Politicians make plenty of boneheaded statements but Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer’s criticism of an Iraq war veteran’s courage probably takes the cake for this political season.
In the legislative session post-mortems, the Big Lake Republican clashed with Rep. John Kriesel, R-Cottage Grove, over the freshman lawmaker’s successful efforts to pass a Vikings stadium bill. Kiffmeyer, who grew up in Pierz, sent an email to her supporters in which she criticized the stadium deal. Kriesel responded by accusing her of lying about the legislation. Kiffmeyer responded to Kriesel and he shared her message in his Twitter account.
“From Mary to me RE: Stadium: “Not only (do you have) no clue but no courage to run again and be accountable and see what your district thinks.”
Kriesel followed that up with another tweet.
“Just received the most classless email from Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer. I will do whatever I can to make sure she is not re-elected. Classless lady.”
One doesn’t have to be a political genius to realize there’s no way one can question the courage of a decorated war veteran who came home a double amputee after a roadside explosion in Iraq. Kiffmeyer, a former Minnesota secretary of state, certainly should have known better than to put a statement like that in writing, even if she thought it was going to be confidential.
WCCO-TV’s Pat Kessler, on the CBS Minnesota website, reported his station repeatedly tried to get a response from Kiffmeyer this week, but she did not respond. Kiffmeyer, who advocated for her Voter ID bill at a Rosenmeier forum at Central Lakes College in 2012, is running for the state Senate in 2012. Kriesel is not running for re-election, citing the pressures of family life. However, his tweets indicate that he’s still upset about Kiffmeyer’s statement. Kriesel, a maverick Republican who opposed the proposed constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage, tweeted:
“I would consider taking out a second mortgage on my house to donate to who is running against Mary Kiffmeyer.”
It’s going to be another interesting election year.
— Mike O’Rourke
Comments (9)
Add commentKiffmeyer
She played a very old video at that forum here on Voter ID so she did not have to talk much. She put in a very weak performance against the bright young DFL debater. Almost pathetic. No surprise that she attacks a war veteran now.
Perhaps this veteran would consider running as a Democrat?
I would say a better IP candidate, Snowda
He's had some pretty moderate views on a number of issues and leaned enough to the right I don't see him being a good dem candidate, at least from that part of the state where the party anointers are pretty liberal. Now if he wanted to move up to the iron range....:-)
Interesting fellow, did not always agree with him but wish him well.
While Mary's words don't paint her in a good light no matter how you explain it, I have heard a bit different explanation.
That was that John had taken one too many positions that greatly displeased the power structure in the GOP today....and they were going to work hard to defeat him in the next primary with a candidate more to their liking.
So my take on what she was saying was that he didn't have the courage to face the party drubbing that he was so due to receive.
Democrats don't eat their own
If they do not adhere to the 'party line.' Of course there is always subtle pressure to play along, but the legislators will often vote for their area or on their conscience.
March out of step with the GOP and you're a gonner.
We need more flexibility in the system and brave legislators.
The deal with IP is they normally cannot win. That may change some day, but it has not yet.
It's a thankless job and it does keep them away from their family a lot. He probably made a good decision. For that he gets beat up by Kiffmeyer. Boo!
Please clarify...
Was that comment Kriesel tweeted actually tweeted to him by Kiffmeyer, or is he claiming she said that to him and using Twitter to pass the information on?
So snow,
who does eat their own? Or is that just another slanderous insinuation from the extreme left? You should practice a little tolerance sometime. You are starting to sound like nails on the chalk board.
well, minnesnowda
We could start with Brodkorb and Koch and the fallout to the party. She was booted to the curb and has about disappeared.
Oh my,
help with the screech has arrived!
This is the lady that wants to kick me to the curb.
More
tolerance....by the left.
Hmm...Another Pierz person, Chairman of Wells Fargo...
John Stumpf...
Snippet:
John Stumpf (born 1953) became Chairman for Wells Fargo & Company in January 2010. He was named Chief Executive Officer in June 2007, elected to Wells Fargo’s Board of Directors in June 2006, and has been President since August 2005.
How is this connected, only by the Pierz connection...
Mary Kiffmeyer, who grew up in Pierz.
So, in summary...
In an area where the Minnesota Vikings are a super popular item, this is the context?
Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer’s sent an email to her supporters in which she criticized the stadium deal. In other words, did Mary want the Vikings to relocate to the Land of No Lakes (Los Angeles)?
It's not perfect, but the Minnesota Vikings will not relocate to Los Angeles. The Lakers are an awful example of relocation.