Cheap shot, in my estimation. It was the Co Commissioner's job to listen to, and evaluate, new testimony relevant to the smoking ban. Such re-evaluation may lead to revised thinking by some Commissioners, and that's no crime. Special interests on both sides of the issue are holding fund raisers and making contributions. It just may be time to get out the high-tops!
Mike Hohmann Linden Hills independent candidate 13th Ward City Council http://www.mikeforcitycouncil.org ...no party affiliation and no special interest endorsements; contributions accepted only from individuals, no PAC or special interest money accepted. > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Behalf Of List manager > Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2005 3:43 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: [Mpls] Rybak campaign: McLaughlin sold vote > > > The fur is now officially flying in the Mpls Mayor's race. This came > from R.T. Rybak's campaign this afternoon. Hard-hitting or overly > harsh? Comments to the list. > > — David Brauer, list manager > > Contact: John Blackshaw > Phone: 612-871-3044 > Mobile: 612-816-0990 > > August 3, 2005 > > Peter McLaughlin Flip-Flops on Smoking Ban and Sells Vote for > Campaign Dollars > > Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin once again has > demonstrated his old guard style of politics by selling his vote to a > special interest group. According to a Minneapolis Star Tribune > article dated August 3, 2005, last week, in a matter of hours, Mr. > McLaughlin withdrew his support for the Hennepin County smoking ban > and then attended a fundraiser as the guest of honor hosted by the > very group that would directly benefit from his flip flop. > > “This is the worst kind of politics,” said John Blackshaw Mayor > Rybak’s campaign manager. “Changing a vote in order to gain the > financial support of a special interest group is the very thing that > voters dislike about politicians. He calls it a ‘coincidence’. I > call it a sellout.” > > The smoking ban opponents have no doubt that Mr. McLaughlin has > joined their ranks. Just a few hours after they testified at the > county board meeting against the ban they lined up to write checks > for Mr. McLaughlin at the fundraiser. Moreover, they bragged about it > as well. Sue Jeffers, a smoking ban opponent gloated by stating, "I > had so much fun," she said. "A lot of the talk was about the smoking > ban," Jeffers added. " (Star Tribune, August 3, 2005) . > > In addition, on August 2, 2005, in a county board meeting dominated > by opponents of the smoking ban, Mr. McLaughlin left no doubt about > his flip flop by joining in the attack of Dr. Michael Belzer, the > medical director for the Hennepin County Medical Center, who pleaded > with Commissioners not to change their positions on the smoking ban. > > Further, the opponents of the smoking ban, specifically the > Minneapolis Hospitality Association - a group organized specifically > to overturn the bans – openly acknowledges the political nature of > Mr. McLaughlin’s flip flop. The group’s president stated that by > using its political clout his group “could get Peter McLaughlin > elected”. (Star Tribune, August 3, 2005) > > “What is almost as bad as trading a vote for cash”, continued > Blackshaw, “is that Mr. McLaughlin seems to be saying to the public, > ‘your health is for sale so that I can get elected’. He is using a > public health issue strictly for his own personal political gain”. > snip REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact 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 Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
