirely appropriate to broadcast a memorial service."

Mr Kulda, your mind doesn't work very well because everyone knew it was going to be one big rally for the DemoCrats.