On this point Hatch is right

Posted at 7:26 AM on August 18, 2006 by Mike Mulcahy (1 Comments)

State Republican Party Chair Ron Carey called a press conference Thursday to criticize Mike Hatch for his dust up with Ramsey County Judge William Leary. Carey said the news reports raised a series of questions, and he said a few nasty things about Hatch.

MPR called Hatch for a response. He said there's a hearing on the Leary case next week, and he didn't want to comment on the specifics. And he called Carey a paid political operative and said he would not respond to any of his statements.

Hatch has taken that position on Carey before, and I think he's right not to respond.

Don't get me wrong. I've known Ron Carey a long time, and he's a good spokesman for the Republican Party. And I'm not making any comment on the specifics of Hatch's interaction with Leary.

But what was Carey's point yesterday? That Hatch's dealings with a Ramsey County judge should be an issue in the gubenatorial campaign? If so, why doesn't Tim Pawlenty raise it? If Pawlenty wants to stay above the fray how about sending Carol Molnau out? At least she's on the ballot. Ron Carey isn't. And when was the last time we heard from Molnau?

Now before you accuse me of being partisan I think the same thing is true of DFL chair Brian Melendez. The other day he called a press conference to complain about Mark Kennedy's new TV ad. OK, now let's hear what Amy Klobuchar thinks.

Enough of the surrogates. Let the candidates stand up and make their own attacks.

By the way, Hatch will be on Midmorning today with Kerri Miller at 9 and Sue Jeffers will be Midday with Mr. Eichten at 10.

Comments (1)

I doubt if I'm going too far out on a limb to guess that the Governor and Lt. Governor of the State of Minnesota frown upon judicial misconduct in general, and in particular when it is the State of Minnesota's top cop engaging in it.

Any bets on how long it will be before a complaint to the Minnesota Board on Judicial Standards from Hatch's office is forthcoming?

BTW, I'm wondering if you could not have been just a bit more obtuse vis-a-vis the function of political party's during election campaign seasons.

You partisan? Mike, pleeeze.

Posted by Swiftee | August 18, 2006 10:18 AM

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