Posted on 11/01/2002 3:07:43 AM PST by kattracks
November 1, 2002 -- That was some "memorial service" the Minnesota Democratic Party threw for the late Sen. Paul Wellstone the other night.
It started out dignified enough, with eulogies and poignant anecdotes.
But then it degenerated into a hysterical partisan pep rally in which speakers demanded that the GOP sit back and permit Wellstone's designated successor, former veep Walter Mondale, to take Tuesday's election by default.
This, after the Democrats - who'd called for a campaign moratorium until Wednesday - excoriated the Republicans for just raising the issue of campaign debates this weekend between Mondale and GOP candidate Norm Coleman.
Talk about hypocrisy!
It was, as former Rep. Vin Weber said, "a complete, total, absolute sham," adding that for Minnesota Democrats, "Wellstone's death, apparently, was just another campaign event."
No wonder even some Democratic officials are apologizing for an event they now concede went way over the top.
That the event was meant to be more than a simple memorial service was apparent when it was learned that labor unions were busing members to the rally, which was attended by some 20,000 people.
And forget about putting aside partisanship so that all those gathered - Republicans as well as Democrats - could share their sorrow at Wellstone's untimely death: When Republicans, like Sen. Trent Lott, appeared on the giant screens, the crowd erupted into jeers and catcalls.
Not to mention the fact that Wellstone's family publicly disinvited Vice President Dick Cheney - at least in part because of his strong public support of Coleman's candidacy.
Little wonder, then, that the most partisan of Democrats - Bill Clinton - was seen cheering the speakers on and pumping his fist in the air. He didn't bother wasting time with his trademark bite-the-lip sign of feigned grief.
Given that the event was broadcast live throughout Minnesota (and nationally on C-SPAN), it amounted to little more than a free, three-hour campaign commercial.
That Paul Wellstone himself would have loved it is beside the point; he was, after all, one of the most enthusiastically partisan members of the U.S. Senate.
The fact remains that, for all their protestations of outrage at the other side, behind their tears the Democrats were cynically engaged in politics as usual.
Here's hoping they pay a price for it at the polls Tuesday.
I know that every memorial service I have attended always has a concession stand open for business, adding to the solemnity of the occasion.
Mountaineer pointed out that in order to open a concession stand and have hot dogs, one must place orders with suppliers a day or two in advance.
Now, although they are trying to say things "got out of hand" and people got "carried away," the opening of the concession stands and the orders whicih must have been placed ahead of time belie this excuse.
In addition, Redleg Duke was on a commuter train seated near Bob Shrum and heard him working on Harkin's speech as he called different political big shots including Clinton.
They are, as usual, lying.
I fervently hope more comes out about the concession stands, and also what else was sold (beer and brats, campaign buttons, etc.).
IF certain campaign items were sold, several freepers have pointed out that they will have violated federal election law.
I'll bet half the 'rent-a-mob' folks didn't even know what they were there for. They were probably just told to bring money for lunch.
All people must do is remember that Bill Clinton and HIllary Clinton head an Organized crime syndicate which operates exactly as Organized Crime syndicates everywhere operate. The only difference is they are in politics....and through deceit and chicanery and murder they managed to keep control of the highest office in this nation. Had Vince Foster, Ron Brown, and a host of others not been murdered by the Clinton crime syndicate at fortuitous times, Bill Clinton would NOT have achieved or maintained his power. Had Senator Wellstone not been the recipient of another Clinton Crime Syndicate HIT - this last minute FREE THREE HOUR DEMOCRATIC PARTY BASH would not have been staged, Walter Mondale - father of one of Bill Clinton's tryst partners would not have been paid off for his acquiescence to his daughter's "involvement" with Bubba, and the humiliation of having one of the leading US Senate Liberals BEATEN in the Minnesota Senate election would not have been PREVENTED.
It is no accident, by the way, that Mineta managed to keep his job in the Bush administration.
(Oh - what harm can he do. Transportation secretary? so what)......
That the Wellstone children have evidently no suspicion that the people orchestrating this "rally" also orchestrated their father's death in order to STAGE this rally and ATTEMPT TO ENSURE HILLARY CLINTON'S POWER AS DICTATOR IN THE US SENATE is not surprising. The silence of the spouse and children and friends of Vince Foster and Ron Brown were bought too.
Everything, everything, everything is designed to keep her in POWER in the Senate which means the Senate majority must be maintained at all costs (including the murder of someone whose defeat would have helped ensure Hillary's LOSS of power as the Democrats lose control of the Senate).
We can only pray that evil has overplayed its hand again and the death party will be bringing its own demise upon itself and this latest Clinton Crime Syndicate Criminal endeavor will end differently than its others.
AMEN! May they pay the price all over the country.
First Annual Wellstone Memorial Midterm DNC Campaign Rally.
Nothing says mourning like a four dollar wiener.
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