Rep. Paulsen tied to controversial corporate group ALEC

Great article except the part about “libertarian” Koch brothers. They are Republican. The so called “libertarian” organizations they fund and run fund and run Republicans.

Someone should remind Mr. Paulsen that he works for the PEOPLE, not a corporation.

Much of the media refers to Eric Paulson as a “moderate.” He is not.

In addition to ALEC, he has signed the Grover Norquist pledge — as have all four of Minnesota’s Republican representatives in Congress.

http://s3.amazonaws.com/atrfiles/files/files/070711-federalpledgesigners.pdf

The truth is stranger and darker than fiction. Be afraid my friends. Be very afraid. Then stand up and oust this guy and others like him in 2012.

Is there anything more Un-American than this? What’s funny is the folks that vote for these traitors think of themselves as “real’ Americans.

Just more proof that whatever a Republican says, the very opposite is true. Paulsen says that he’s a patriotic American when in reality he’s selling us down the river.

There are many elected politicians tied to “controversial” groups…… think NAACP, CAIR, Politico.com, SEIU, Black Panthers, Daily Kos, Huffington Post, and the list goes on & on. I think every politician should have a website that lists every group they belong to, donate to, speak at, etc. Let everyone know and then free people with this knowledge can make the choices on if they approve or not.

Inreality: I don’t think that any of the “organizations” you list (Most of us on the Left do not consider Politico to be left leaning.) hand pre-written legislation to politicians. I guess I can understand you not wanting to admit that your conservative politicians are corrupt, but you should care about Democracy. Conservatives are always telling us how patriotic they are, how they love the country and its founders, well here is a case of one of yours displaying the opposite of those things and you want to make excuses. It just proves to me that its all talk. Conservatives have no idea what patriotism is, no idea of what democracy is all about, they just talk the talk.

Inreality, let’s go a step further. Let nobody give money to any candidate they’re not allowed to vote for. No organizational money in politics, just the voters.

http://usuncutmn.blogspot.com/2011/07/call-out-alec-members-in-mn-leg-now-or.html

At least when people criticize Obama, or ACORN, they can list very specific examples and reasons for why they are being criticized. You can even look at voting records and election results and see that what they do is NOT right. They are fixing elections and aligning themselves with organizations that are not in the best intrest of American national and economic security. They run for Presidential Office on the grounds of pulling out of Iraq and Afghanistan, on no more war, and end up involved in not only the two that he promised to pull us out of, but add a few more foreign wars to that and you have a president that is the biggest war monger in US history.

But here, you read an article that says some obscure group, whose conferences have been well attended by both Democrats and Republicans (the author conveniently forgets to include that), and it just says the typical socialist spiel: the corporations are behind it. be afraid, be very afraid. And all of the sudden, all of the readers are experts and just know that the corporations are here to take over the world and enslave the masses.

Fact is, you have no idea what you’re talking about, Mr. Collins. And I for one question your journalistic integrity, or personal integrity for that matter. If Republicans are so evil, and Democrats are so angelic, answer me this. Why did I see two Democratic US Senators chatting it up very cozily with some wealthy donors at private fundraising party on Saturday evening, and a public gala on Sunday that costs $1,500 a plate minimum, for which they were both comped? Why did I not see any Republican Members of Congress?

I’m not saying Republicans are pure and innocent. But don’t sit back in the cheapseats in some second rate publication like the MN Independent or the Progressive Project and throw stones at one party, and quote a DFL state rep, making him sound like the he’s the Messiah.

Really, pull your collective heads out of it and report on the facts. Give the full story if you’re going to write one or go find a new job. You should be ashamed of yourselves.

I couldn’t help but chuckle throughout this article. Nice try concocting a corporate conspiracy Jon Collins. ALEC is absolutely upfront about who they are and what they do. There’s no need for a “whistleblower” here.

ALEC serves American democracy by engaging in a civil debate over policy, whether you agree with them or not.

Articles like this frustrate democracy by further polarizing the debate with made up controversy, making it more difficult for responsible citizens with differing views to have productive conversations.

John- you do a great job of hurling epithets- Acorn. Socialist, etc. And you offer no verifiable proof that you hobnob and observe anyone you claim to have seen in person. But your namecalling and fantasies are quite entertaining.

Jack,
I’m glad I could give you some entertainment and at the same time provide you with material for a smarmy comment. Go look at the facts yourself. Do your own research if you want to verify what I say is true or not, I think for most people the specific examples I mention just spring into mind automatically, it is common knowledge. Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past 3 years.

As for not giving specifics as to which Members I was referring, well, that’s simple, and doesn’t require an explanation to any professional. But since you’re probably not, I’ll just tell you that regardless of which side of the fence I sit on personally, there is no need to call out anyone in particular in a comment forum. It’s not professional or respectful of their privacy but for the purposes of this conversation, the fact that I did see them is noteworthy.

Good piece, Jon. You must be onto something given the kind of responses you’re getting from ALEC’s apologists and beneficiaries. Keep up the good work.

“I’m not saying Republicans are pure and innocent. But don’t sit back in the cheapseats in some second rate publication like the MN Independent or the Progressive Project and throw stones at one party, and quote a DFL state rep, making him sound like the he’s the Messiah. ”

Give it a rest, John. The persistent right-wing whining about balance (“How come you don’t talk about the bad things Democrats do?”) is not only trite, it’s stupid. Political reporting is not supposed to be a full litany of all evils everywherer.

Just concentrated evils against one side, right, Randy?

John, I suggest you go to News Max, Free Republic, or Fox News and ask them that same question. Given your commitment to even-handedness, you probably do that, right? I’ll bet you’re a real thorn in their sides, harping on how unfair they are to Democrats.

Or is it only bias when it’s about Republicans?

I can’t honestly believe the ignorance shown by the right in these comments. They will step forward and defend anything that is right – even when what they are defending is so incredibly wrong. Evidently they were educated in one of those public schools that ALEC wants to privatize – cause it’s evident that their higher level thinking skills may have not developed.

I can’t remember the last time MY legislator sat down with THEIR TRUE CONSTITUENTS – the state taxpayer – for two or three days to discuss OUR needs for legislature. The residents of any state would love to have their legislator’s attention for more than 2 hours at a town meeting – but I guess we don’t have enough cash in our pockets to get that type of attention.

Representation by and for the people – has been replaced by ALEC as representation by and for the corporations – and that is wrong! Anyone who would defend this heinous organization is ignorant or truly hates the American democratic philosophy.

So, – to the righties out there defending ALEC – what you are saying is representative government is now – representation for corporations! Shame on you – you should be ashamed! This is so incredibly sad – that you write comments to support this organziation that is creating havoc to American democracy -

Im glad this article was written. We need to see more of our MN Legislators exposed.
I wonder how many ALEC template loans he passed when he was in MN Legislation.

Mary Kiffmeyer is the Chairperson of the MN Chapter. and she was a author and advocate of the ALEC template bill Voter ID.
I wish Public Radio and 950AM radio would report more on which MN Legislators are ALEC members and which of their bills match ALEC templates. IT is easy to find out now with the website ALEXexposed. http://www.alecexposed.org/wiki/ALEC_Exposed

16 Minnesota lawmakers who had ties to the organization. Just the tip of the iceberg Now I see why Republicans stand strong on no new taxes on the rich. Somebody’s got to pay off our governments debt sooner or later, and ALEC is in place to make sure the big corp don’t pay a time. The average American will end up paying thru our blood, sweat and tears. These ALEC organizations are slowly rewriting our constitution and must be stopped at all and any cost.

I’m a Republican living in Louisiana, and my awareness of ALEC came about in a somewaht different manner. Since the election of governor bobby jindal, there has been a legislative fast-track to ‘privitize’ just about everything in this state. It was even more suspicious that this same trend was happening in neighboring states as well. It didn’t take to long to follow the money trail back to ALEC and figure out who was pushing for these pieces of legislation. Over 30 louisiana legislators and a sell-La-down-the-river governor attended the ALEC conference in new orleans, who I’m quite sure, were getting a little side money and some marching orders to go with it. i am not a big fan of the left and it’s ideology, but I can assure you that the common, everyday, working class republican will not go for this crap! This is an unconstitutional and a subversive method to thwart the will of the people, who elected these self-serving political crooks who do not hold the best interest of the people who elected them. Thank you for the article Mr. Collins. It’s time for the “Right” side to wake up too!

Ray, thank you for having the courage to stand up and say when there is something wrong with your side. If we all do that for all our sides, we will have a country that can’t be beaten.

American Legislative Exchange Council has both Republicans and Blue Dog Democratics members, just to name a few. Bob Casey, Heath Shuller, Mary Landrieu, Kay Hagen, Peter A. DeFazio, and Joe Marchino, but i am sure there are more and they all support American Legislative Exchange Council.

The point is this group is fighting for the interest of corporations like Wal-Malt, Coca-Cola, AT&T, Koch Industries. These Companies have invested millions to ALEC to make sure their interest are put ahead of ordinary Americans.
Laws such as Voter Id, Regulations, Healthcare, and Tort Reform. Cut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Union Busting so the workers will not have a voice any more and wont be able to file a case due to Tort Reform.
All of the Republicans Presidental Candidates except Ron Paul and John Huntsman are members of ALEC.
Read what GOV. of Ohio has done to the poor familes and childrens. 48 month cut on welfare Benefits starting Oct.1 2011 which will affect 26,000 familes and 30,000 childrens according to estimate.
The Republicans and Democratics refused relief to the VICTUMS OF IRENE AND Earth Quake in VA., what kind of people would refus to give relief to help people.