[Rhodes22-list] Slim - Hold The Phone - Politics

[Brad Haslett]

Slim,

'He coolly said he never was a member of the Nation of Islam"...

There's the rub, he can coolly say such things when substantial evidence
points otherwise.  If Ellison is being truthful then he needs to be treated
fairly.  My guess is that the local MSP bloggers who are on his trail will
show their cards face-up soon.  If they don't, they need to shut-up! Mud may
be the only weapon Fine has to use.  I'm not defending that - just
recognizing that's the way the game is played.

Judging by the conversation at the dinner table last night, the Ford-Corker
Tennessee Senate race has evolved into a nasty mud-slinging fight as well
(my coping strategy for living in Memphis is to not watch local TV, read the
local newspaper, or leave my neighborhood) based on the TV ads they are
running.  Wally may be able to shed some light on the issue.

There's a lot of time left.  This should be fun to watch. BTW, you missed
another good meal.  Last night's dinner guests were a hoot and Fan's cooking
was excellent as always.

Brad




On 9/17/06, Slim <salm at mn.rr.com> wrote:
>
> Brad,
>
> Last night I listened to the debate among the candidates for the 5CD,
> Fine,
> Ellison and Tammy Lee, the independent.  I thought Ellison was fine and
> Fine
> was hopelessly parroting what the party wants him to say and nothing more.
> Ellison and Lee kept trying to redirect the discussion to the
> issues--taxes,
> health care, education, etc. and all Fine could say is that "..Um,
> character
> is an issue and um, I think um, joining a hate group that wants to destroy
> our country shows the wrong character..."  The guy's desperate and all he
> can do is sling the mud.
>
> Ellison, on the other hand kept saying he would rather talk about the
> issues
> but if he has to be dragged through this, fine.  He coolly said he never
> was
> a member of the Nation of Islam and he never even met Louis Farrakhan.  He
> helped organize the Million Man March, which he said was simply about
> empowering the African-American male and he was proud to be a part of it.
> Fine had no response.  Fine brought up Ellison's writings back in law
> school
> and Ellison said it was just something he wrote about Affirmative Action
> while he was a student at the U of M.  The moderator pressed Fine on what
> exactly in the writings he objected to and Fine had no response.  And
> this:
> "Mr. Fine, do you think Mr. Ellison is a racist?"  Fine hemmed and hawed
> and
> said, "Um, it's um, more complicated than that.  Um, I don't think he's
> fit
> for the office."  Then, "Exactly what is it that makes Mr. Ellison unfit?"
> More hemming and hawing and non-answering.
>
> This whole attack won't do much damage--it's too obvious this is a smear
> campaign.  Especially since Ellison's been in the MN House for the last
> four
> years and none of that (racist or anti-semite) has ever actually showed up
> on the radar.
>
> As of today I'm so ready to make our deal.
>
> Slim
>
> On 9/15/06 11:07 AM, "Brad Haslett" <flybrad at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Slim,
> >
> > Would be Senator Jr. passed the test yesterday.  He voted in favor of
> the
> > earmark bill.  Why he rattled his sabre before the vote is beyond me -
> musta
> > got some money from somewhere headed toward Memphis.  Let's table the
> > discussion until the day before the vote.  Both of us will have a better
> > idea who we trust by then.
> >
> > Brad
> >
> >
> > On 9/14/06, Slim <salm at mn.rr.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> Brad,
> >>
> >> I think the racist, anti-semite thing might be a little
> over-blown.  Alan
> >> Fine came down hard at Ellison's win but when pressed if those were HIS
> >> words he balked and didn't answer the question.  He might be a good
> >> pianist
> >> but I think he's also good at towing the party line--perhaps a puppet.
> >>
> >> I've always liked the when-in-doubt-vote-against-the-incumbent strategy
> >> but
> >> this is different.  If you want to break our deal, that's OK.  Frankly,
> my
> >> vote is still up for grabs.
> >>
> >> Slim
> >>
> >> On 9/14/06 6:20 PM, "Brad Haslett" <flybrad at gmail.com> wrote:
> >>
> >>> Slim,
> >>>
> >>> I like Jr. but I'll donate to his opponent over this!  Ford, Jr.
> >> indicated
> >>> his opposition today to 'earmark transparancy rules'.  What does that
> >> mean?
> >>> Business as usual - I use my power to get Federal money (someone elses
> >> but
> >>> ours) for my district in exchange for you getting some for your
> >>> re-election.  That's a deal breaker for me.  You (Slim) vote for a
> >> racist,
> >>> anti-semite for the house and I'll vote for a real-estate developer
> who
> >> I
> >>> don't know squat about for the Senate. Where the hell is a new party?
> >>> *All*these bums need to be thrown out!
> >>>
> >>> Brad
> >>> __________________________________________________
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> >>
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