Greater Minnesota GOP Delegates need to support balanced ticket

Dear Republican Delegate or Alternate,

I am writing to explain why I am an avid supporter of Marty Seifert for Governor. Marty is the candidate best positioned to keep the Republican firewall intact at the Governor’s Office in St. Paul. We need a candidate that will protect our Greater Minnesota values and understands our unique economic issues. Eight years ago, in my hometown of Albert Lea, we gathered together at the First District Convention and gave the Pawlenty Campaign a huge straw poll victory. Through many aggressive attacks against our candidate, we kept our momentum intact and refused to budge at the state endorsing convention. I wrote a letter in support of candidate Pawlenty eight years ago that is very similar to the one you are reading today. Below you can read a copy.

Regardless of who you may have supported eight years ago, the same can be said for Marty Seifert, except not only does he “get it” he has “lived it.”

Make no mistake, “purple” matters in Minnesota. Like my own district, much of the State leans Democrat. As a lifelong Republican, I am ecstatic that our base is clearly motivated to action leading up to this November election. We cannot win a statewide election, however, with only our base. We must be willing to attract independent and unaffiliated voters. We need a gubernatorial candidate on top of the ticket that will bring success to all of our candidates and our agenda.

It is easy to preach to the choir. The mark of a great leader, however, is to stick to your principals AND be open-minded and accessible to independent ideas. Success is not judged by sound bites and token votes; success is judged by results. Marty has proven that he can take tough votes and move our Republican agenda forward.

Marty Seifert is the best candidate to win the election and legislate for results, not gridlock.

Sincerely, Matt

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MATT BENDA
FREEBORN COUNTY

Albert Lea, Minnesota
June 13, 2002

Dear Republican Delegate:

Please consider the importance of having a Governor who has an intimate understanding of the unique issues we face outside the metropolitan area.As a delegate from Greater Minnesota, I believe we need a candidate that has a history of supporting issues important to rural Minnesota. Our candidate must take our Republican message statewide. Roger Moe is from rural Minnesota and if we don’t have a candidate who has a strong history of supporting these important issues, we will lose. There is only one candidate running for the Republican endorsement for Governor who can counter Moe on rural issues. Tim Pawlenty is that candidate.Tim’s actions speak louder than words.Tim has shown through his leadership that he strongly supports value added agriculture and that he understands the differing economies throughout Minnesota. Tim Pawlenty is the only candidate for Governor with a plan to spur economic development in Greater Minnesota. Tim has proposed creating tax-free zones for certain areas of the state that are having trouble creating jobs. Tim has fought (successfully) to lower taxes on farms and our local businesses. A quality rural infrastructure is crucial to our continued economic viability. Tim has fought to increase funding for our bridge and highway projects. He has show true creativity in advocating for this important economic issue.Finally, those of us from rural Minnesota know all to well about declining enrollment. Tim knows that if jobs are created, people will stay.I ask you to join me in supporting Tim Pawlenty because rural Minnesota needs a Governor who will fight with us.

Sincerely, Matt Benda

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I have a confession to make!

I know that the "Smart People" in the world are telling me that I shouldn't affiliate with her:

"She's unpredictable and makes the party look silly..." Garrison Keillhor thinks she's "perky", but not legitimate. Many are not quite as eloquent as the old scout, calling her stupid and a liar -- or a moron. On the View, even her gender counterparts questioned her intelligence.

Still others think that she is a "conspicuously unintelligent right-wing media personality." Yet, I couldn't help myself... and thus my confession: I attended the Sarah Palin event this week in Minneapolis. Wait, there's more: I enjoyed it, my wife came with me, we cheered, and I .... (swallow... long dramatic pause).....like Sarah Palin.

What the Smart People don't get is that the more they jest Palin's pedigree, the clearer it becomes that she is just like the rest of us. Early in her speech, she won over her crowd with one simple truism, "what I like about you folks in Minnesota is that you sound like me." Of course, she meant her accent (which has also been criticized).

Yet, the look in people's eyes told more -- Palin made them fell that a normal person (like them) could make a difference. In one more sentence -- "Washington is addicted to OPM (sounds like opium) Other People's Money" -- she summarized one of the greatest concerns on people's minds. She is likeable, speaks straight and is able to touch people's hearts -- the "Palin Effect" as explained in one recent article.

She also instinctively understood the implications of the huge policy shift Obama recently took (from deterrence to appeasement) on national defense. Obama recently removed nuclear retaliation as an option against countries that use chemical or biological weapons against us. While Obama has not abandoned the American "speak softly and carry a big stick" approach, he has indicated that he feels that we should carry a smaller stick. This is a legitimate policy discussion that we should be having as a country, not some crackpot idea dreamed up by Palin. As explained in the USA today, this was a "major shift in the nation's security policy."

What the Smart People don't like is that Sarah Palin quickly framed this discussion in terms we all understand -- standing up to the play ground bully. I don't have to agree or disagree on every issue, but I do appreciate her ability to initiate and simplify the dialogue.

If you're curious, attached are the video links to the Palin and Obama exchange:

1. Palin in Minneapolis (I was there, but turned down Hannity's request for an interview);

2. Obama response -- notice how he says he is not going to respond and then does respond by saying that the Smart People know better than us simple folk;

3. Palin strikes back questioning his record of success in N. Korea and Iran.

I for one will keep listening to Sarah Palin as she seems a like lot of us here in Minnesota -- just trying to make the world a better place.

Thanks for listening. I feel much better having come clean on this one... although true bloggers would discover that I previously admitted to liking the Palin Label.
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