Get an edit, and check those facts!

Posted at 5:37 PM on January 24, 2007 by Tim Pugmire

With 2008 in mind, Minnesota Democrats have been ratcheting up their scrutiny of the votes taken by Republican Sen. Norm Coleman.

But the latest critique missed the mark when the Minnesota DFL Party wrongly reported Coleman's vote on the minimum wage.

The DFL issued a news release Wednesday afternoon saying Coleman "voted to block the Democratic plan to increase the federal minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 - a plan that would have given a much-needed pay raise to 29,000 Minnesotans."

The release went on to accuse Coleman of "disregarding the will of the people."

"Senator Coleman proved today that even as his rhetoric turns left, his heart still belongs to President Bush." Minnesota DFL Chair Brian Melendez said in the release. "He chose partisan politics over the well-being of 29,000 Minnesotans. Senator Coleman disregarded the will and the interests of the people he represents and chose to toe the GOP line instead. "Too many hard-working families go to work every day and play by the rules, but still don't earn a living wage. Last November, the American people demanded change. Democrats acted swiftly to fulfill our promise to restore America as a country that works for everyone. It is discouraging that Republicans like Senator Coleman keep ignoring the American people and blocking this crucial bill. Senator Coleman had better start putting partisanship aside and standing up for Minnesota's working families."

Well, there was just one little problem. Coleman voted for the minimum wage increase.

One hour later, another news release arrived with this correction:

"Senator Coleman voted with the Democrats today on the minimum wage vote referenced in our previous press release. We were relying on a source with incorrect information and apologize to Senator Coleman for the error. We applaud his stand on this important issue. Sincerely, Brian Melendez, chair, Minnesota DFL Party."

And that's the end of that little embarrassment, right? Au contraire!

Senator Norm Coleman's Communication Director, Tom Steward, responded to the matter with own news release.

"It is a true disservice to the people of Minnesota that the state DFL party believes partisan attacks are more important than the facts. Despite the false claims in their press release today, the fact is that Senator Coleman today in favor of moving forward on the minimum wage bill before the Senate voted. In fact, Senator Coleman has voted in favor of a minimum wage increase on six previous occasions since taking office. If DFL Chairman Brian Melendez truly wants to 'put partisanship aside' as he says, he may want to start by checking the Congressional record before creating his own reality."

Let this be lesson to us all, accuracy is important. But so are verbs, and it looks like one is missing here.

Oh no, a follow up Coleman news release. This one from Minnesota Press Secretary Luke Friedrich.

"My apologies, this is the updated version of the statement from our Communications Director. This version correct a typo from the second sentence when it got pasted into the original email. Please feel free to use this updated version! Again, my apologies. Thanks much. Luke Friedrich, MN Press Secretary."

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