Comments on: Madia calls Paulsen’s personal slams ‘bizarre’

By: WoMN Focus » Blog Archive » Could a woman win the 3rd? Analysis - A site dedicated to encouraging women in Minnesota to be more politically active

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:18:13 +0000

[...] supporters’ favorite arguments for his candidacy in 2008 was that Paulsen “fit the demographics of the district” better than his challenger, Ashwin Madia. Applying that to Bonoff, you can see that much [...]

By: danbrome

danbrome — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:26:49 +0000

I wonder why Erik Paulsen is so reluctant to speak directly to voters? Seriously.

Why does he need Michel & Carey to insult voters with this ridiculous message that Ash is not “one of us”?

Madia: “This race is not about me, it is about all of us working together.”

By: islensku

islensku — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:33:02 +0000

The 3rd District is 90% white, affluent, urban (as opposed to rural), and educated. Such factors would say that these people are less inclined to be appealed by the tired rhetoric of “not like us” and “not with us.” Unless you consider the 3rd District a haven of white trash and the KKK, I doubt Paulsen’s message will scare people into not voting for Madia. Perhaps Paulsen is slightly out of touch with his constituents–an understatement.

By: i bet he doesn’t like lutefisk, either / October 4, 2008 2:14pm @ trainedmonkey

i bet he doesn’t like lutefisk, either / October 4, 2008 2:14pm @ trainedmonkey — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 21:15:01 +0000

[...] i find it shocking that the republicans are using racially-loaded language in their campaign. madia has said he didn’t see any coded racism. reading the transcript, i am not convinced. it sounds like this is a tight race, so it is no [...]

By: MG Dem

MG Dem — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 19:21:59 +0000

I have children and a mortgage and I am an enthusiastic supporter of Ashwin Madia. I support Madia not because he represents my demographic but because he has demonstrated again and again that he understands my worries for my children’s future and has solid solutions.

I am frankly offended by Michel’s assertions that he is not “one of us”.

Ashwin Madia was “one of us” when he went to Iraq, he is “one of us” on the issues that should be deciding this election and he will be “one of us” when he goes to DC.

By: Eric Ferguson

Eric Ferguson — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 04:38:22 +0000

Mark Heaney played part of Michel’s press conference in his show this afternoon, and I didn’t hear any race baiting, but I wonder if he’s trying to get voters wondering if Madia is gay. It shouldn’t matter, but just like racial refrences, there are some people who can vote Democratic if the Democrat is white, Christian, male, and straight, but don’t cross into any of their prejudices!

Is this a “better Jew than you” moment? If Madia wins, I’m guessing this will turn out to have been the key moment. See Boschwitz versus Wellstone, 1990 for those who don’t get the reference.

By: katrina

katrina — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 04:25:59 +0000

Hello? Ramstad only got married 3 years ago.

By: rainman

rainman — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 03:49:00 +0000

One other thing, I wasn’t the only one who questioned the “coded” comments from Michel & Carey. Did anyone else see what Paulsen’s female staffer was trying to “lip” to Michel when he was going off on his disrespectful b.s.? I did and could certainly share it with others. I will wait and see if Paulsen decides to send out these two again with this type of baloney..if they do, then I’ll be happy to share what I saw.

By: rainman

rainman — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 03:42:56 +0000

Madia was true to his campaign committment…to be positive and focus on issues that matter to the citizens of the 3rd and Minnesota. He has not wavered one iota since last October and has many times reminded staff and volunteers to remain positive no matter what the opponents throw at us. He’s all about solutions and I respectfully disagree with Paulsen, Carey, Michel, and Deep Purple. Madia not only shares similiar experiences with the exception he’s not married with children and doesn’t own a home (neither of which have anything to do with being an effective Congressman) with the other candidates, BUT he has personal experience and a proven track record on foreign affairs and the war in Iraq (been there, served there, actually knows whats going on, and was an advisor to U.S. Generals, European Union, United Nations, and Iraqi officials) as well as actual professional understanding of the law and civil liberties and has fought for the underdog many times in his career. Madia has strong ties to our community as his family has lived here since 1993 (that’s half his life).The fact that he has saved his money and lives frugally shows how well he can balance his own funds and he’ll show the same concern with our districts, state, and countries finances. He has earned income and paid both state and federal income taxes one day will probably own a home and start a family….But right now he’s working to help us solve serious problems, not worrying about some narrow minded right wing mentality of what type of family and life style “fits” in the 3rd CD. I was at his press conference and frankly was embarrassed by the conduct and comments of Ron Carey and Geoff Michel after Ashwin finished his conference. They were disrespectful and dishonest and they are the ones who are not a “fit” for our district. I don’t live in Michel’s SD, but I will certainly not forget his “coded” comments (yes, I believe they were racist). It’s a shame that Paulsen sends these two yahoos to talk for him…I like to believe he doesn’t share those feelings (Michel said he hasn’t talked to Paulsen for 3 days). Paulsen would be much better off speaking for himself and actually having meaningful discourse on the issues with Ashwin and David Dillon (not ducking out of debates).

By: Deep Purple

Deep Purple — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 21:04:08 +0000

The question of a candidate’s youth and inexperience is a fair one in Minnesota’s 3rd District congressional race. David Dillon, the Independence Party endorsed candidate, has the most experience in life and in business. No opponent can match Dillon’s life experience of becoming a successful businessman while balancing the needs of work, family, schools, taxes, community service, saving for college, and mortgages.