Posted on 10/31/2002 2:22:02 PM PST by 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
I'm glad these RATS are in office for national interests. (sarcasm) I hope all this flies in their face on election day!
LOL, not at all!! MonDull's MEAT on Tuesday...how STOOOOPID do you really believe Minnesotans actually are?!
Buck up, bucko, Right's winning in a landslide on Tuesday and evenmoreso in November '04...MUD
So I think to myself, "Do I have to write the word, "sarcasm" to get through this thick SOB's cranium, or what?"
Then, it dawns on me you're pulling my chain, AGAIN!
(GD'd Geminis; I tell ya.)
See?
I don't need to go to such lengths with "Braveman."
Nooooo wayyyyyy.
No, that sucker knows me all too well.
Knows my cutting sense of humor, sarcasm, & when I'm being at my facetious best he'll just ignore me, counter-punch, or feign pain & as he moves away?
I get smacked but-good the instant my guard's dropped.
But you; you're a real SOB.
You know that, boy?
... :o)
Yep...but now yer on MamaMUD $#!+ list and believe you me, it ain't a good list to be on...MUD
I believe that qualifies as an anti-Slavic-American and anti-Norseman-American racism, my FRiend...LOL!! I trust there are enuff good folks in Minnesota to reject the RATS' ridiculous slur against the intelligence of their State. Rush is saying now that MonDull's lost 7 points since the WellstoneDebacle on Tuesday!! And Bush is going to MN on Sunday!!
"Home of HH and full of white guilt. Mondale by 10%"
As of today, it's a dead heat...if you look hard enuff fer bad news, I reckon you'll find it...MUD
BTW...is that the attitude that led you to choose yer Screen Name, Chief?
I was thinking, maybe FOX has a new hit TV show on their hands here; When Requieums Go Bad . . .
They could lead with the footage of the Ayatollah Khomeini falling out the casket during the funeral procession in Iran that fateful day, and work in the Wellstone Monster Truck Rally right after the commercial break.
See?
The wheels came off right there.
We all know what we are.
So?
What's wrong with your eyes?
Can't recognize rabble when ya see it, huh?
"My children assure me I came down with yesterday's rain..."
*Your* children.
The old apples never fall far from the tree, eh?
"...the Ayatollah Khomeini falling out the casket during the funeral procession in Iran..."
~sigh~
A more *splendid* example of gravity would be hard to find.
...old bag went, >doink< outa there! :o)
BWAHAHAHAHAHA...I love it!!
FReegards...MUD
As a lover of medical science and especially epidemiology, I appreciate your thought, however we can hope that the immune system of the body politic functions as well as our own--we can hope!
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