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Rep. Chip Cravaack, R-Minn., was the focus Wednesday of separate Brainerd rallies featuring his supporters and detractors in the shadow of the historic Brainerd water tower.
Republicans responded to the earlier announcement of a rally designed to criticize the first-term congressman with their own rally in support of Cravaack.
Each of the two sides, separated by South Sixth Street, had roughly between 30 and 40 people carrying signs. There were even dueling versions of “God Bless America” in between the noisy din of railroad engines passing by the two demonstrations.
Terry Sluss, an organizer of the rally, which had been billed as an Occupy Brainerd event, said Cravaack represents a tea party pro-business viewpoint. The former Crow Wing County commissioner and DFL state Senate candidate said the group is disassociating itself from the Occupy Brainerd label because there is too much negativity associated with the national movement. He said they had no association with that national movement.
The anti-Cravaack protesters, on the west side of Sixth Street carried signs that said “Honk if you’re not rich,” “New Hampshire in District 8 — Not,” “Cravaack, you’re no Oberstar” and “Make corporations pay.”
Wayne Altonen of Ironton complained that Cravaack didn’t spend much time in the district between being in Washington and being with his family in New Hampshire. Cravaack’s wife and family moved to New Hampshire when she was transferred there for business. His family also has a residence in North Branch.
“He’s not a fit for this area,” Altonen, a 51-year member of Twin Cities Pipefitter 539, said.
Altonen carried a Rick Nolan for Congress sign, saying “It’s hard not to support a local boy.”
Nick Brambilla, a 17-year-old Brainerd High School senior, said Cravaack caters to the tea party members who believe no government is the best government.
“I think he values the corporations and the rich too much,” the DFL activist said.
The protest against Cravaack was organized by the Central Lakes Senior Caucus, Brainerd Trades and Labor Occupy Brainerd Peaceful Movement and other organizations and individuals.
Across the street, in front of the Brainerd Lakes Chamber office, supporters of Cravaack carried American flags and signs that stated “Chip gives my future hope,” “Chip Cravaack, thank you for representing us in Washington, D.C.”
Ron Seamann of Merrifield said he didn’t know what the opposing side’s point of view was but they didn’t have a clue what it takes to run a business.
“We can’t afford anymore Democrats in the Senate, in Congress or for that matter in the White House,” he said.
Seamann said he liked Cravaack’s support of a voter identification bill.
Christine Olson of Deerwood said Cravaack has been doing an awesome job and has conducted town meetings in the area.
Becky Olson said Cravaack has had a target on his back since his election. She said she doesn’t think his family’s decision to acquire another house in New Hampshire will be a concern.
“His family comes first,” she said. “You have to respect his decision for his family.”
Dennis Havel of the St. Mathias area referred to the protesters on the other side of the street as “those loafers.” He said Cravaack was getting people back to work. He and his wife described themselves as right wing radicals.
Newly announced Legislature candidates Kurt Martin and David Allan Pundt turned out to support Cravaack.
“Chip’s doing a great job,” Martin said.
He said criticism about Cravaack’s residency issues shouldn’t hurt Cravaack, maintaining that similar issues didn’t hurt his predecessor, Rep Jim Oberstar, D-Minn.
MIKE O’ROURKE may be reached at 855-5860 at mike.orourke@brainerddispatch.com.
Comments (21)
Add commentChip - PROOF of YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS ?
Chip ,if you read this in New Hampshire - Tell us all of your accomplishments during your first and hopefully last term.
Fact Check on Cravaack
No jobs created.
Moved his family to New Hampshire.
Double-dipping: collecting union disability pay for untreated sleep apnea while serving in Congress.
Spending $1k/month of taxpayer dollars on an SUV.
Supports surveillance inside the US of American citizens.
Called Obama's birth control order "an act of federal aggression."
Called an Obama recess appointment "an unprecedented abuse of executive power" despite the fact that Republicans do it more often.
Tried to claim that no Republican plan he knows of calls for the end of Medicare despite the fact that he supports the Ryan Plan which would end Medicare.
Said that a debt ceiling bill would risk "cutting 50 percent in current military spending." MPR rated the claim as false.
Claimed that the sale of Duluth-based Cirrus to a Chinese company might lead to this "type of technology being used for military evolution [sic] against our troops."
Despite the fact that the Chinese already have the technology which he was referring to.
Asserted that the Ryan Plan to end Medicare would give Americans the same health care he receives as a member of Congress. MPR rated the claim false.
Most accessible?????
I attended Chip’s townhall meeting in Baxter. He showed a Powerpoint and had two bodyguards. He did not ooze accessibility.
since his heart is in New Hampshire
His body should be there, too. We deserve a representative from this area! His wife commutes to Boston for a promotion she received in the health care industry following his election.
Where is his loyalty to northern Minnesota? Has he ever lived north of the twin cities? Does he actually have a home in his district or is it like Oberstar, just a subterfuge?
Same old whiners...
There were many more people out supporting Chip, and they stayed longer. The dispatch fails again.
You libs complain about the same nonsense daily, even if its not relevant. Chip lives here. His wife took a good job on the East Coast. Unless you have proof of otherwise, SHUT UP. You're just mad that hes not an irresponsible democrat taxing the rich and giving it to people who haven't earned it. Maybe you all should be out working instead of sitting at your computer blaming others for your failures. One more thing, Marcia/minnesnowda, why not just admit who you are and use your name. We all know who you are already.
Curious comment, LibsAreWrong
Actually I thought there were more people protesting Cravaack than there were people supporting him. Thought the Dispatch article was pretty balanced too.
As to your last point, if you think commenters should give their true identity, perhaps you do so yourself.
Just saying.
Posts are anonymous, that's the policy
So unless the Dispatch is leaking names....
there is no way you can ID someone.
You DO NOT KNOW.
What I am seeing here is bullying and intimidation trying to stop some posters from posting facts, facts you do not like.
By the way, when I saw the post from someone saying he was walking by the former DFL chairs house I did call her (she was quite pleasant) and alert her. I wanted her to know that there are threats out there to her well being.
Who are the bullies?
What I see here are 5 people making negative comments against one positive. And of course, one of the five claims he/she is being bullied?
What I also see are the same old lies and half truths being repeated ad nauseum ... I guess some subscribe to the idea that if you repeat a lie often enough people will accept it as true?
Half Truth is actually 2/3 truth
Chip C. collects disability pensions for this sleeping disability from both the US Navy and the old NWA pilots union. His current job may provide him with a 3rd pension while he continues to represent us from New Hampshire.
I guess is it ok to be
I guess is it ok to be prejudice against the rich, which is a very relative term, in the US most of us are rich compared to much of the world. It appears it is ok to hold up signs that say, " honk if you are not rich". How would it be if the signs read, honk if you are not black, honk if you are not hispanic, honk if you are not gay, honk if you are not a woman, honk if you are not Jewish.
No truth
In captron's post about half truths, there is no truth. I'm sure the writer didn't mean to post falsehoods, but just can't comprehend how a pension works or where disability payments come from. Look at both sentences of the post:
"Chip C. collects disability pensions for this sleeping disability from both the US Navy and the old NWA pilots union."
Not even close. Representative Cravaack receives no disability payments ALPA or any other union. Neither does he receive disability payments from the US Navy. He never would have been hired by NWA had he been classified as disabled by the Navy.
"His current job may provide him with a 3rd pension while he continues to represent us from New Hampshire."
Perhaps captron could explain how the Congressman could collect a congressional pension while still in office.
The more I read posts like this, the more clear it becomes how the left is so easily fooled by their politicians.
It is easily verified that Cravaack
received more than $90,000 in disability payments in 2010 for sleep apnea. This is what caused his early retirement from NWA, now Delta.
In addition, he is now collecting his salary for being a congressman.
edit: Furthermore, he will be eligible for a lifelong pension from serving in the Senate when his service is over.
snackfu
Senate? No he is a US Representative. Unless you are predicting he is going to run for the Senate next.
I thought he had a Military pension, too.
He seems an honorable man and very patriotic. But we need someone who comes here and lets us get to know him, not his staff.
Where was
Oberstar for all of those years that he was in office? His home in France, his plush home out by D.C. or a store front address on the range? Of all of the years that Oberstar was supposedly representing the 8th, I never found that he had a townhall meeting that was open to the public. He did have private meetings with his loyal left liberals, but as far as I know there was never or at least very few open to the public townhall meetings that Oberstar was present. Oh wait, he did have his infamous bike rides on his bike trails that he liked to take credit for. Congressman Cravaack has had many open to the public townhall meetings all across the 8th. He has always been very open and honest with all of those in attendance. Plus, if you do show up to talk to his staff at his district office locations,or any of the many local stops that they make through out the district, you do not get confronted by a staffer that swears at you and tells you to get out of his office or he will call the cops if you ask questions about how we are being represented by Congressman Cravaack.
Alphascan your entitled to your own opinion ,NOT YOUR OWN FACTS
Think you better do some research on your boy Chip. Chips monthly payments for life come from the US Government since he became "disabled" while serving in the US Navy. Other monthly payment for life is from the airline based on the NWA union workrules. Heaven forbid Chip has his current job long enough to collect his 3rd monthly check for life. Those are the FACTS. The mere fact you voted for this guy does not change the facts. Check it out for yourself. Call Chip and ask him ,he does not respond to emails or letters.
Anger
Management is recommended.
captron
If you do not provide a link to your so called facts, you have no ground to stand on. You are just spouting your jaded ideas and hoping that some of the mud that you throw at the wall sticks, just like all of the other liberals that throw out their baseless rants. Put up or shut up!
OK
You said it marsbar, back it up or shut up. You need to attend the view with cap.
They have
nothing, except to just spout off with a bunch of liberal lies and they hope that this is what people will remember instead of the fact that we now after all of these years have a congressman that represents the area and listens to the people of the 8th.
captron
Let me once again try to put this in simple terms so you'll be able to understand:
Here is what you wrote-- Chip C. collects disability pensions for this sleeping disability from both the US Navy and the old NWA pilots union.
Congressman Cravaack was not designated as "disabled " when he left the US Navy. Therefore he receives no payments based on his "disability" from the military. Any compensation he does continue to get from the military has nothing to do with his sleep apnea.
ALPA ( "the old NWA pilots union" in your terminology) doesn't provide disability payments to Congressman Cravaack or any other former pilot.
Just wondering
If I were to make a post with an unsubstantiated claim about the marital infidelity of a Brainerd Dispatch editor, would it make it through the screening process too?