[Speed Gibson,
Thursday September 21, 2006 at 7:23pm]
Alan Fine's Gambit
Did Alan Fine cross the line in calling his opponent and seemingly prohibitive favorite Keith Ellison unfit for office last week?
Normally, I would say yes. If it's true without exception as lawyers like to say, the voters already know. Many say it is, but I don't think so. Yes, Ellison has quite a troubling record, as compiled by our friends at Power Line, a record that troubles some of his fellow Democrats. But is it borne of core beliefs and attitudes? Or is Ellison merely a chameleon as David Strom suggested on Taxpayer's League Live last Saturday. Is running as Keith "X" Ellison really any different than running as Martin "Olav" Sabo?
There is an extenuating circumstance however: the past and continuing "press pass" that the Ellison has received. That part of the complaining is undeniably true. Voters should not have to rely on Power Line, as credible and well-read as they may be.
So like it or not, the Fine campaign has forced the issue with a rather clever political stroke. If the Ellison has any complaint, it's really with the MSM, or his own campaign's failure to detail (and yes, spin) Ellison's past early when it probably couldn't have hurt him.
It still may amount to nothing, but I think Alan Fine's bold tactics are indeed justified.
Normally, I would say yes. If it's true without exception as lawyers like to say, the voters already know. Many say it is, but I don't think so. Yes, Ellison has quite a troubling record, as compiled by our friends at Power Line, a record that troubles some of his fellow Democrats. But is it borne of core beliefs and attitudes? Or is Ellison merely a chameleon as David Strom suggested on Taxpayer's League Live last Saturday. Is running as Keith "X" Ellison really any different than running as Martin "Olav" Sabo?
There is an extenuating circumstance however: the past and continuing "press pass" that the Ellison has received. That part of the complaining is undeniably true. Voters should not have to rely on Power Line, as credible and well-read as they may be.
So like it or not, the Fine campaign has forced the issue with a rather clever political stroke. If the Ellison has any complaint, it's really with the MSM, or his own campaign's failure to detail (and yes, spin) Ellison's past early when it probably couldn't have hurt him.
It still may amount to nothing, but I think Alan Fine's bold tactics are indeed justified.