It's About the Baggage

Let's be clear right out of the shoot. I find Keith Ellison an honorable and passionate human being. He has evolved into an individual who deserves respect and trust. The 5th district will be represented well by his stewardship. However, the Right Wing smear machine will have a free for all with his candidacy, and that distraction may be enough to effect other races.

This isn't about race or religion. It's about the ability of the opposition to make something out of nothing, or more out of something than really exists. Now is not the time for those distractions. With another option in the primary, like Mike Erlandson, we could have taken an entire arsenal away from the MNGOP in their struggle to remain in control. Now we risk the onslaught from a party that wasted no time beginning their viscous vicious attacks:

THE PARTY OF HUMPHREY BECOMES THE PARTY OF ELLISON

ELLISON IS THE NEW FACE OF THE DFL

MN GOP RAISING MONEY TO COMBAT THE PARTY OF ELLISON

When I used the word short sighted yesterday, it was in no way a dig on 5th district voters. I was merely pointing out that the 40+% of the voters may not have taken a look at all the variables involved in an Ellison endorsement. If the campaign season was all about issues, the DFL would win in a walk. When it's about individuals, anything can happen. And since the Right can't win on the issues, they have no choice but to go on attack, with a formula that has been successful over the last several cycles.

Of course, the flip side is the electorate may be getting tired of attack politics and the MN GOP strategy could blow up in their face. We can only hope that is the case.

Flash