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

[clintonh8r]

target rich environment

[mondonico]

I think that we can expect the Democrats to accuse the Republicans of voter fraud in every state where the Democrats have planned to cheat, so that they can say that it was the Republicans who cheated, not them.

Precisely!

[alnick]

Ummm...not top be jerky about it...but how reliable is "Capital Hill Blue" ?? I always wonder about "unnamed sources"

I'm with you. While I have no doubt that the pep rally was planned by democrats, I don't necessarily buy the quotes by unnamed sources in this story. They're capable of it, but why would they admit it in terms that make them look sleazy?

I'm always skeptical of unnamed sources.

[mondonico]

"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.

They'll get away with it unless those with better media contacts than I have (i.e., more than zero) get the word out about this.

[linn37]

we don't need to see them we can smell them........

[concerned about politics]

I hate RATs.

I just heard on FOX the Ca.public schools will now be celebrating the day of the dead, where they pray and make offerings to the dead. I guess it's considered multicultural (Hispanic). Just like teaching the Islamic religion.
They said no Christian stuff, though. It's not multicultural enough.

[mondonico]

Very good!

[bert]

How long before the crash did the planning begin?

[Fred Mertz]

A political operative made me laugh, clap, shuck and jive at a memorial service.

Give me a break.

[TC Rider]

I was thinking on Tuesday night that the production had Harry Thomasson's fingerprints all over it. Way too slick for a CSpan event.

[PhiKapMom]

Doug Thompson who is with Capitol Hill Blue knows D.C. better than most and I have yet to post one thing from there that has not turned out to be true!

I know I trust him! He stopped Capitol Hill Blue for a shortime then came back!

[ALS]

[PhiKapMom]

That boat came from Bermuda the last I heard and I would suspect McAuliffe (Clinton puppet) as being behind this to embarrass Jeb. In fact, I would bet on it!

[PhiKapMom]

Well we should help it along but emailing them this story to the press!

[PhiKapMom]

Thompson doesn't write novels, he reports what he finds out and this is exactly what I have heard from people I know!

[GBA]

"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?"

I have to agree with concerned about politics. There are honest people in the country who happen to also be Democrats and are by now sick and tired of the Clinton crime family and head henchman Terry McAuliffe. I don't have too much trouble believing someone with a little character and a lot of disgust passed some dirt. Lord knows the DNC is plenty dirty!

I doubt that this disclosure drove a stake into the beast's heart, but I hope it at least hurts it truly and deeply. For that to happen, honest, decent people will have to snap out of the spell the evil puppetmaster, SlickWillie, has put them under and see their party for what it has truly become: a criminal enterprise focussed on the aquisition of power at any cost. Then, they need to become as disgusted as the rest of us and walk out on the Dems, just like Jesse Ventura walked out of the "memorial service".

[Mudboy Slim]

Alert those Media folks who might be supportive of our Cause...feel free to add to this list in subsequent posts.

Put "Dear Media" in the TO ADDRESS field, have it routed to yourself in your address book for a file copy. Then paste the following list into the BCC ADDRESS field and each recipient will be unaware that you have blanketed them all.

speaker@aim.org, takeaction@americasvoice.com, pat@theamericancause.org, cbnonline@cbn.org, viewer@c-span.org, cato@free-market.net, drudge@drudgereport.com, comment@foxnews.com, letter@globe.com, insight@wt.infi.net, jwatch@erols.com, imus@msnbc.com, hq@lp.org, marklevin@aol.com, jacolumn@toto.net, feedback@usatoday.com, editor@dolphin.gulf.net

FReegards...MUD

[let freedom sing]

Watch for the backfire on NOV 5-- their plan misjudged the recoil of DFL duping. The people of Minnesota did not choose Mondale, the DFL machine did-- maybe Jesse can remind them of that.

[PhiKapMom]

Mud --

You are the man!

Thanks!

PKM

[Mudboy Slim]

We can make it even easier for folks to access the Vast LeftWing Media Whore'd by...

putting "Dear Media" in the TO ADDRESS field, and have it routed to yourself in your address book for a file copy. Then paste the following list into the BCC ADDRESS field and each recipient will be unaware that you have blanketed them all. Please be polite--yet firm--in asking why there has been such inadequate coverage into this sleazy bastardization of a man's funeral. Then, check back into this thread and let us know what you said.

letters@newsweek.com, letters@time.com, conedit@ajc.com, letters@baltsun.com, letter@globe.com, news@globe.com, letterstoeditor@bostonherald.com, opinion@charlotte.com, letters@suntimes.com, news@cleveland.com, letterstoeditor@dallasnews.com, letters@denverpost.com, business@det-freepress.com, letter@detnews.com, viewpoints@chron.com, letters@latimes.com, HeraldEd@herald.com, politics@startribune.com, letters@newsday.com, letters@nytimes.com, Inquirer.Opinion@phillynews.com, DailyNews.Opinion@phillynews.com, letters@post-gazette.com, letters@uniontrib.com, chronletters@sfgate.com, letters@examiner.com, letters@sjmercury.com, editpage@seattle-pi.com, opinion@seatimes.com, editor@usatoday.com, letter.editor@edit.wsj.com, Letterstoed@washpost.com, wtnews@wt.infi.net, feedback@cnn.com, cnn.onair@cnn.com, crossfire@cnn.com, viewer@c-span.org, colmments@foxnews.com, hardball@cnbc.com, letters@msnbc.com, opinion@msnbc.com, TheNews@msnbc.com, dateline@news.nbc.com, nightly@news.nbc.com, today@news.nbc.com, MTP@nbc.com

Let's do the Big Guv'ment Media Sycophants research for them, folks, and then see if we don't see a few more stories about Terry McAuliffe's Corruption of Paul Wellstone's RAT Party!!

FReegards...MUD