I specifically recall a conversation with RT at a fundraiser during his campaign in which he vigorously advocated for his position that ALL campaign donations should publicly disclosed. When I questioned RT (for purposes of playing devil's advocate) on whether the influence of small donors was sufficient to justify violating their privacy, RT responded that he knew from his own political experience that it is common for groups of donors from specific business interests to purposely donate slightly less than $100 so that their activities would not be disclosed.
Full public disclosure of campaign donations was a position that RT repeatedly advocated on THIS list: http://www.mnforum.org/pipermail/mpls/2001-February/000330.html http://www.mnforum.org/pipermail/mpls/2001-February/000414.html http://www.mnforum.org/pipermail/mpls/2001-July/004213.html http://www.mnforum.org/pipermail/mpls/2001-April/002298.html RT was able to conduct a very successful campaign by being extremely visible but not taking very many specific positions, thereby gaining support from people of many different political interests and persuasions who were mostly fed up with an incumbent who was out of touch. Clean elections was one of those few areas where RT really made specific promises. The Star Tribune article further documents how RT's abandonment of his commitments in an area where he defined his identity. Jordan Kushner Golden Valley Minneapolis resident from 88-02 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jordan S. Kushner" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "List Manager" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2003 11:33 PM Subject: Re: [Mpls] Rybak fundraiser criticized > I specifically recall a conversation with RT at a fundraiser during his > campaign in which he vigorously advocated for his position that ALL campaign > donations should publicly disclosed. This was a position that RT repeatedly > advocated on THIS list: > > http://www.mnforum.org/pipermail/mpls/2001-February/000330.html > http://www.mnforum.org/pipermail/mpls/2001-February/000414.html > http://www.mnforum.org/pipermail/mpls/2001-July/004213.html > http://www.mnforum.org/pipermail/mpls/2001-April/002298.html > > When I questioned RT (for purposes of playing devil's advocate) on whether > the influence of small donors was sufficient to justify violating their > privacy, RT responded that he knew from his own political experience that it > is common for groups of donors from specific business interests to purposely > donate slightly less than $100 so that their activities would not be > disclosed. > > RT was able to conduct a very successful campaign by being extremely visible > but not taking very many specific positions, thereby gaining support from > people of many different political interests and persuasions who were mostly > fed up with an incumbent who was out of touch. Clean elections was one of > those few areas where RT really made specific promises. The Star Tribune > article further documents how RT's abandonment of his commitments in an area > where he defined his identity. > > Jordan Kushner > Golden Valley > Minneapolis resident from 88-02 > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "List Manager" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2003 9:23 PM > Subject: [Mpls] Rybak fundraiser criticized > > > > Still won't take money from people doing business with the city, says > Mayor. > > Breaks promise on non-year fundraising, says Hamline prof. > > > > http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/4274426.html > > > > David Brauer > > List manager > > > > REMINDERS: > > 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at > [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. > > 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. > > > > For state and national discussions see: > http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html > > For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract > > ________________________________ > > > > Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn > E-Democracy > > Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls > > > > > > REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
