Hatch Attacks Carey
In one of the most bizarre things I've
ever read, DFL gubernatorial candidate Mike Hatch took a shot at MNGOP Chairman Ron Carey. Here's the shot:
This is nothing but a cheap political stunt aimed at distracting people from the internal DFL war being waged by Mssrs. Hatch & Entenza. Let's look at what the Pioneer Press has to say about that:
Would Mr. Entenza use behind-the-scenes tactics, such as veiled threats, to get the AG's investigators to take it easy on his wife? Inquiring minds want to know.
Posted Thursday, July 13, 2006 12:06 PM
June 2006 Posts
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"Ron Carey is a paid political complainer who, to date, has not offered one constructive proposal for Minnesotans as it relates to education reform, the high cost of college tuition, the health care crisis or transportation gridlock," Hatch said.Mike, I hate breaking this to you but Minnesotans don't generally look to party chairmen to provide policy positions on the issues of the day. They generally expect that from politicians seeking political office. Republicans haven't been demanding Brian Melendez to issue policy statements because they know his views don't matter much.
This is nothing but a cheap political stunt aimed at distracting people from the internal DFL war being waged by Mssrs. Hatch & Entenza. Let's look at what the Pioneer Press has to say about that:
Nine weeks before the Minnesota primary election, two of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party's top candidates are at the center of a new controversy involving an old allegation that the party's attorney general candidate hired a political operative to dig up dirt on the main DFL gubernatorial contender. And Attorney General Mike Hatch, who is running for governor, has tried recently, since the DFL endorsing convention last month, to recruit a candidate to wage a primary fight against Matt Entenza, the party's endorsee for attorney general.Rest assured that Entenza and Hatch will do everything to let that wound heal, at least publicly. That said, bet that the MNGOP will keep picking that scab this fall in hopes of beating Hatch and Entenza.
Entenza also responded Wednesday to assertions by Jeff Johnson, his Republican opponent, that he owes voters an explanation how he would deal with a potential conflict of interest stemming from an investigation Hatch is conducting of UnitedHealth Group. Entenza's wife, Lois Quam, is an executive of the Minnetonka-based company, which is the nation's second-largest managed health care firm. "The Republicans are attempting to smear my wife, and to smear me through my wife," Entenza said.Nice try, Mr. Entenza, but that dog won't hunt. Jeff Johnson isn't out to smear you through your wife. He's simply raising the fair question of how you'd handle an investigation into UnitedHealth in the wake of her cashing in stock options worth $30.4 million. Yes, we know that you'd recuse yourself. That isn't the only thing I'm worried about, though.
On Tuesday night, Entenza raised money for his campaign at a Washington, DC, reception whose hosts included three UnitedHealth executives and a number of members of Congress. Entenza said there was nothing wrong with him accepting money from UnitedHealth employees, and he said Johnson also has sought contributions from people at UnitedHealth.
Johnson said he may have asked for money from some UnitedHealth employees in a mass mailing, but that he had not personally solicited any money from people at the firm since the investigation began.
Would Mr. Entenza use behind-the-scenes tactics, such as veiled threats, to get the AG's investigators to take it easy on his wife? Inquiring minds want to know.
Posted Thursday, July 13, 2006 12:06 PM
June 2006 Posts
No comments.
