Sen. Wellstone's Shameful Send-Off
Reprinted from NewsMax.com
Tom Marsland
Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2002Listeners to my radio talk show besieged me via e-mail this morning, all expressing horror and disgust at last evening's tasteless function ostensibly to honor the Wellstones. The stink-fest morphed without conscience into a political event. It was carried free of charge for over three hours by local TV stations ... in full! And carried nationally in part by FOX and CNN ... FOR FREE! Free political advertising – unbelievable!
I am not a Republican, but as a moral conservative it is hard to believe we could ever recover in this election year ... recover, that is, from this 'assault' by both 'local and national media' in concert with the 'left'.
Here are snippets of the scores of comments made by my listeners:
"I could understand a final DFL plug at the very end to maintain Wellstone's legacy, but three hours of free televised coverage of nothing short of a DFL national convention was downright exploitive and entirely unsuitable and tasteless." Jackie from Isanti
"I liked to consider myself a centrist, as I tried to not be too swayed by either majority party. This year however, I am voting strictly Republican as I cannot find anything more in common with the Democrats, and I don't feel especially drawn to any independent party candidates. They do not stand for many of the things that I believe in any more." Mark The Unitarian
"We Christians have to have our own RALLY!" Kathy M.
"Remember, liberalism is their religion. This is what makes them feel good about themselves and fills the spiritual vacuum that God has placed in each of our souls." David Wheaton, pro-tennis player
"Not only do the liberals get three inch headlines in the local socialist papers with their new candidates name but also three hours of air time on TV! FREE!!! I have not been a huge Coleman fan in the past mostly because he switched from DFL to GOP. But through this he gets an A+. If anything this solidified my support and backing for him and FURTHER distanced me from the DFL." Mitch O.
"My husband and I watched, although we disagree completely with Paul Wellstone's ideas, out of respect for – well, for the dead. We became sickened by a memorial that became a political rally." Laura Adelmann, Journalist
"The duplicity and sheer chutzpah of the Democrats should not surprise anyone. They rail at Republicans for even mentioning politics "until the dead bodies are in the grave," and then do this shameless info-mercial and think they are holy." Dave Racer, author and candidate for the Minnesota State Senate
"TV anchors Paul Majors and Diana Pierce and a professor from U of M all agreed that the Republicans would have the right to ask for equal "free" air time. Paul kept referring to the fact that KARE-11 contracted to cover this because it was promised to be a memorial service only." Joyce Harley, host of "In Focus," AM 980 KKMS, Minneapolis
"Who got up and walked out in what looked like disgust last night? Jesse Ventura. He was much more the statesman last night in my book." Wallace A.
A well-known local pastor wrote regarding comments made on behalf of Sen. Wellstone's "fight" for women and children's safety: "Excuse me, senator Harkin; weren't you and Wellstone the same senators that wanted us to avoid removing tyrants like Saddam Hussein – a man who has singlehandedly murdered hundreds of thousands of women and children in his bid for control over his nation? Aren't you the same two senators who have wholeheartedly supported the murder of millions of babies and deceived countless women in our nation to believe that abortion is just a medical procedure and not murder and destruction of real live babies? What hypocrisy!" Rev. Richard Ensrud
"I was horrified by the blatant partisan nature of what was really a political pep rally. The media complied with it 100%. I can only hope that Minnesota voters will realize what has happened and penalize the DFL in a full rebuke on election day." Rick M.
"Stink, stank, stunk!" Jill R.
"I feel really bad for the family members of those who died and were not politicians. Their memories have been used for political reasons and they had no say in it." Rob I.
"The only thing it lacked were balloons dropped from the ceiling. It took on a carnival atmosphere – typical of the Clinton era. Lacked dignity." Elizabeth, a listener
"If this isn't the lowest, sickest political scam I've ever seen, I'll eat my hat." Keith R.
"It's not only a slap in the face of respectful Republicans who agreed not to campaign, but to the person and legacy of Paul Wellstone." Tory K.
"I was struck by the dual standard that appeared to have been applied." Bob Somers
"I sent a letter to Channels 4, 5, 9, and 11 asking for equal time for President Bush's upcoming visit." Mark V.
"It amazes me that people didn't see this coming! I was not surprised at all, let's wake up people! All is fair in love and war and politics!" Russell L., Advertising Photographer
"I have three points: 1. These people have no shame! 2. They claimed to be standing on PW's shoulders. They were not. They were trampling on his grave. Bulldozing it, actually. 3. These people have no shame!" Richard J.
"Amen." Tom Marsland
Tom Marsland is the talk show host of "Tom's Place," 4-6 p.m. CST on the nationwide Salem Radio Network's AM 980 KKMS in Minneapolis, Minn. A noted speaker, Tom writes cultural, political and religious commentary for the Assist News Service, the Minnesota Christian Chronicle and others. E-mail Tom at tom@kkms.com
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