Here is what I'm saying.
I am a progressive and I believe very strongly in DFL values. I worked for Mark Dayton in the 2000 primary and in the Kelly Administration, I'm not a bad DFLer. Dave Thune supported Norm Coleman in 1998, he's not a bad DFLer. I'm supporting Chris because he shares my values.
If you have differences with Chris on a substantive policy level, address those. To suggest Chris is like Randy is absurd, unfair, and suggests that a lot of people with integrity, who want Randy out of office, are supporting candidate just like Randy. This is simply untrue.
The other point that I was making is that supporting democrats over republicans says to me as a democrat something about what your values are and your chacter as a "DFLer". Particularly when those policies have a direct impact on the city of St. Paul.
And "knowing better" is not only about supporting Chris, it's the suggestion that Chris is Randy or "Randy lite" and a suggestion that you might as well vote for Kelly. There is a difference in the quality of life that people in St. Paul will have between Chris Coleman and Randy Kelly. And, as a progressive who cares about people and supporting those values, I think some of us should be careful to look at the people who truly are impacted and suffer when we make broad statements and encourage this rhetoric because there are MAJOR differences between the two.
Again, I'm supporting Chris not only because I think he will win, but because I'm a progressive democrat and I trust Chris Coleman and I trust that Chris shares my values and the values of much of the city.
>From: Jeanne Schnitzen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: Kerri Allen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, stpaul@mnforum.org
>Subject: RE: [StPaul] RE: EN: CHRIS COLEMAN BY GEORGE LATIMER
>Date: Wed, 27 Apr 2005 22:27:53 -0700 (PDT)
>
>Kerri -
>
>I would like more from my DFL mayor than just that he
>DIDN'T endorse George Bush. I guess my bar for
>progressives is a little higher than that.
>
>I'm just stating Chris' record, and as I said, people
>should check it out for themselves. The City Council
>records are public and easily accessible via their
>website or any Council office.
>
>Chris supported Randy the vast majority of his time on
>the Council, and seldom fought against him. He was a
>master of the watered-down - for example, in
>affordable housing, as I noted, on the anti-war
>resolution, and on the resolution in support of civil
>liberties in the face of the Patriot Act. He
>supported the floodwall, despite the serious
>environmental problems it would cause, and despite the
>considerable concerns of the neighborhoods and
>surrounding businesses. He supports the stadium.
>There are many more examples, but it's late and I'm
>tired.
>
>I'm not entirely sure why Chris is going for an
>endorsement that he has so often shown no respect for.
> He supported the conservative, non-endorsed candidate
>in at least three recent races I can think of (Randy
>Kelly, Christine Nelson, Kris Reiter), not to mention
>his run against Betty McCollum.
>
>I don't think there's any similarity with the 2000
>presidential campaign, not entirely sure what point
>you were trying to make there? But when you say "any
>progressive who cares about people should know
>better," I hope you aren't suggesting that opposition
>to Chris is equal to not caring about other people.
>
>If your top concern is getting rid of Randy (as
>opposed to electing a truly progressive mayor), then
>consider electability. All Randy has to do in a
>debate is say, "Chris, you endorsed me, and agreed
>with me 80% of your time on City Council. How can you
>now pretend to be so opposed to me?" What can Chris
>answer - "But I voted for John Kerry?"
>
>Jeanne Schnitzen
>Highland Park
>
>
>--- Kerri Allen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> > It continues to amaze me that people suggest Chris
> > Coleman is like Randy
> > Kelly. I worked in the Kelly Administration and
> > Chris Coleman is not Randy
> > Kelly.
> >
> > In 2001, one day after the terrorist attacks and the
> > primary election, Chris
> > was one of two Council members who had the foresight
> > to see that the City
> > was headed for financial disaster and in order to
> > maintain services, we
> > should consider raising the levy. That did not fly
> > with most of the other
> > council members, including those considered more
> > progressive.
> >
> > I’m a progressive, I was born in St. Paul, and I’ve
> > lived here most of my
> > life. I’m supporting Chris Coleman on Sat. because
> > Chris is a leader who
> > shares my values and my vision for St. Paul.
> > Those are DFL values, those
> > are the values that most citizens in St. Paul have.
> > Unlike our current
> > mayor, I’ve seen Chris on the FRONT LINES
> > campaigning for democrats. Not
> > lending his name, but working to see John Kerry get
> > elected, Paul Wellstone,
> > Mark Dayton, Roger Moe, etc. That’s because Chris
> > understands what the
> > current “DFL” mayor does not. There are fundamental
> > differences between
> > democrats and republicans.
> >
> > DFLers don’t endorse candidates for president whose
> > policies have increased
> > poverty and left more people homeless and then stand
> > up and talk the talk
> > about homelessness. DFLers don’t stand with a
> > Governor who, every budget
> > cycle, tries to kick poor people to the curb,
> > including eliminating health
> > insurance for those in need and talks about
> > homelessness. DFLers, like
> > Chris Coleman know that Paul Wellstone was the
> > greatest champion for the
> > homeless and all those in need and they WORK to get
> > democrats in the Senate,
> > they don’t sit on the sidelines as people suffer.
> >
> > What is most interesting to me, as I listen to my
> > progressive friends make
> > what I call the “Ralph Nader” argument. There is no
> > difference between
> > Chris Coleman and Randy Kelly. That’s the argument
> > Nader made about Al Gore
> > and George Bush. Well those of us who are
> > comfortable see no difference,
> > those of us with may not FEEL the difference, those
> > of us who may have more
> > privilege may see the difference, but any
> > progressive who cares about people
> > should know better.
> >
> > And, it is absurd to suggest that George Latimer,
> > Bill Finney, Mary
> > Rosenthal, Stonewall DFL, Local 21 - Firefighters,
> > the United Auto Workers,
> > and any other progressive, or person who cares about
> > this city and wants to
> > see new leadership would support a candidate who was
> > just like Randy Kelly.
> >
> >
> >
> > <html><DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY:
> > Arial">
> > <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in
> > 0pt"></SPAN><SPAN
> > style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY:
> > Arial"><EM></EM></SPAN><SPAN
> > style="FONT-SIZE:
> > 8pt"></SPAN> </P></DIV></html>
> >
> >
> > >From: Jeanne Schnitzen
> > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > >To: stpaul@mnforum.org
> > >Subject: [StPaul] RE: EN: CHRIS COLEMAN BY
> > GEORGE LATIMER
> > >Date: Wed, 27 Apr 2005 15:54:15 -0700 (PDT)
> > >
> > >
> > >Wish I had time to write more, but just too busy
> > these
> > >days. But for the record: Chris did NOT
> > "forge the
> > >policy" for affordable housing in St Paul.
> > >
> > >Most housing folks wanted the rate of affordable
> > to be
> > >at 30%, but it was clear that there wasn't
> > enough
> > >support for that on the Council. Then Jay
> > Benanav
> > >offered a proposal for 20%, which Chris thought
> > was
> > >too aggressive. He wanted it watered down to a
> > mere
> > >10%.
> > >
> > >So while Chris voted for it, he in no way
> > spearheaded
> > >or led on it.
> > >
> > >Please folks, PLEASE, check out his record
> > instead of
> > >just believing what he's saying. As a
> > "Council geek"
> > >who actually watches all their meetings and
> > spends
> > >time at City Hall, I can tell you that his
> > record does
> > >not bear out all the things he's saying now. He
> > has
> > >always been good at saying what people want to
> > hear,
> > >but his actions are what matters. Delegates, do
> > your
> > >homework and find out for yourself.
> > >
> > >For myself, I will NOT vote for Chris Coleman.
> > I
> > >might as well vote for Randy, since I believe
> > there is
> > >very little difference between them. If you
> > want a
> > >progressive mayor - shoot even if you just want
> > a
> > >liberal - Chris will disapoint you.
> > >
> > >Jeanne Schnitzen
> > >Highland Park
> > >
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