12koering“I believe the election was stolen away from [Norm Coleman].”

That’s just one of the strong statements from state Rep. Paul Koering in response to the Minnesota Supreme Court ruling in Al Franken’s favor and Coleman conceding defeat. ”I feel there was some fraud going on,” Koering continued. ”I think there were [Coleman] votes that were probably not counted.”

Today’s Brainerd Dispatch carries statements Koering made soon after the court ruling and then later after Coleman’s concession. By then, he had caught more of the gentle tone that Coleman set in his statement: ”In listening to his comments, Sen. Coleman continues to be a very eloquent person. He’s looking out for the best interests of Minnesota. I think, in my mind, he made the right decision. It’s time.”

Coleman refused to second-guess the state’s high-court justices, saying he thought he’d had a good case but it was time to look forward. Koering, on the other hand, didn’t mince words about his view of rulings by both the lower election-contest court and the state Supreme Court: “I think they got it wrong.”

If Koering’s tough talk set him apart from yesterday’s mainstream Minnesota rhetoric of calm and reconciliation, it’s an outlier position he’s used to. The openly gay Republican legislator has been an outspoken opponent of legalizing same-sex marriage, ranking the issue of less importance than making English the state language. He’s considering a run for governor in 2010 that would make hay of his status as an outstate rep. He vows to honor the endorsement of a party not known for its gay-friendliness.