Curious. I am not suer what the allegation in this article is supposed to mean. That is how it si supposed to be a black mark on the Mayors trip to Thailand. I do understand the issues related to General Vang. (Remember he was involved in the Hmong funeral home issue also.) I also understand the issues around the alleged comments from Gen. Vang to discourage Hmong to come to Minnesota. However, I don't see the link that even suggests the Mayor listened to the request or was even involved in the planning of this trip. or for that matter, ever receive the Vang request. Come on folks. its one thing to disagree with the mayors position on an issue. It is another thing to implicate him in wrong doing because some reporter found there was an attempt by an influence peddler to do something. So what is new? I understand there is opposition to the Mayor for all he has done and hasn't done to meet individual expectations of what his positions should be. That is appropriate. However, if you applied the same logic to all incumbents that some are using to oppose the Mayor, you would never support any incumbent. Mike Fratto Payne Phalen
>>> "Eric Mitchell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 03/02/2005 10:50:21 AM >>> Excuse me for interrupting the caucus discussion, but we have yet another allegation against this administration. ------------ http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/5268186.html Kelly trip aided by son of general Tony Kennedy, Paul McEnroe and Curt Brown, Star Tribune March 2, 2005 A St. Paul businessman who reportedly tried to discourage Hmong refugees from immigrating to the United States played a significant role in planning Mayor Randy Kelly's goodwill visit last year to a refugee camp in Thailand, according to city e-mails released Tuesday. Cha Vang, 39, helped shape the mayor's itinerary, gave advice on what gifts the mayor should bring and helped arrange hotel stays for the mayor's delegation to the Wat Tham Krabok refugee camp one year ago, according to the e-mails. Cha Vang, a son of the legendary and polarizing Hmong military leader Gen. Vang Pao, reportedly told an official member of Mayor Kelly's delegation to tell refugees not to come to the United States because the general needed them to stay and fight Communists in Laos. Such a message would have been in direct opposition to the U.S. State Department position that all refugees should emigrate. ----------------- Eric Mitchell Payne Phalen __________________________________ Celebrate Yahoo!'s 10th Birthday! Yahoo! Netrospective: 100 Moments of the Web http://birthday.yahoo.com/netrospective/ ------------------------------------------------- JOIN the St. Paul Issues Forum TODAY: http://www.e-democracy.org/stpaul/ ------------------------------------------------- POST MESSAGES HERE: [email protected] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/ ------------------------------------------------- JOIN the St. Paul Issues Forum TODAY: http://www.e-democracy.org/stpaul/ ------------------------------------------------- POST MESSAGES HERE: [email protected] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
