September 18, 2004

OTTO, CARLSON

LAY OUT  'THE

MINNESOTA VISION'

'WE CAN BE THE BEST' SAYS OTTO;

CARLSON SAYS MN REPUBLICAN PARTY 'HAS BEEN TAKEN OVER'

BY IDEOLOGUES

DELLWOOD - In a spirited discussion ranging from campaign finance reform to how the Minnesota Republican Party "has been, sadly, taken over" by  special interest groups including the NRA, the MCCL, and the Maple River Coalition (Now calling itself "EdWatch"), former Republican Governor Arne Carlson laid out his reasons for supporting Representative Rebecca Otto, a fiscally conservative Democrat.

Carlson was a guest speaker, along with Otto, at an event held in support of Otto at the Dellwood home of Blanche and Thane Hawkins.  The event was co-hosted by former high-tech corporate exec Sharon Binger.

Carlson said one of the unintended consequences of "the double tail" of campaign finance reform has been "the growth of mammoth interest groups" which have "sadly, taken over" the MN Republican Party.  "We can never take a small interest and convey to it more power than the overriding interest of the public as a whole.  And increasingly we're doing that, and we've got to watch out.  That's why this election to me is very, very important.  I don't want somebody that's hogtied.  You (want to) maximize flexibility.  That way you can maximize your opportunity to plan."

He said he has been impressed by Otto's focus on the state budget, and by her independent voice and her "good judgment". 

"The budget is absolutely  the bible of state government," Carlson said.  But, he said, you also have to know where you're going.  "Rebecca uses the word 'vision'.  Vision is a marvelous word.  That's what you actually live for.  When a young couple gets married it's vision that they talk about.  When a person becomes president or governor or senator, or house member or whatever it may be, it's vision.  As Alice in Wonderland suggested, if you don't know where you're going, any road will get you there."

After his June endorsement of Otto, Carlson was attacked by both House Speaker Steve Sviggum and by Republican Party Chairman Ron Eibensteiner, who claimed that Carlson's endorsement shows he's no longer a Republican and 'some doubt he ever was.'" Carlson used a question from Sharon Binger near the end of the program to take an oblique swipe at that characterization, reminding the audience that he was the person that Republican gubernatorial candidate Tim Pawlenty turned to during the campaign ethics investigation into illegal coordination between the Pawlenty campaign and the state Republican Party.  He said he counseled Pawlenty to take full responsibility as the captain of the ship, a move that some analysts say ultimately saved Pawlenty's campaign and political career.

Carlson had more pointed words for the speaker, and for Senator Michele Bachmann.  "Two years ago I was very, very disappointed in the enormous amount of bitterness and anger that came from some lead Republicans in this district.  Basically saying that we have an interloper, she doesn't belong in this seat, this seat belongs to us.  I'm sorry to say this seat does not belong to Senator Bachmann.  This seat belongs to the people.  And when the people decide, the election's over.  The decision is made.  And we expect our representative to be accorded all the courtesies that should be extended to all elected officials.  And I expect the Speaker of the House, who I've worked with for many years, to make absolutely certain he never plays a role as a divider, but always as a uniter, because ultimately at the end of the day you have to bring differing people, differing minds, differing viewpoints together and say 'okay, how can we wrap this session up?  What kinds of concessions do we have to make in order to go home?'"

Regarding Otto, and the frivolous campaign ethics charge brought against her by Sviggum, Carlson said "This community has put up its best, it's brightest, it's most talented" in Otto.  "What I admire the most about Rebecca is the fact that she stuck it out during some tough times, times that I think would have driven many many people away, and said 'to heck with this, it isn't worth it.'  The truth is, Rebecca, it is worth it, and we thank you very very much for your service."

Watch 'The Minnesota Vision' and Carlson's remarks on video here.