Seifert questions Emmer's temperament to be governor

Posted at 4:01 PM on March 8, 2010 by Tom Scheck (9 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

The race to see who wins GOP backing in the campaign for governor is heating up. Earlier, we reported that Rep. Marty Seifert criticized Rep. Tom Emmer for authoring a bill that would have placed limits on independent expenditures, 527s and PACs (I updated that blog post with Emmer's comments on it). Seifert also lobbed another criticism of Emmer during an interview on Emmer's 2005 bill. He raised the issue of Emmer's temperament.

When discussing the bill, Seifert pointed to a 2005 City Pages article that quoted Emmer criticizing Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life for opposing the proposed limits:

Initially, Emmer was optimistic that the bill would be passed, but once it got to the floor, support suddenly dissipated. Various interest groups, most notably Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, stepped up their attacks on the measure. The anti-choice nonprofit group passed out literature condemning the bill and told house members that the vote would be counted in the organization's influential legislative scorecards, even though the issue has nothing to do with abortion.

"What a crock of crap that is," says Emmer, who is pro-life and was endorsed by the MCCL in 2004. He's now disgusted by the group's high-handed tactics: "I've told them to knock it off. I don't ever want to hear from them again. I don't appreciate people passing me notes while I'm in committee telling me how to vote."

Seifert said Emmer's quote in that article shows that Emmer doesn't have the temperament to be governor.

"The delegates need to know what they're getting," Seifert said. "Right now, they're coming in and getting a good speech for five minutes and the people leave the room and they have no idea about what happens in terms of these other issues like legislation sponsored, etc. I think they need to know if someone needs to come in and wows you with fire breathing, that may be enough but I think people need to know the whole story."

The criticism is a double whammy for Seifert. First, it raises the issue that Emmer supported limits on campaign spending that are opposed by many conservatives. (Emmer now says he doesn't support any limits on campaign spending but was trying to clear up the state's campaign finance laws at the time). Secondly, it puts Emmer at odds with the MCCL, a group that has considerable influence over Republican activists.

For his part, Emmer criticized Seifert for even bringing up a bill he authored in 2005. He said GOP delegates and the rest of the public are more concerned about bread and butter issues. He said Seifert is worried that Emmer has the momentum in the campaign.

"Somebody is raising a bill from 2005 on campaign practices when the real issues that people are talking about are what? They're talking about jobs. They're talking about the future," Emmer said. "They're talking about their families. This is a desperate attempt to create some kind of conflict."

Republicans will meet on April 30th to back a candidate for governor. Both Seifert and Emmer say they'll drop out of the race if they don't win the party endorsement.

Comments (9)

If feel like I am in junior high over hearing a 12 year old girl talk about her ex-boyfriend. "I don't like his personality." I wish more politicians would speak with the plain conviction that Emmer does. Enough with the PC garbage.

Posted by ErikRadtke | March 8, 2010 4:27 PM

Let's see. Emmer has AUTHORED legislation that is more heavy-handed than McCain Feingold. Seifert calls him out. Emmer tries to defend himself. Emmer supporter cries foul.

This is politics, folks - it aint beanbag,

Emmer's bill is an attack on the 1st amendment, freeedom of speech, as far as I can tell. But, what do I know, I'm no trial lawyer.

Posted by willie Staehardt | March 8, 2010 5:16 PM

Talk about the pots and kettles calling each other names.

Posted by wiseishe | March 9, 2010 7:18 AM

Speaking of passing out notes while voting, just as I voted for state delegates at my local convention, Team Seifert passed out a list of who I should vote for? HMMMM?

Posted by Marc Bourdeaux | March 9, 2010 7:37 AM

Here is Emmer, a real fiscal conservative until it comes to his pay, speaking plainly
!
ttp://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/mpls/messages/topic/3yh6r6x1K6AF9KYSZi11Z0

Where the following quote may be found:
“But Rep. Tom Emmer, a freshman Republican from Delano, said he and the other legislators who claimed per diems have no apologies to make. Emmer, an attorney, said the $1,320 he earned in special session per diems was far less than he would have made in his law practice.

‘You're talking to a guy who at 44 years old made a significant personal and financial sacrifice to serve my constituents,’ Emmer said

A few legislators routinely refuse to claim per diem payments during either regular or special sessions, a few claim less than the $66 a day and some do not claim the payments on weekends or holidays.”

It seems the people of House District 19A did not know that they hired another lawyer when they voted for Representative Emmer! It sounds like he expects to be paid as their attorney.

Posted by Tom Rees | March 9, 2010 8:23 AM

Keep your chin up Minnesotans Leslie Davis for Governor is here. We don't need Emmer or Seifert because I'm the man with the plan, the 'Davis Money Plan'. See it at www.LeslieDavis.org and help rescue Minnesota.
Leslie Davis for Governor 2010

Posted by Leslie Davis | March 9, 2010 9:01 AM

Neither of the candiates have any real integrity. If they did they wouldn't be stooping to the level of Nazi Germany or Communist Russia by stopping the freedom of free speech. They are stopping other candidates from being heard in the delegate forums just so they can look like the only viable candidates. That just means their message is too weak to stand up to other candiates messages.

Posted by Greg N. | March 9, 2010 12:37 PM

Tom Emmer doesn't have the temperament to be governor. We don't need a "Mike Hatch moment" on the campaign trail and that's what we're likely to get from Emmer. Walking out on his colleagues time and time again proves he's a quitter, not a fighter.

Posted by Mark | March 9, 2010 2:57 PM

How many candidates are running for the gubernatorial position?

Posted by wheresthemedia | March 9, 2010 10:54 PM

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