Last Friday, we reviewed an investigation into the dirty politics of John Kline, R=GreedOverPrinciples. The story focused on “transparency” – more specifically, lack thereof – and “accessibility” – and again, lack thereof – and John Kline.
And as disgusting as John Kline and his paid staff’s actions were, Steele County Republican Party Co-Chair Dave Thul actually acts worse. Yes indeed, Steele County Republican Party Co-Chair Dave Thul set a new low in the dirty tricks department last week.
For the very first time (that I’m aware of), an elected Republican official – Steele County Republican Party Co-Chair Dave Thul – actually did the dirty deed himself. And not only did Steele County Republican Party Co-Chair Dave Thul stage the ambush attack himself, he did it inside the office of his target.
As pathetic and disgusting as it was for someone on the John Kline gravy train to stand outside a Coleen Rowley campaign event and yell racial slurs – Mike Osskopp – or crash a Steve Sarvi campaign event and badger the candidate – Diana Bratlie – at least John Kline could maintain some kind of plausible (cough, cough) deniability: “Hey, it was just some staffers.”
Steele County Republican Party Co-Chair Dave Thul went lower than that: he did the deed himself, and he did it in Congressman Tim Walz’ offices.
Let’s look at the YouTube Steele County Republican Party Co-Chair Dave Thul shot, and then analyze exactly how UNtransparent Steele County Republican Party Co-Chair Dave Thul was.
Now, before we talk about how Steele County Republican Party Co-Chair Dave Thul’s attack was completely UNtransparent, it’s important to note that GOPers tried to SwiftBoat Tim Walz’ military record in his 2006 race against Gil Gutknecht AND in 2008 against Brian Davis. “tried” – as in failed, because the smear didn’t work.
The attacks on Congressman Walz have started again. This time, a tool named Thul is attacking the Congressman on his military record, saying that Walz did not serve “in support of” Operation Enduring Freedom.
And Steele County Republican Party Co-Chair Dave Thul’s allegation regarding the picture is just as bogus, as I (tried) to explain to Steele County Republican Party Co-Chair Dave Thul last week; the sign does NOT read “Enduring Freedom Veterans” followed by “for Kerry” – the sign reas “Enduring Freedom” followed by “Veterans for Kerry.”
This discussion came up due to my investigation into Steele County Republican Party Co-Chair Dave Thul’s use of a @us.army.mil email account for political purposes; a subject to be addressed in the coming days…stay tuned! For a quick background on the origins of this issue, link here.
At any rate, Steele County Republican Party Co-Chair Dave Thul is as wrong about the picture as he is about Tim Walz’ record. That said, let’s look at Steele County Republican Party Co-Chair Dave Thul’s ambush attack at the Mankato offices of Congressman Tim Walz:
OK, let’s reveiw how and when Steele County Republican Party Co-Chair Dave Thul identifies himself during his ambush attack:
Start: I’m Dave Thul, …
0:32, I’m Dave Thul …
0:47, I’m Dave Thul, …
5:23. “I’m also a blogger…”
OK, remember at the beginning of that investigation of John Kline? You know, “transparency”? Was Steele County Republican Party Co-Chair Dave Thul transparent?
No (cheney)in’ way was Steele County Republican Party Co-Chair Dave Thul anywhere close to “transparent.”
Not once does Steele County Republican Party Co-Chair Dave Thul identify himself to Walz’s staff as an elected GOP official (Co-Chair of the Steele County Republican Party) even though there are four chances for him to do so in that 5 1/2 minute film.
Four chances, and not once – NOT ONCE – does Steele County Republican Party Co-Chair Dave Thul disclose his partisan party position.
That, Ladies and Gentlemen, is dirty politics – laying a political ambush and lying by omission – and even John Kline hasn’t stooped that low.
There’s more to this story, and it has to do with what Steele County Republican Party Co-Chair Dave Thul said at the 3:15 mark: “…we’re both National Guardsman ourselves…”
The recent election of FEC Tony and MudSlingerMike to Republican Party of Minnesota Chair and Deputy Chair was a clear signal that the GOP was going to keep playing down and dirty – or worse. And apparently, Steele County Republican Party Co-Chair Dave Thul got the message – LOUD AND CLEAR. Before we get into how down and dirty Dave Thul is willing to play, let’s go into the archives and review how down dirty republiCon GOPer John Kline plays:
That’s “IP” as in “Internet Protocol” – and here’s why it’s important: on June 4th, at 6:32 pm, the following message was posted on GOP State Deputy Chair Michael Brodkorb’s personal blog:
J Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
Aside from her tax issue which will be huge, Brod will have to answer for her personal behavior if she runs. She’s – ahem – played the field. A lot.(MinnesotaDemocratsExposed)
At the time, I didn’t think a lot of it; it seems to be there’s some exceedingly vile stuff posted over at GOP State Deputy Chair Michael Brodkorb’s personal blog. However, blogger Brian Falldin of Change We Must Fight For began noticing a pattern; a pattern on right-wing blogs of posts smearing Laura Brod.
Right-wing blogger Andy Aplikowski tried to take the high road and wrote about this smear campaign in a post that was almost immediately deleted. Among other things, Andy alleges “…a Republican staffer in the capital…” is involved in this smear campaign. Andy explained why he deleted that post here; it’s important to note that Andy did NOT retract his allegations. In a nutshell, Andy found that exposing problems in the GreedOverPrinciples party isn’t a lot of fun, if you’re a rightwinger.
Brian Falldin sent some questions to GOP Gubenatorial Candidate Marty Seifert, who was identified by name in Andy’s deleted post. The Q ‘n A is here.
Here’s what I found interesting, in Marty Seifert’s response:
I would ask anyone in question that allegedly has done this to open up to a lie detector test, open up cell and computer records and come clean.
Well, that should be a real easy one for GOP State Deputy Chair Michael Brodkorb. All he has to do is go back to June 4th, 2009 at 6:32 pm in his personal blog’s records, and find out who “J” is – by using the IP Address “J” used to post.
Whose IP Is It?
That’s “IP” as in “Internet Protocol” – and here’s why it’s important: on June 4th, at 6:32 pm, the following message was posted on GOP State Deputy Chair Michael Brodkorb’s personal blog:
At the time, I didn’t think a lot of it; it seems to be there’s some exceedingly vile stuff posted over at GOP State Deputy Chair Michael Brodkorb’s personal blog. However, blogger Brian Falldin of Change We Must Fight For began noticing a pattern; a pattern on right-wing blogs of posts smearing Laura Brod.
Right-wing blogger Andy Aplikowski tried to take the high road and wrote about this smear campaign in a post that was almost immediately deleted. Among other things, Andy alleges “…a Republican staffer in the capital…” is involved in this smear campaign. Andy explained why he deleted that post here; it’s important to note that Andy did NOT retract his allegations. In a nutshell, Andy found that exposing problems in the GreedOverPrinciples party isn’t a lot of fun, if you’re a rightwinger.
Brian Falldin sent some questions to GOP Gubenatorial Candidate Marty Seifert, who was identified by name in Andy’s deleted post. The Q ‘n A is here.
Here’s what I found interesting, in Marty Seifert’s response:
Well, that should be a real easy one for GOP State Deputy Chair Michael Brodkorb. All he has to do is go back to June 4th, 2009 at 6:32 pm in his personal blog’s records, and find out who “J” is – by using the IP Address “J” used to post.
Stay tuned!
(crossposted from MnProgressiveProject)