Face-off in Mankato

Posted: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 4:40 PM by Elizabeth Wilner
Filed Under: Security

From MSNBC.com's Tom Curry
"Who would have thought that Mankato, MN would be the center of the political universe?" asked an amused Bryan Anderson, the campaign spokesman for Rep. Gil Gutknecht (R), who is locked in a tough re-election fight against Democrat Tim Walz.

"Come join Tim Walz in welcoming Senator Kerry to Minnesota's First District!" says the Walz release. The suddenly much more newsworthy Kerry is the guest star at a Walz rally in Mankato at 12 noon Wednesday. Walz, a harsh critic of the Iraq war, has repeatedly invoked his own service in the Army National Guard as a candidate credential.

The Kerry-Walz rally will come just an hour after Sen. John McCain -- fiercely critical of Kerry's comment about poor academic performers ending up in uniform in Iraq --appears in Mankato to whip up support for the GOP ticket headed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

Walz campaign spokeswoman Meredith Salsbery said Walz is on the road in the far western part of the district and has not yet commented on the Kerry furor. At this hour, the Kerry event is still scheduled to proceed as planned.

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Comments

As a Viet Nam Vet I can appreciate how the troops in Iraq feel. After all, a Democrat, Dona Shalala, said of our generation " at least they didn't send the best and the brightest to Viet Nam." Now another Democrat, John Kerry has his turn, he should know better. Oh, that's right he was in Viet Nam, too. Maybe Shalala was right.

Kip Bowley, Maui, Hawaii (Sent Tuesday, October 31, 2006 8:28 PM)

Why is the media pandering to the right wingers by misreporting Kerry's comment? Read the actual comments, folks. Why would Kerry, someone who cares deeply about the troops (having served himself), degrade them like that? Very obviously he was talking about Bush and his cronies getting us into Iraq, not the brave soldiers there.

Tyler, Seattle, Wash. (Sent Wednesday, November 01, 2006 12:14 AM)

Tyler you have finally asked the question I want answered: what motive would Kerry have in bashing the troops, especially since he is a VETERAN. He has plenty of motives for bashing a president that does live in a state of denial. I am disappointed in the all the lemmings jumping onto this bandwagon. Mr. McCain, who once had my support, shows he too is in lock-step with this failed administration.

Kay Stack, Clarksville, TN (Sent Wednesday, November 01, 2006 7:01 AM)

It is the Bushites who are villains and who deserve to be disrespected. The current administration vilifies and disrespects our combat veterans who speak out, in doing so it disrespects the service and sacrifices of all, past and present, who have been in combat for this country. As with the 25 year long "police action" in Vietnam, increasing numbers of military veterans, past and present, who actually served in combat, are speaking out against every facet of the Iraqi invasion and occupation. They are not the ones who are showing disrespect for out active service personnel. They are the ones who respect the worth of the lives and health of every person who serves in the military. For them the hardships, fear, injuries, and deaths are facts, not political fodder.

Margaret Barton, Machias, Maine (Sent Wednesday, November 01, 2006 7:01 AM)

I would hardly say that the media is pandering to the right. That never happens. The media goes wherever there is a hint of a story and they sensationalize it. That is what is happening here. Kerry said something stupid and whether he mispoke or not the media has found a "red-meat" story within a week of the election. For all you "blue staters" out there don't worry, some Republican will inevitably say something stupid and then the media will shift its focus to that.

Ryan, Michigan (Sent Wednesday, November 01, 2006 8:36 AM)

Well, politics is mostly about perception. Kerry may have been taking a shot at Bush, and his idiotic decisions on Iraq, but he should know that anything he says will be edited into a soundbite that will be used as fodder against his party. The statement was clumsy and inept, and coming a week before all-important mid-term elections, jeopardizes his parties chances. I'm concerned because this is the Dems best chance to make a dent in the Republican's monopoly on power, and they can't afford a loose cannon. Misinterpreted or not, the Republicans are using Kerry's comments to fire up their base, and Democratic strategists, who have worked their butts off to get the party within striking distance of victory, are rightfully furious.

Kim, Crofton Md. (Sent Wednesday, November 01, 2006 8:43 AM)

Kerry has cancelled the event. It's on your own front page.

Alex, Williamsburg VA (Sent Wednesday, November 01, 2006 8:48 AM)

the repubs are just trying to change the subject to anything but bushes iraq quagmire where americans are dying everyday. the fact is the military run commercials where getting an education for signing up is a big play. im a viet vet and ex-marine and even back then getting educational benefitrs was a major factor for people signing up. bush will scream and shout like a hystyerical old women about anything and everything to muddy the water.

mikeeg,abdn,wa (Sent Wednesday, November 01, 2006 9:02 AM)

As a fairly independant Republican, is this all we have left to talk about. John Kerry is a has been and bring him up on the campaign trail again and again and again suggest we have nothing to talk about but past glories. He's a lame distraction for the next day or two. We need IDEAS and until we refocus on them, our party will suffer. I almost want to get this whole election to be over with so we can start the process of rebuilding. My advise to the Dems, lock up John Kerry until after 2008.

Dan, Stamford, CT (Sent Wednesday, November 01, 2006 9:14 AM)

you libs make me laugh. That may have been what he ment, but Freud was no dummy. He may have been trying to take a shot at bush, but that is NOT what came out of his mouth.

kristi, dallas, tx (Sent Wednesday, November 01, 2006 3:03 PM)

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