Conservative the theme in Brainerd stop
CONSTITUTIONAL CANDIDATE FORUM
The Republican Party's leading gubernatorial candidates struck a litany of conservative themes Friday at a Constitutional Candidate Forum at the Franklin Arts Center in Brainerd.
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Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Delano, and Rep. Marty Seifert, R-Marshall, were headliners at the Minnesota Freedom Council's forum, which was co-sponsored by 3WI radio station. Also addressing the crowd were four Republican candidates for the Eighth Congressional District and a rural Brainerd man, George Burton, who is running for the Eighth Congressional District endorsement of the Constitution Party. The Republican congressional candidates were Chip Cravaack, Darrel Trulson, Justin Eichorn and Robert Farnsworth.
Emmer and Seifert both called for lower taxes, less regulation of business and noted their pro-life stances.
Both candidates expressed opposition to expanding gambling.
"I don't feel it's the role of government to be building casinos," Seifert said.
Tom Emmer
Emmer said gambling can destroy the fabric of society.
"Drinking and fighting for your country (at age 18) are not the same thing ... Gambling is a bad thing," he said in response to one question about a possible change in the drinking age. "Gambling is wrong. Drinking is wrong."
Seifert, the former Republican minority leader said Minnesota must move away from the California model of government and stop importing poverty and exporting wealth. He said he was the one candidate who was born, raised and educated in Minnesota and who had authored a bill that down-sized government. He cited his experience in negotiating on the state budget and cited a poll that showed him as the Republican candidate who tied or beat all potential Democratic gubernatorial candidates.
Objecting to the layering of government, Seifert said when a problem is discovered the reaction of some is to create a "Department of Happiness" to fix that problem. He said the state shouldn't be funding public radio stations, welfare programs that other states don't offer or abortions. If elected he promised to restructure state government.
Minnesota's current education policy does not treat all children fairly, according to Seifert because Minneapolis students receive more aid than students in the Brainerd or Crosby-Ironton districts. He called for accountability, reform and choices in education and said he was willing to take out the reform stick on teachers' unions.
"The primary educators of children are their parents," he said.
On the question of eminent domain, Seifert said that with due process and fair compensation government did have the right to claim private land for the public good - using highway land acquisitions as an example. However, he said government had no right to allow one private person to take another private person's land so government could generate more tax revenue.
Marty Seifert
Emmer was asked if he would like to see the Republican Party move ideologically closer to the tea party or the tea party move closer to the Republican Party.
"The Republican Party, if we honor our principles, we're already there."
He said the tea party movement represented the future of our country and our children.
"These are not crazy people," he said. "These are Americans who believe in freedom."
Emmer said he wanted to redefine government, lower taxes and provide tort reform and worker's compensation reform.
Seifert noted his 13 years in the Legislature and his experience in House leadership positions while Emmer talked about his five years in the Legislature and represented himself as an outsider.
"It is time for leaders from outside of government,"Emmer said.
"Turn off 'American Idol,' " he said. "Stop watching "Survivor.' We have work to do."
George Burton, running for the Eighth Congressional District endorsement of the Constitution Party
Before serving in the Legislature Emmer served on the Independence City Council for 7-1/2 years and the Delano City Council for two years.
The two candidates clashed when discussing a bill Emmer proposed that dealt with contributions to political action committees. Seifert portrayed it as a law that would limit contributions and extend government control while Emmer said the bill was about disclosure of information.
In the congressional race segment of the forum the candidates fielded different questions which were posed by moderators Guy Green and Lon Schmidt of 3W1.
Burton introduced himself as an electrician and a tea party organizer rather than a community organizer. He said many federal mandates, such as No Child Left Behind, should not be the federal government's business and were scams. Burton also said the Patriot Act tramples on freedoms. He issued a call to action.
"Turn off 'American Idol,' " he said. "Stop watching "Survivor.' We have work to do."
Asked if the Constitution should define marriage he indicated that in his view it already did because of its underlying moral tones.
"In my book, I believe it does," he said. "It's based on the Bible. The founders believed in God. Without spelling it out in there it's already in there."
Trulson, a Chisago City businessman, said big government needed to be reigned in. He said there should be a focus on jobs and lowering the business tax rate. When asked for his position on illegal immigrants he said that they were draining away the U.S. economy by using social programs and he said that historically nations have deported such people. Trulson cited his experience as a minister, a union member and an activist for pro-life and home school organizations.
Cravaack of Lindstrom noted his experience as a U.S. Navy pilot. He said the first step in returning to a federal balanced budget was to elect conservatives to Congress. America must start paying down its debt, he said.
He said the tea party played a role inspiring him to be a candidate.
"Those great tea partiers - I hope they drag the Republicans along with you and keep moving forward," he said.
When he referred to President Barack Obama as "Comrade Obama" Cravaack received applause from the crowd.
"This administration is trying to take these (constitutional) rights away from us and quite frankly, over my dead body," Cravaack said.
Eichorn, of Grand Rapids, grew up in a family which owned an outdoors shop that sold guns. He formerly owned a GM dealership and now owns laundromats.
Asked about a clean water bill, he said the government should not have any control over water on private land. He said he would have great funding resources because of his connection to the gun and ammunition industries.
Farnsworth, of Hibbing, is a special education teacher who formerly taught history. He advocated term limits and conservative values. He said he opposed federal mandates such as No Child Left Behind and mandatory participation in Medicaid. He pledged to work for a balanced budget.
He urged audience members to seek divine wisdom when they decide who to support for office. Farnsworth said his candidacy and those of his opponents were part of divine purpose.
MIKE O'ROURKE may be reached at mike.orourke@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5860.