June Newsletter
The Resistance
by Alden Brown
President Donald Trump solved America’s pandemic by encouraging us to inject bleach.
Now, he suggests we solve the assault on African American men by shooting protesters.
Suggesting we drink bleach was bad. This is worse.
There is no escape from the inhumanity exhibited in the killing of 46-year-old George Floyd on May 25. The video of a policeman’s knee jammed into Floyd’s neck until another black man lay lifeless on the ground is too much to bear. Understandable rage followed.
“The original sin of this country still stains our nation today,” Joe Biden said in response. “Sometimes we manage to overlook it, and just push forward with the thousand other tasks of daily life. But it’s always there. And weeks like this, we see it plainly. We are a country with an open wound. None of us can turn away. None of us can be silent. None of us any longer can hear those words — ‘I can’t breathe’ — and do nothing.”
Of course, there are those who support Donald Trump who do not see this tragedy through the same lens. In October 2016, counterterrorism expert J.M. Berger wrote in Politico:
The convergence of white nationalists around a mainstream candidate marks a major development in the post-Civil Rights Act era of American politics. While they have opposed Democrats actively in past elections, their attitudes toward Republican candidates largely have been ambivalent, with many opting out of politics altogether. Now, with Trump, that has changed, raising the prospect that the nominee of a major political party is tapping a deep well of anti-Semitism and racial hate—intentionally or unintentionally—and is mainstreaming such views in the process.
This was written before Trump was elected. Before he defended the neo-Nazis and White Supremacists who marched on Charlottesville, VA, one of whom killed 32-year-old Heather Heyer.
The hate this president sows kills as surely as bigots in white sheets or uniforms.
Our candidate said, “Enough.” Joe Biden is right.
“We are a nation in pain, but we must not allow this pain to destroy us. We are a nation enraged, but we cannot allow our rage to consume us. We are a nation exhausted, but we will not allow our exhaustion to defeat us.
“The only way to bear this pain is to turn all that anguish to purpose. And as President, I will help lead this conversation — and more importantly, I will listen …”
Our message is hope.
Trump’s message is hate and confrontation – good guys vs bad guys. Us vs. them.
And anyone who knows Trump’s history knows he is on the white side of the ledger.
“An Oral History of Trump’s Bigotry,” published June 2019 in The Atlantic starts with the 1973 Justice Department lawsuit that alleged that employees were directed to tell African American lease applicants that there were no open apartments.
Trump used a “C” for “colored” to keep African Americans out of his apartments.
Then there was the “birther” movement where Trump argued that President Barack Obama was born outside of Hawaii, outside the US.
Would he have ever made that claim had President Obama been white?
Of course not.
One of the most glaring examples can be found with the Central Park Five. A group of five black and Latino teens were wrongly accused of raping a white woman in Central Park on April 19, 1989. Donald Trump took out full-page ads in all four major New York newspapers to argue that perpetrators of crimes such as this “should be forced to suffer” and “be executed.” In two trials, in August and December 1990, the youths were convicted of violent offenses including assault, robbery, rape, sodomy, and attempted murder; their sentences ranged from five to 15 years in prison.
In 2002, after the discovery of exonerating DNA evidence and the confession by another individual to the crime, the convictions of the Central Park Five were vacated. The men were awarded a settlement of $41 million for false arrest, malicious prosecution, and a racially motivated conspiracy to deprive them of their rights.
Trump took to the pages of the New York Daily News, calling the settlement “a disgrace.” During his 2016 presidential campaign, Trump would again insist on the guilt of the Central Park Five.
DNA evidence proved that five young lives were ruined by improper imprisonment.
What does the president do?
Double down on the lie.
At this point, even the Republicans are starting to leave the drowning ship.
The New York Times reported May 28 that “Republican Voters Against Trump is hoping to chip away at Mr. Trump’s support from white, college-educated Republican voters in the suburbs, hoping a more surgical approach will help to elect Joseph R. Biden Jr., his expected Democratic opponent.”
You know the GOP screwed the pooch when someone as self-righteous as Bill Kristol backs a Democrat.
What good is another Supreme Court judge without a Constitution? What good is privilege when only the president gets to decide who has it?
And, at a time our country is in crisis, what good is a cowardly lion who encourages violence with tweets from the bunker of the White House?
Not much.
“This is no time for incendiary tweets. It’s no time to encourage violence,” Biden livestreamed from his campaign website. “This is a national crisis, and we need real leadership right now.”
Resist.
Vote Democracy.
Vote Democratic.
Vote Joe Biden.
1ST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT AND STATE DFL CONVENTION RESULTS
The 1st Congressional District DFL convention, which was held virtually, was held last month. The ballot-only convention asked delegates to vote on an endorsement of a candidate for Congress, a Presidential elector, and delegates to the Democratic National Convention. Dan Feehan, who was unopposed for the endorsement, won with over 99% of the vote. Mark Liebow, from Senate District 26, was chosen to be the elector. Three Biden and two Sanders delegates were elected to be delegates to the Democratic National Convention (DNC). That ratio was determined by the results of last March’s Presidential primary in the 1st District. None of the delegates were from Senate District 26.
The state DFL convention, also ballot-only, was held at the end of the month. Tina Smith was endorsed for re-election to the U.S. Senate. Delegates to this convention also voted for two more electors, 15 more Biden delegates and 11 more Sanders delegates to the DNC, and Minnesota’s four elected members on the Democratic National Committee, and decided which resolutions would become part of the DFL platform or Action Agenda. Rachel Zhang, one of the Sanders delegates, is a recent Mayo High School graduate who lives in Senate District 26. The full election results are at https://www.dfl.org/2020-dfl-state-convention-election-results/ The resolution results are pending.
FILING FOR NOVEMBER’S ELECTION IS NOW COMPLETE
Senator Tina Smith will face four other DFL candidates in the August primary for U.S. Senate. None appear likely to be serious challengers. The endorsed Republican candidate, Jason Lewis, also had four primary opponents, but he is heavily favored to win. There is a candidate from the Legal Marijuana Now party and another from the Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis party, who could be spoilers in a close election.
Dan Feehan has no DFL primary opposition and will face the incumbent Representative, Jim Hagedorn, who also has no primary opposition in November. There is a third candidate, Bill Rood, who is running on the Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis ticket.
Our endorsed candidate for the Minnesota Senate, Aleta Borrud, has no primary opposition and will face Carla Nelson, who does not have primary opposition, in November.
Rep. Tina Liebling, our endorsed candidate for the Minnesota House District 26A seat has no primary opposition. She will face Republican candidate Gary Melin.
Randy Brock, a Realtor who used to be the lead weatherman on KTTC, recently declared and filed his candidacy for the House District 26B seat. He has no primary opposition, so will face Nels Pierson, who also has no primary opposition, in November.
The elections for Congress, for the Minnesota Senate 26 seat, and the 26A and 26B Minnesota House of Representatives seat will not be on the primary ballot as there is only one candidate from each party.
Justice Paul Thissen is running for a full term on the Minnesota Supreme Court. He has a right-wing opponent who has run and lost in Supreme Court elections at least twice before. However, since he only has one opponent, this race will not be on the primary ballot. No other judge who will be on the ballot in November has an opponent.
Things are more competitive locally. All four County Commissioners whose terms end this year are running for re-election and three of them have an opponent. All three Rochester School Board members whose terms are ending are running for re-election and each has an opponent. Since there are no more than two candidates in any of these races, they will not be on the primary ballot.
The Ward 2, 4, and 6 Rochester City Council seats along with the At-large Council seat are up for election and each has at least three candidates, so each will have a primary.
City, county, judicial, and school board races are non-partisan in Olmsted County, so the DFL does not endorse candidates in those races.
POLITICAL POTPOURRI
You can apply for a ballot to vote at home for the August primary and for the November general election. To apply electronically, go to https://mnvotes.sos.state.mn.us/ABRegistration/ABRegistrationStep1.aspx. To get a paper application, go to https://www.sos.state.mn.us/media/2444/english-regular-absentee-ballot-application.pdf.
The DFL Coordinated Campaign has hired Martin Hernandez as the Regional Field Director for the 1st Congressional District to lead the Coordinated Campaign here. He’s from southern California and has lots of campaign experience. He’ll live in Rochester and will spend a significant amount of time at the DFL office once that reopens. There will be field directors working for Mr. Hernandez hired, at least one of whom will be assigned to Olmsted County. Dan Feehan will also be hiring field staff, at least one of which will be assigned to Olmsted County.
The Senate race in our district is likely to be one of the most hotly contested in the state. Aleta Borrud will need many volunteers to campaign in a race where traditional campaign methods will be severely affected by the pandemic. Volunteer at https://www.aleta4mnsenate.com/contact-us/ She will get a staffer from the Senate DFL Caucus to help her, too. Lots of outside groups are likely to make independent expenditures in the race, so watch for mailers and commercials as the election approaches. The DFL needs to pick up two seats to flip the Minnesota Senate and give the DFL control of the governorship and both houses of the Legislature for the first time since 2013-14.
Randy Brock’s campaign also could use help. Tyrel Clark ran a competitive race in District 26B in 2018. This may be the year we can win that district, especially with Randy’s name recognition. You can volunteer at https://randybrock.mn/contact/
May saw four Presidential primaries. Joe Biden won them all with at least 63% of the vote. There were 8 more primaries on June 2. Biden won all of these and is less than 100 votes from clinching a first-ballot nomination. The Democratic National Convention is now scheduled for August 17, We’re not yet sure if it will be a virtual convention or an in-person one.
On-line speeches by DFL candidates and elected officials from all parts of Minnesota were scheduled for May 31, but were postponed after the killing of George Floyd. A new date has not yet been announced.
When the Senate District 26 DFL Central Committee next meets again in person, we will elect Senate District 26 DFL’s officers, directors, and members and alternates to the 1st CD and Minnesota DFL Central Committees. Higher-level DFL units will also elect people to positions that are usually filled at conventions but couldn’t be this year at their first in-person Central Committee meeting.
DONATE TO SENATE DISTRICT 26 DFL
We know this is a tough time economically for many people in Senate District 26 because of the economic effects from shutdowns due to the pandemic. Not everyone will be able to donate right now, but if you can, we need your help to keep a DFL presence in Rochester in 2020. We have a year-round office, which is expensive, but is crucial in a battleground area like Rochester. While one-time donations are welcome, we especially need monthly donations. We don’t get money from the national Democratic Party. The state DFL only contributes $500 a month, less than 1/3 of our rent. We rely on our local supporters to keep going and to get the DFL message out. There are tremendous opportunities for the DFL, locally and statewide, this year, including replacing Carla Nelson with a DFL Senator and Jim Hagedorn with a DFL member of Congress. We need more money at the local level to take advantage of them. We need the money and you want an active DFL. If you give, there will be an office for DFL events and meetings when those are possible again, DFL participation in events and parades that require entry fees, technology that makes the DFL work better, and outreach into underrepresented communities. Donate to Senate District 26 DFL and you can get up to $50/person or $100 per married couple back from the state of Minnesota if you are eligible to vote in Minnesota. You can make a refundable donation in 2020 even if you made a contribution and got a refund in 2019. Do it now. Make your donation via ActBlue (https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/senate-district-26-dfl-party-1?refcode=sd2). If you would rather write a check, please make it payable to DFL SD26 and send it to:
P.O. Box 9044
Rochester, MN 55904-9044
Send us a donation and we’ll send you a receipt. Send the receipt and a form
(https://www.revenue.state.mn.us/media/59866) needed to claim the reimbursement to
Minnesota Revenue Political Contribution Refund
St. Paul, MN 55146-1800.
Make a donation, file a claim, and you’ll get a check back soon. If you send a check, please include whether you are retired, self-employed or employed. If employed, include the name of your employer and your job title. The Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board requires us to collect that information. If you use Act Blue, the appropriate information is collected.
Connect with us!
This is a monthly newsletter. However, events often happen on short notice, so we may not be able to include them in the newsletter. Check our website and Facebook pages for the latest news on what is happening.
Email: sd26mn.dfl@gmail.com
Twitter: @sd26dfl
Website: www.senatedistrict26dfl.com
Closed Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/144866495637545/
Facebook page with Olmsted-25 DFL and Senate District 25: https://www.facebook.com/sd26sd25olm25/?fref=ts
Instagram: @dflsenatedistrict26.
Our office is unstaffed for now because of the stay-at-home order but you can leave a message for us at 507-536-9785. We are monitoring the messages.
