Well me and over 100 others are here for the event. We’re just getting underway with the Deputy Chair candidates. I am sitting next to Sue Jeffers, we’ll see if we can’t get some of her comments as well. 

Dep. Chair Fleming vs Michael Brodkorb vs. Bob Swinehard

As most of you know, I am terrible at liveblogs, but I will do my best. There are no taping devices allowed in the auditorium.

Opening statements. 

Fleming thanked everyone for coming and wants to help spread the message and use technology to keep us all connected. 

Swinehart just admitted he has no state party experience other than being BPOU Chair. (AAA’s note: He reminds me of Senator Palpatine from Episode 1, but with far less experience) Wants to change the party. 

Brodkorb thanked everyone too. Agrees with Swinehart. (AAA’s note: Yep, Brodkorb can’t go after Fleming, so he is teaming up with Swinehart. I knew it. Soft jabs) Wants to grow party and win more elections. Wants increased transparency and accountability. (AAA’s note, well too bad he’s been a henchman and goon for the people who have been running the party that way. I’ve had my share of ‘heated conversations’ with him over airing party laundry)

Q#1- Can we grow the party by going left?

Swinehart: We need a bigger tent, but not by going to the left. We need to educate people about GOP principles. 

Brodkorb: Party needs to stand in contrast of the Democrats. Mccain campaign was trying to do it by going left. MN is a center right state. DFLers in office not representative of what they ran on. They ran as GOP lite. GOP needs to stay on the right.

Fleming: GOP haven’t tried standing for our principles. Isn’t a matter of being centrist, but a matter about selling people on our principles, the ones the country was founded on. 

Q#2- Day to day business, what are 3 key things that you’ll do different then the current leadership. 

Brodkorb: Investing in technology. Rebuild political operation, overstretched field staff. Quotes Swinehart again. Customer service component. 

Fleming Accountability, transparency, and honesty. We don’t need any kingmakers like how we had Ex Comm members endorsing POTUS
(Sue: Everytime Dorothy is talking, Brodkorb is nodding yes)  

Swinehart- He compliments Brodkorb and Brodkorb says thank you. (Oh yeah, they are a team folks.) Message. Means, 21st century technology. Mobilize.  (mentions party faithful, as if he is one of them, but has already admitted he is new to involvement.)

Q#3 What if your plan isn’t what others have. 

Fleming – Their plan may be better, but we need to look to the grassroots for responses, not just in the State level. The Ex board that has been elected will already bring in new technology, even if all 3 Dep Chair candidates who say they will bring it. 

Swinehart- Ability to listen s a key component. Absolutely honest and direct. Can’t even have a hint of other agendas.

Brodkorb- campaign shaped by what he’s hearing from party activists. Mentions bad lists. One thing he wants to do more then anything, wants to involve more people in the party. (oh man, from a guy who was Ron Carey’s campaign manager.) 
(Sue is getting bored)

Q#4 Specific examples how he would unify Republicans in MN

Swinehart – traveling broadly, deliver the message where the party is going and what the BPOU needs, empowering the BPOUs again. Mentions the BPOU chair caucus. Says despite the party being against it, (RON Carey!!! who Brodkorb managed his reelection) they are meeting for best practices. 

AAA’s note, I am tired of that phrase, I don’t think people even know what that means.)

Brodkorb- party has to leave June 13 unified. Proud of his campaign. Says he has no supporters of Barrack Obama n his side. ave to speak with one voice. Activists need to feel process was faitr and open. Wants to shine sunshine on the process, like nominations. (OMG!!!!!! I guess you can say anything you want. this is the guy who fought tooth and nail against Sue Jeffers in 06 and thumbed an eye at the RP crowd in Rochester.)

Fleming – Message, candidates and electied officals. We do have a message, we just need to keep speaking it. No more who’s going to rezch across the isle, need to keep our core principles. Stick to core principles when we speak and when we pick csandidates.l State party can’t intefer. And once they are elected, we need to hold officials accountable. We do want them to stand for what we elected them to do. 

(Sue- Dorothy has naled every one)

Q#5 at 08 convention, no nominations were allowed from the floor for US Senate, no ?s, and mics blocked off. 

Brodkorb- Way to never to do a convention again. reforms- open up nominations priocess – will support nominations from the floor with open transperant meetings, even if they meet on the stage in front of the convention – customer service minset. As many members as possible and in pblic. 

(please pardon my spelling) 

Fleming – No acclimation and no conflict of interest. Decision makers shouldn’t be involved in things that would be aconflict of interest. 

Swinehart- All of the same page. Things will be brought forward n the 13th that should help that. (there is a deal coming forward about a motion I have heard about) 

Q – 1 quality that sets you above the others

Fleming- people person, loves being with people and the people are our greatest resources, we just need to ask and listen to them. 

Swinehart- A lot of tools out there the party needs to put in p;lace. Improve lists, mentions Brodkorb and customer service, deliver the tools, delivering the goods, 3M . (is he geting kickbacks?)

Brodkorb- Offer specific tactical things the party used to do when he used to work there. Bad lists and no funding for tech. (again, he managed the Chair who made those decisions campaign) 

Q – What is your role as Dep Chair in relation to the Chair

Swinehart – No Constitutional role. Needs to be agreed to with Chair. Ought to be clear role. Deliverables (another word thatis overused) 

Brodkorb – lack of direction and accountability currently. Will work with who ever, trying to distance himself from Sutton by not saying he is on a ticket. 

Fleming – Sign of a good chair and leadership is someone who brings out the best in thers. It is up to the people to elect a good chair who is going to do that. If person has a great plan ” there wouldn’t be anything better then to work together on that.” 

Q- House caniddate in a DFL district expect from you and the party? 

Brodkorb – focus n every district. Ellison had 20 some staffers and did everything he could to bump up his totals to help state wide candidate. (OMG, going to need to respond to this later) Party has moved away form customer service

Fleming- ID voters and get info to BPOus and get them what they need to help those candidates. She has made phones calls in those districts. 

Swinehart – agreees with fellow candidates. lists, best possible. may be other things  in particular districts. Like tanslating into spanish or hmoeng. 

Closing remarks

Brodkorb – Thanking organizers. look forward to working with people if he wins. (me too Michael? ) His plan has been out there. Stopping a system that has a field staffer in St. Paul who also covers Intl Falls. Thanking Bob & Dorothy. “Dorothy you are one heck of a competitor. One heck of a voice for this party. Also thanked Bob. 

Swineart – Echo what michael said again, abut appearing witheach other. Message of all candidates have become more congruent. (means Chairs too) lot of good ideas floating around ot there, but who is in the right position to do them. Different candidate Never going to be the best cheerleader, bnever going to be the most brilliant, compitent orator, but was a 3m manager so he will deliver the tools. 

Fleming – mentions how she call each of them when they got in and said she hoped that the best comes out of each of them. After Nov 4, people all over wanted to be active and wanted to be involved, getting people downfor Baby Dna bill. Care so much about the issues. People didn’t say they were goign to get a 6 pack of beer and go up nrth, they cared too much. Perfectly clear to people about what our party wants. 

(please pardon my spelling, I am rapidly typing this. We’re taking a short break for the Chair’s session)

—– Oops sorry, we’re having a mini forum for the Secretary Treasurer first —– I don’t think I can do this one too. 

Ed Matthews vs. Glen Menze ( became ill and couldn’t make it) vs. Dr. Jane Stewart vs. David Sturrock vs. Mark Swanson

I’ll be honest, I don’t knwo who i am supporting in this one, so I am going to sit back and listen.

—- And now we’re on to the Chair candidates —-

Carrie Ruud vs. Tony Sutton vs. Dave Thompson 

Opening statements

Sutton – Thanks Voices. At a crossroads chatharsis. Wants to make a difference. been frustrated. Organizational and philosphical…. (AAA’s note but the guy has been a leader the last 4 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And is being supported by the outgoing Chair who screwed everything up so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   )           Took a subtle shot at Thompson by saying we’re not electing a chair to do just one thing. 

Ruud – Not running for Gov. Thanks Voices. Talking about women in elected leadership positions. Loves the idea of Voices of GOP Women. Only 7 Chairs for GOP Parties nationwide out of 55 (includes territories.) All gains for women Legislators were for DFL. Bring in women voters and get them elected. 

Thompson – Thanks. Gamechanger this week with TPaw. Changes the landscape in MN. Changes what leadership in party will have to do. Message has been fractured and we have so many people running and we’re looking for the voice to take all our elements we agree in so we know what message we’re coaleses around, no matter the Party chair. There is no presumptive nominee and he has NO ties to any potential candidate. The next endorsed candidate will be fairly elected by the grassroots. BPOUs & CDs are also going to endorse their candidates. Only faciltate the endorsement, but then help carrying the message to keep the seat in GOP hands for 2011. 

Q1 30 pitch to attract people to the GOP with out the word principles in it

Ruud – have to have the word conservative in there. Conservative familes would be her 30 soundbite.

Thompson – Common sense and reason and the kind of values we live by and apply to our own lives. MN go to church raise familes conservatively mbut go into the ballot booth and lose their minds.

Sutton –  GOP needs to be able to spell out why our message will make their lives better. let them know why GOP actions will make their lives better. freedom responsiblity making your own choices. 

Q2 Specific thing would have done different than last party chair. 

Thompson – 08 convention. Uniformly agreed handled in a shameful way. promises there will never be a convention of central meeting handld that way. We have a set of rules, we need to live by them. 

Sutton – State convention in 08. Embarassed and appalled. When he was Exec Dir, conventions were mor open. (again, this guy was sitting next to Ron Carey for the last 4 years!!!!!!!! He could have done something to stop it. Yes, what he is saying is great, but it doesn’t match the last 4 years of his record) 

Ruud – Convention is a given, but change the interference in BPOU endorsement. Eluding to the Olson flap in SD16. (mind you Olson cost us that seat and possibly the US Senate race due to his write in campaign) I know this spounds great from the outside, but I disagree)

Q ?

Sutton – figure out who we are and what we believe in. Bring everyone together to put to gether an issue agenda. Guv. endorsement will help that. House in order organizationally. Top priority, get our lists in order. Quotes Lincoln? Raise money. We can talk about message and organization, but with out money it is all for not. 

Ruud – Made a joke about Lincoln on our lists, sounded like Sutton said it. Consistant conservative message. Help our BPOUs. getting them technology, lists with out lincoln to help the BPOUs. 

Thompson – Service orgainzation from secretary to the top. All leaders need to have the sense that when they call the party the person answering will sound interested. Putting the right staff and volunteers in place who understand the mission and get the job done. The message. Focs on what we agree on. Bring to gether our message and in a way thatw e can sell it to the people. Selling ideas and candidates. Communicating by vairous groups within the party, not different levels, but groups doing different things. Wants issues updates for BPOus. 

Q 19th amendment passed – women out vote men by 5% and for DFLers by a higher margin 

Ruud – had a great teacher who she talked with about this. Talk to them about the wrong things. Only talk to them about family educ, gay rights, abortion,… we need to talk to them like business owners, fiscally conservative messages. They are business owners large, small, and in their homes. Talk to them on an equal plain, not with special mailers. 

Thompson – unfair to ask 2 men this one. Likes women so much, he married one – joke. We are the party of inclusion, not interest groups. Our core principles (he listed a bunch ot) cover all the intereest groups. Same constitution, liberty and values protect men, women, employees, employers, etc etc everyone. 

Sutton – General agreement to treat women the same. The fact is there is a gap between women voting DFL vs GOP. Need to o a better job with women, but also others based n the election results. Do need to o a better job with women thru our affiliates. mentions MEPS. Encourage women to run. State Central is on 26% ?) 

Q grassroots disconnected from BPOus – change constition for 2 spots on State Exec from BPOU Chair caucus

Thompson – Yes. We don’t have a heirarchy in the party, but rather a bunch of groups ding different things. Doesn’t know if 2 is the right number, but this group is unrepresented. 

Sutton – Yes. His plan would increase teh size f teh Ex Comm already. State party works for the activists. 

Ruud – Happy to support it if it comes from the grassroots. If it goies thru the process she wold support it. Wothy of a discussion

Q – how will you act as a champion of conservative values when the elected officials stray

Sutton – We have a platform, he is proud of it. Chair should be an advocate for platform and hold them accountable. Said he dd it in the past in 99 to legislators. (last 4 years? Hello? When we tried to bring stuff up, we got squashed!!!!!!!!!!!)   Chair should also defend people like Bachmann. 

Ruud – All comes down to communications. In 4 yrs in teh Senate, Party never paid her a visit. Develope relationship and ta;lk to them so when we do have a problem, we can go in and talk to them about it. “Carrot is better then a stick”. 

Thompson – 1oz of prevention is better then a pound of cure. Good candidastes will hopefully be endorsed. Not talking about minor deviations, but clear differences – something needs to be done. Chair may publicly disagree with one, will default to honesty. We do need to work together, but elected officials didn’t put Chair in place, it is the grassroots. Blunt, but give guidance. 

Q – during 08 POTUS Obama had clear advantage with low dollar donors, how will you solve that?

Ruud – Techno advantage. Us of technology is one key. Developing consistent conservative message so they understand they are with us. 

Thompson – Techno not an end, its a means. Use teh proper tech for the people we are trying to reach. From yrs of listening to GOPers – the phone calls When you start acting like GOPers, I’ll start giving. No one gives money when they aren’t getting a return on their investments. Elect real rconservatives. 

Sutton – 60,000 small donors in teh state now. One of the largest in teh country. No reason to rest on our laurrells. Way to get more is to give them a reason to give,. Excitement for message, candidates. Also use techno. Give them a reason to give.

Q- Who tsands with you – names of 3 most important folks and will they continue to stand with you

Thompson – Does not feel comfortable without permission to name them publically but has a list on his website of lots of good people. And will continue to count on them. 

Sutton – will name 2 – His wife. Joanne Muller his political mentor from 1984 in Hibbing. Broad campaign

Ruud – Dick Rostad, her husband. Bill & Ginny Stewart, her 93yo parents who were active Delegates up tl last year.

Q- How will you work with gorups like TPL & MN Maj. 

Sutton – with in legal restrictions, but must do better. Not reinvent the wheel, but work closer together where legal. 

Ruud – Partner with them. DFL does wonderful job, we have great resources, but we aren’t sharing our resources and knowledge. All boils down to communication. 

Thompson – Curent leadership discourages 3rd party groups fom providng a voice in the debate. have to toe legal line, but as Chair he can rely on folks who are incredible thinkers and have ideas on how to communicate the conservative message. must be encoruaged to assist us. 

Q- As chair would you work in lockestep with RNC if they are on the right path?

Ruud – strong GOP infrustructure, Cds, then we can deal with them as a one on one equal partner. Shouldn’t have to take orders, btu walk hand in hand. 

Thompson – No should do what is best for MN. Dirty secret is we can get money. Like Feds, they usually wrap strings around any money we get. Consult with CDs & BPOUs how we are going to get money if we turn down RNC money. 

Sutton – Do things the MN way. Not a fan of national cookie cutter campaigns and 72 plan. Duluth and Virginia are different. Has experience. Won’t roll over, but we need a relationship because theyw ant to win too. 

Closings

Thompson – Thanks. People quality products. Those of us who are in the grassroots, plus right people in staff and party levels. Get best people in the right places and motivate the volunteers. Quality comes down to message. Coherent and taht we can sell to MN. And quality candidates. Profit. first 2 aspects service org and quality message and candidates – the oney will follow. The small donors will come back and we will win. Large donors need to get back on board in an individual basis so they know our money is being well used. 

Sutton – Thanks. Can make a difference. has the skill set the party needs now. He has doen it already. (again, where has this guy been the last 4 years?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) He can offer the party the tools he has when it needs it most. Some BPOUs didnt hold conventions this year, sign of atrophy of the party. We need to help them rebuild in all aspects.  No state search comm this last year, he was shocked, first time. Not a rotary club, MNGOP. Do a disservice when we are not maximzed and motivated. He thinks he can help lead in the right direction and help rebuild the party

Ruud – Thanks. last 2 months incredible time meeting and visiting with everyone in the state. She brings 360 degrees of experience. Been hooked since her first caucus. been involved in all the various jobs n the BPOU level. Also have grassroot campaign experience in BPOU and as a candidate. (huh, she ran in a primary against teh endorsed candidate but complains about Olson) She has Legislative experience. Co author of Personal Protection act. Brings a variety of experiences. Join the Ruud awakening next Saturday. 

————————

The end. Again, please pardon the spelling and jumpiness of this. Since they won’t allow cameras and recorders, I did the liveblog. It is atrocious, I know, but I was here, you weren’t. 

I did my best to capture what was said as best as possible. I know it is not complete, nor is it 100% accurate. But again I was here. I was going to tape it and post. 

Disclaimer. If I mischaracterized anything from a candidate, please let me know. I did my best, and ( yes I through some opinion in there. )

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 4th, 2009 at 7:20 pm and is filed under MNGOP Reform, Minnesota, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.