Minnesota Independent

DFL hits Emmer on his seven mortgages in eight years

By Andy Birkey | 10.21.10 | 1:15 pm

DFL chair Brian Melendez questioned the finances of Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer at a press conference on Thursday. According to public documents, Emmer has taken out seven separate mortgages on his Delano home for a total value of $1.6 million. Melendez said the DFL is raising the issue because Emmer frequently uses the phrase “live within your means” on the campaign trail.

Emmer dodges questions about social issues — even with religious right

By Andy Birkey | 10.21.10 | 11:52 am

As a state legislator, Tom Emmer has been vocal about divisive social issues — he led the charge to amend the constitution to bar gay marriage, tried to prevent same-sex couples from using surrogate mothers, and called an AIDS outreach program to gay men “disgusting discourse” — but now that he’s running for governor, Emmer’s virtually silent on such topics. While Emmer has focused on the economy in his campaign, his aversion to discussing social issues may be a bid to reach moderate voters.

Clark, Bachmann and Dayton launch new ads

By Andy Birkey | 10.14.10 | 9:44 am

Rep. Michele Bachmann, state Sen. Tarryl Clark and DFL gubernatorial candidate Mark Dayton all released new ads on Wednesday. The House race featured attack ads — Bachmann gives Clark an “F,” while Clark says Bachmann should be outsourced — while…

Conservative activist sues Emmer for malpractice

By Andy Birkey | 10.11.10 | 9:24 am

Tom Emmer, the Republican candidate for governor and an attorney in Delano, is being sued for malpractice by a former client. Steven Hackbarth, a former roofer, says he lost a civil case that resulted in a $30,000 fine and the loss of his contractors license because Emmer offered shoddy representation. Emmer’s campaign says the lawsuit is politically motivated and that Hackbarth is using Emmer’s candidacy as leverage to get a $200,000 settlement. But, the plaintiff is a fellow conservative activist.

Dayton out with two new television ads

By Andy Birkey | 09.29.10 | 2:55 pm

Mark Dayton, the DFL candidate for governor, released two new television ads on Wednesday. The first, titled “Dayton’s Values,” touts his family’s business, while the second, “Middle Class,” outlines some of the former senator’s key talking points on the middle class and job creation.

New ads: One pro-Emmer, the other anti-Dayton

By Andy Birkey | 09.23.10 | 2:47 pm

Two new ads released this week lend support to Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer. In the campaign’s new ad, “Reform,” Emmer promises more money for the classroom. Another, by independent expenditure group Minnesota’s Future, attacks DFL candidate Mark Dayton,…

NOM, Family Council invoke MLK in pro-Emmer ad opposing gay marriage

By Andy Birkey | 09.23.10 | 8:53 am

The Minnesota Family Council and the National Organization for Marriage launched a new television ad this week in support of Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer. It’s the fourth foray into political advertising for the socially conservative groups this cycle…

AFL-CIO mailers link Emmer and 35W bridge collapse

By Andy Birkey | 09.21.10 | 8:00 am

As part of its new campaign, the AFL-CIO is sending out 2.5 million mailers in 60 electoral races across the country — including one that targets Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer. That mailer references the 2007 collapse…

Catholic bishops preparing anti-gay marriage campaign in Minnesota

By Andy Birkey | 09.15.10 | 8:10 am

Some of Minnesota’s Catholic bishops are preparing a push against the legalization of same-sex marriage in the final two months of the 2010 campaign season. So far, most Minnesota bishops are not making their plans public, but Bishop John Quinn of the Winona Diocese gave parishioners a glimpse in a recent newsletter. “The bishops of Minnesota are alarmed by the continuing attacks on the institution of marriage, and we are taking action,” he wrote.

Gov. Carlson backs Horner as Strib shows support for IP candidate

By Andy Birkey | 09.13.10 | 8:34 am

Independence Party gubernatorial candidate Tom Horner got a double dose of good news over the weekend. The Star Tribune’s editorial board wrote a glowing opinion of Horner’s candidacy, and though it stopped short of endorsing him, the paper left little to the imagination about its pick for Nov. 2. Then, this morning, former Gov. Arne Carlson endorsed Horner’s candidacy.