DFL Feminist Caucus chair speaks out against “protest vote”

As presumptive nominee for the Democratic Party, Barack Obama will need to heal the rift between his supporters and the faction that voted for Sen. Hillary Clinton. But one person he won’t need to immediately reach out to is Minnesota DFL Feminist Caucus Chair Mari Urness Pokornowski. “Surprised” by a Star Tribune article that ran May 30, Pokornowski does not agree with Feminist Caucus founder Koryne Horbal that women should write in Clinton’s name as a protest vote should Obama be the party nominee.

“We, the DFL Feminist Caucus, have never been a part of the efforts discussed in the Star Tribune article or other similar efforts. It was as much of a surprise to us/me as it was to you,” Pokornowski said in an email to Minnesota Monitor. Pokornowski made it very clear that the write-in campaign was initiated by Horbal and in no way reflected the views of the caucus as a whole. We have never spoken about this “protest” inside or outside our meetings, nor has one ever addressed it with us… It violates everything I believe as a person/DFLer.”

This is not the first time Horbal has been involved in an “alternative candidate” controversy. At the 1980 Democratic National Convention, Horbal garnered votes as a challenger to Jimmy Carter even though she wasn’t a candidate. Carter won the nomination, while Horbal got five votes.

After discussing the story with Minnesota Monitor, Pokornowski sent out a press release:

Press Release:

Statement of DFL Feminist Caucus President Mari Pokornowski

“I want to make it absolutely clear that assertions that the DFL Feminist Caucus is encouraging a “protest” write-in effort for Hillary Clinton in the general election for President of the United States, are absolutely false.

In addition, please be advised that neither me, or any official of the Caucus, had any involvement in promoting the Star Tribune article quoting a well known Minnesota feminist saying she personally would write-in Hillary Clinton for president as a “protest” and would encourage others to do the same. (“Feminist leader says no to Obama,” Star Tribune, May 30, 2008)

The DFL Feminist Caucus has never discussed this “protest” inside or outside our meetings nor has anyone ever address it with us.  As president, I would have aggressively discouraged such an effort.  Indeed, to promote such an effort would violate the very tenets of our political party.

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