Democratic operatives planned, engineered Wellstone political rally

Capital Hill Blue ^ | October 31, 2002 | DOUG THOMPSON

[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

[Thud]

Capitol Hill Blue is very reliable.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

I think that Jesse Ventura, being a social liberal, is an interesting indicator of how it will affect swing voters across the country. Now, with Mondale looking bad in interviews and backing out of a debate, they might not even win Minnesota. The GOP knows what kind of men Cheney and Lott are. That slap on two men who normally treat the DNC with sportsmanlike respect was a big mistake. Cheney's flight to Minnesota speaks loudly, clearly, and dramatically. FReegards....

[reformedliberal]

I have also heard, as of yesterday, that the camera angles were known to have been planned beforehand. I am not sure, but I believe my source had heard Ventura on a local talk show.

I think this may be rather common knowledge in Minneapolis-St Paul.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

If the BBC clips were any indication, someone slipped some PCP into the Boy Wellstone's mineral water.

Does this face give you solace?

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

The Rats here are frustrated. Disarming Americans is way behind schedule. They are embarassed to admit how much difficulty they are having with their assignment. Until the US is disarmed, there is no point in arresting conservatives with blatantly trumped up charges across the world. Wrap me in tinfoil, but it sure seems that way.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Contrast that picture with this one:

INTENSE Grief Evident At Wellstone Memorial From Clinton & Mondale - NOT!

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm.../168/2k504.html

Former President Clinton laughs with former Vice President Walter Mondale and his wife Joan Mondale as the enter a public memorial service Tuesday, Oct. 29 2002 in Minneapolis for Sen. Paul Wellstone, his wife and the three staff members who died Oct. 25, in a plane crash in Eveleth, Minn.(AP Photo/ Paul Sancya)

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

Just looking at the photo pics shown somwhere in posts 1-50, it looks as though Tipper is filled with anger about something. Gore looks stoned. Clinton and the Reverend Jackson standing together both look apprehensive. Hellery appears to be the mastermind, by her body language. It sure fits her brazen, bold stroke way of thinking.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

The music, the handling of the event, that was not "impromptu". It had a slickness to it that looked well prepared.

Yeah.... just like the Democratic National Convention. All that was missing was the balloon drop!

[ffrancone]

IN 5 DAYS, THEY'LL BE VOTING DEMOCRAT

WHAT ARE YOU DOING TODAY TO HELP TAKE BACK THE SENATE?

TakeBackCongress.org

A resource for conservatives who want a Republican majority in the Senate

[SubMareener]

"This is war," one operative said. "The Republicans are too busy planning war on Iraq. They won't even see us coming."

Rest assured, no Republican National Committee assets are being used to plan or execute the war on Terrorists, including the upcoming exercise in the desert.!

[LaGrone]

The Dems-Truly the party of the devil.

[rintense]

To Carville:

Shut up, inchy.

[ladyinred]

"This is war," one operative said. "The Republicans are too busy planning war on Iraq. They won't even see us coming."

This statement alone should make them lose every election on Tuesday. The absolute dismissing of the real danger of terrorism in this country and turning into a power play for them is beyond reprehensible. Thank God Cheney wasn't there and a part of this spectacle that they are evidently proud of.

And by the way idiot, we saw you coming a mile away.

[spycatcher]

Reported first on Free Republic by Redleg Duke:

The Wellstone Eulogy...written by Bob Shrum on the the Acela Express from Boston

[spycatcher]

See the above link. FReepers were given a heads up before the jamboree took place that the top Dems were involved and planned to go with hardball politics instead of grieving

[twyn1]

I don't doubt the Dems were involved, to the hilt -- there's no way the Wellstone "boys" could have carried this off so smoothly (securing the venue, setting up the security, cameras & press stuff, inviting & "dis-inviting the politicos, etc.) -- I'm just skeptical about the "unnamed" source, why would someone who was privy to this "inside" planning suddenly come forward to spill the beans ?

[kitkat]

**Usually in a coffin filled with dirt from their native land.**

Nah, I've seen pictures of Hillary taken in the daytime. But just to be safe, maybe we should all carry a bit of garlic when we're going to be near them.

[concerned about politics]

I'm just skeptical about the "unnamed" source, why would someone who was privy to this "inside" planning suddenly come forward to spill the beans ?

A mole, or more likely, someone who sees their employment simply as a job. There's honest people in this country, even if they do have to work with crooks to get a paycheck. Capital Hill Blue is usually right.

[clintonh8r]

I hate RATs.