Jim Bernstein wrote:
> Mayor Rybak is supposed to cancel this fundraiser because it
> the subject of a news item and a Doug Grow column? I don't
> see how that is relevant to anything!
A person's word is no longer relevant! Mayor Rybak made a
rational and meaningful argument of why off-year campaign
contributions have a negative impact on city governance.
I have not heard him make a counter argument. Am I to assume
that simply because the situation is now advantageous for him
that he is willing to accept the risk of undue influence? IF we
could take him at his word, then we might have some confidence that
he would have the moral wherewithal to withstand such influence,
but the facts at hand lend little confidence to such an assumption.
> People elected to public office need to raise money for their
> campaigns. That include DFL, Republican, Independence, Independent
> and Green candidates. There is no public financing of mayoral campaigns
> in Minnesota and Mayor Rybak does not have the personal wealth
> to self fund his campaign.
This might be a reasonable argument if there were ANY other
candidate who was aggressively accumulating campaign contributions.
Just who or what is justifying the need to renege on a previous
commitment? I believe that the Mayor did well last election
campaign running on issues and ethics and won without stockpiling
a lot of money.
> As to the "campaign promise", well he did say that he wasn't
> going to do fundraising between campaigns. However, I remember
> another elected official, one who many of us (myself included)
> loved and admired who said during his race for the U.S. Senate
> that he would only accept two terms in office. Sen. Paul Wellstone
> took quite a beating from many Republicans and conservatives when he
> decided to seek a third term; they said that he had broken a
> "campaign promise" and that he was an "insult" or it was an
> "unforgivable violation of the public trust" or that he was
> "a bald faced liar". To those of us who knew him, it was none of the
> above. The man changed his mind and many of us were overjoyed that he
> did!
I find it offensive that someone would use Paul Wellstone's memory
to justify situational ethics. Senator Wellstone would have had
my vote if not for his broken promise. I have exchanged personal
communications with both candidates and considered Senator Wellstone to
be the more honorable, up until he broke his promise not to run again.
> Sometimes candidate say things because they want to see
> something happen (or not happen) and make "promises" or pledges
> that they cannot possibly keep. Sometimes circumstances change.
> Sometimes, they just promise or pledge too much. Sometimes, they
> change their minds. Sometimes, new information comes to light.
> Sometimes, they admit they were wrong for making the promise in
> the first place. Sometimes they were wrong and don't admit it.
What Mr. Bernstein is doing here is providing a general justification
for lying to gain political advantage. Although it maybe overly
optimistic to believe that politicians can win elections without
making false commitments, I will hold that position regardless.
I seriously fear what we will become of us when personal honor is
subordinate to personal gain.
What bothers me is that R.T. risks nothing by honoring his
pervious statements. If the contribution requirement was
dropped for the New Year's party I am sure that most attendees
would make the contribution regardless. I would suggest to the
Mayor that the power gained by brushing elbows is quite fleeting
(just ask the former mayor) and the slope gets slippery the higher
you climb.
Michael Atherton
Prospect Park
PS: So, just who will be the beneficiaries of the unspent campaign
funds next election?
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