“(W)e refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation.”

We’ve come a long way since Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., spoke those words on a fateful summer day in 1963.

But despite the great strides that have been made over the last half century, there is still work required of us to ensure that all Americans have the opportunity of which King dreamed.

While we are a rich country, too many children attend failing schools.

While many Americans prosper, too many are working too hard for too little.

While bigotry and intolerance are rightly shunned, too many politicians in Washington still quietly seek to perpetuate divisions–based on race, religion, gender and sexuality. They still tell us that those who differ from us are to be feared.

Yes, we’re a better, stronger, more just society than we were in 1963, but there is work left to be done.

So as we honor Dr. King on Monday, let us also take time to renew the calling of his life and make it our own–in this election and beyond.

Sincerely,

Brian Barnes

www.barnes.mn

Brian Barnes has announced his candidacy to replace the guy on the “right” – Erik Paulsen. What can I say about Paulsen in just a few words? Well, career-politician Erik Paulsen first door knocked me WAY back, when running for the Minnesota State House – I didn’t like Paulsen’s politics then and I damn sure don’t like them now. Oh – and his voting record closely resembles Michele Bachmann’s. If you believe the 1% needs devoted water carriers in Washington D.C., Paulsen’s just the guy.

Brian Barnes, on the other hand, has been a union member. He’s been active in the Democratic Party (“DFL” here in Minnesota). He’s a graduate of the Coast Guard Merchant Marine Academy, achieved the rank of Lieutenant Commander in the Naval Reserves, is a successful businessman. Oh – and Brian is an Eagle Scout, too.

It’s a clear contrast. And if you support the 1% and Erik Paulsen, you need not do a thing – Wall Street Fat Cats are making sure Paulsen has PLENTY of dough for November’s election. If you support the 99%, Brian can use your help, and you can help out via Brian’s Act Blue page.

It’s fitting Brain Barnes took that quote to honor Martin Luther King Day; that quote is from MLK’s historic “I Have A Dream” speech, which Dr, King delivered on August 28, 1963. As Brain said above, we HAVE come a long way since Dr. King’s speech – and there’s work left to be done. So, let’s DO IT!

To help you get ready for Monday’s Martin Luther King Day, here’s a YouTube of Dr. King’s speech, over music – enjoy!

(the song above – “Spiritual High (Part 3)” – is from the album “Mood Food” by Mood Swings, and is available where I buy my music – The Electric Fetus. If you like Chrissie Hynde, check out “Spiritual High (Part 1)” – Chrissie singing at her best!)

(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)

Today State Rep Steve Simon endorsed Brian Barnes to defeat Erik Paulsen for Congress in Minnesota’s 3rd District. This is a BIG endorsement for several reasons – and one has to do with equal rights/equality under the law, which is why I started this post reminding about that House Party hosted by Brian a week ago.

Steve Simon made national news for his comments about the GOP’s bigoted constitutional amendment – the YouTube of those comments is currently over 540,000 views. Let’s look!!

Erik Paulsen tries to avoid news about where he stands on the issues – especially this one. But he’s not afraid to go behind closed doors to take a “Friend of the Family” “award” not too long ago from Jack Abramoff’s old pal, Ralph Reed.

Let’s be clear on where Paulsen stands — he’s a “friend” of SOME families, and NOT those families with LBGT family members.

The contrast cannot be clearer: Brian Barnes and Steve Simon standing for ALL families; Erik Paulsen and Ralph Reed standing for SOME families.

Compete text of Rep Steve Simon’s endorsement letter follows:

# # #

Dear Friends,

It’s a great honor for me to write to you today about my friend Brian Barnes, who’s running for Congress against Republican Erik Paulsen.

Brian’s a great Democrat. He’s someone I’ve always been able to count on and he’s always been there for our party. In good times and bad, Brian has stood with Democrats throughout the West Metro.

He’s also a great progressive. While Washington Republicans do their best to roll back half a century of progress, Brian hasn’t backed away from standing up for the values that make America great.

You can trust Brian to stand up for the Middle Class, for marriage equality, and for a tax code that rewards hard work instead of those who can afford the best accountants.

Brian’s running a great campaign based on the issues that matter most.

He’s the best choice among the candidates running in the 3rd Congressional District.

Please visit Brian’s website today to find out how you can help.

Thanks for all you do. Together, Democrats will win in 2012.

Sincerely,

State Rep. Steve Simon

Donate Now

# # #

(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject; comments welcome there)

Join General Harry Sieben
and the DFL Veterans Caucus
in an afternoon of support for

Maureen Hackett, M.D.
3rd Congressional District Candidate

Sunday, March 28
2:00-4:00pm

at

Hopkins VFW Post 425, Fireside Room
100 Shady Oak Road
Hopkins, MN 55343

Trista Mastacastillo, Tommy Johnson, John Wexler
Cheryl Poling, Lou Ellingson, Nancy Gertner

Dr. Hackett has the proven track record of standing up for our veterans, working with our veterans and their families on a day to day basis and will work for us in Washington, DC. Come show your support!

Suggested Contributions
Benefactor $50, Supporter $25, Volunteer Commitment Hours

Contributions of any size and kind are welcome.

If you cannot attend,
Please support Dr. Hackett online at
www.hackettforcongress.org

Or send a check to: Hackett for Congress
PO Box 4099
Hopkins, MN 55343.

THANK YOU!!!!!

(cross posted from MnProgressiveProject; comments welcome there)

“I would not run on the IP line. I’m DFL. And that’s the line that I’ll be on.”

And the person making the quote is Dr. Maureen Reed, the congressional candidate in the 6th CD.

The quote was made to Eric Black at MinnPost.

Personally, I’m happy to see Dr. Reed make that quote; make the committment to the DFL Party and make the committment to helping Michelle Bachmann return to the profession Bachmann was trained in: tax law. Dr. Reed is a fine person and a wonderful candidate. She should be congratulated for standing up and standing tall!

(crossposted from MnProgressiveProject)

I am outraged that Ashwin Madia would exploit uniformed Marines to advance his political ambitions. … He should immediately pull down the ad and issue an apology to the drill team and the brave men and women of the U.S. Marine Corps.” (M.D.E.)

Well, one would think, by Congressman Kline’s outrage, that he, himself, would never have used the military, or military veterans, to further HIS “political ambitions”, wouldn’t one? Or, if he HAD used the military, or military veterans, to further HIS “political ambitions”, Congressman Kline would have apologized, right?

Yeah, “right.”

Let’s take a look at a John Kline incident, from just two years ago.

On August 12th, 2006, John Kline attended an event with the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), in St. Paul. Randy Pleva, National President of the PVA, sent Congressman Kline a letter on August 28th, thanking Kline for showing up.

Now, it’s important to remember, that the PVA is a 501(c)3 not for profit.

So, what did Congressman Kline do, with that letter, from a not for profit Veterans Organization?

If you guessed Congressman Kline shamelessly used that letter to further Kline’s political career, you would be correct.

Here’s the entire verbage from the SECOND letter the PVA sent to Congressman Kline, dated 31 October 2006:

Dear Congressman Kline,

I write to you regarding a recent campaign flyer distributed by the Kline for Congress campaign (copy attached) that implies my endorsement, as President of Paralyzed Veterans of America, of your reelection. As a 501(c)3 not for profit organization we are precluded by law from endorsing or opposing any candidate for office. Not only was this language taken out of context and used without our knowledge, the fact is that this may put or organization’s good standing in jeopardy.

The language contained in the flyer comes from a letter (attached I sent you August 28, 2006 thanking you for your attendance at a fund raising event conducted by PVA’s Outdoor Recreation Heritage Fund. I find the selective editing for use in the flyer disingenuous at best.

I would appreciate that you and the campaign cease using this implied endorsement.
Thank you.

Sincerely,

Randy L. Pleva, Sr.
National President

cc: Federal Election Commission, Office of General Counsel

Here’s the first letter, that John Kline disingenously took out of context:

Here’s the second letter, that the PVA essentially said “cease and desist”:

Now, fastforward to yesterday, and remember Kline demanding someone else issue an apology. Ask yourself this: do you think John Kline ever apologized to the PVA, for shamelessly and disengenuously using Paralyzed American Veterans to shamelessly advance Kline’s career?

If you think Kline did NOT apologize, you would be correct; I know – because I called Randy Pleva, National President, and asked.

John Kline – as usual – is acting like the shameless and disengenuous hypocrite that has caused “GOP” to now stand for GreedOverPrinciples.

“Hypocrisy, thy party is GOP”

(cross posted at MnBlue, originally posted at MnProgressiveProject.com )

Now, with as much time as Paulsen’s spent running from the republiCon brand, stepping in front of a microphone at the RNC is a big step for Paulsen.

I just checked Paulsen’s website, and used the search feature for the term “Republican.” On Paulsen’s website, the term “Republican” exists exactly 7 times. Not on the home page; not on any of the sub-pages; but buried in 4 stories (three of which were about GOP endorsement conventions) and 3 documents.

After a political career that includes Majority Leader for the Republican Party, Paulsen is certainly hiding the brand. It’s not on his campaign signage, nor literature, either.

But there’s a lot of things Paulsen doesn’t like to talk about; his being a republiCon is only one. Erik Paulsen, Republican-Endorsed candidate, has no position on Iraq. His website is pretty much bereft of any content, and has been since I posted this way back in January. Then, as is now, this picture is worth a thousand words:

(originally published at MnBlue.com)

And it has been noted on several occasions on several blogs over these last several months that apparently, to Erik Paulsen, Iraq does not exist – that when “Iraq” is entered into the search field of Paulsen’s website, “No items contained the text “iraq” is the result.

Looking at Paulsen’s website, this is still true, – as of this very moment.

On the other hand, at this very moment, on Erik Paulsen’s home page, Team Paulsen touts this item:

Newsroom
Paulsen Over $1.3 Million For Campaign

Funny, isn’t it? That sometimes, the more things change, the more they stay the same? The change is the time since January; what is the same is Paulsen still doesn’t have anything to say about Iraq, but still is talking about the dough.

Of course, Paulsen really doesn’t have to say a lot about anything on is website, on virtually any issue – excepting, of course, dough. And he really doesn’ have (nor, want) to say anything where some those $1.3 million chunks of dough came from – such as the fundraiser with Cheney, or the dough raised at the strip-club in Vegas.

The most ironic statement on Paulsen’s website, is this:

“Minnesotans want leaders to understand that America is at a crossroads. Our economy, our domestic security, and our standing as a world leader all deserve something more substantial than governing by sound bites,” said Paulsen.(emphasis added)

Ladies and Gentlemen, Paulsen’s website, since January, has been nothing but soundbites; and it still is.

This, of course, only goes to show that when Paulsen declared last January that in this race he wouldn’t be out-hustled, he really meant he’d hustle everyone to win this race.

Look on Paulsen’s webpage – rather than talking about Iraq (or, for that matter, Afghanistan), Paulsen talks about money. This money includes cash raised at a strip-club in Vegas; money raised at a strip-club in Vegas that, by comparison, makes the money Paulsen took from a Cheney fundraiser look relatively clean.

Make no mistake, Ladies and Gentlemen – when it comes to money, Paulsen’s been taking a blind eye – just as he takes a blind eye with regards to Iraq. If you like George W. Bush and D*ck Cheney, you’ll love Erik “The Hustler” Paulsen.

(cross-posted from The Eden Prairie News)

(originally published at MnBlue.com)

Mr. Benson – it is August 4th, and I do not have the hard copy of Congressman Kline’s RONA Request. You stated, below, that I would have it in “a few days.” As usual, this has not happened. Mr. Benson, there is a pattern here, and it’s not flattering to your office, or the VA. As a citizen/journalist and representative of a news media, I am disappointed in the difficulty of working with the VA; as a veteran and taxpayer, I am outraged.

According to the VA’s website, as a representative of the news media, the only fees I and/or the news media I write for are responsible for are copying, with the first 100 pages provided at no charge.

I will send a FOIA Request, for this question – “how many OTHER Names and Addresses, for zip codes not requested, were provided to Rep. Kline?”, since apparently your office doesn’t answer questions posed by citizen/journalists without one.

Tell me – will I need a FOIA to find out exactly how long you have been a “spokesman” in the Media Relations Department? Will I need a FOIA to find out how long Phil Budahn has been a “spokesman” in the Media Relations Department? The reason I ask these two questions is the current reporting that at the Justice Department, under Monica Goodling and Kyle Sampson’s direction, ideology was more important than competence in hiring decisions – and I’m seriously beginning to wonder if it isn’t the same case, at the VA’s Media Relations Department.

The issue I am investigating and reporting on is serious; a Member of Congress appearing to have abused RONA for partisan political gain.

Why the VA doesn’t take this seriously, and the delaying tactics the VA has used (I first contacted the VA about this on or about June 10th – almost 2 months ago) will be reported and published on-line at www.MnBlue.com – along with the story of how many veterans (and at what cost to the taxpayers) in Congressman Kline’s district received what appears to be campaign propaganda; and how many veterans (and at what cost to the taxpayers) outside of Congressman Cline’s district received what appears to be campaign propaganda.

Tommy Johnson

Citizen/Journalist

(originally published at MnBlue.com)