The evening also featured Jason Lewis. Click here.
A panel comprised of Ron Carey (Republican Party of Minnesota Chairman), Dan McElroy (Department of Employment and Economic Development Commissioner), and Mike Osskopp (Office Director for Congressman John Kline) spoke to and fielded questions from a gathering of 70 or so Senate District 40 Republican activists and friends at Benchwarmer Bob's in Burnsville. Bill Peterson (former state representative from Bloomington) served as the moderator. |
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Chairman Carey lamented that the federal budget has increased 41% since President Bush took office, and emphasized that our party needs to start acting like Republicans again. The best thing going for the Republican Party now are the Democrats, who are already raising taxes. There needs to be a sharp contrast between what it means to be a Republican versus a Democrat. |
| Commissioner McElroy asserted that Republicans lost because the party activists weren't mad enough (at what the Democrats were doing) and didn't work hard enough. Minnesota House and Senate seats were lost that should never be lost, like Burnsville which is being represented by liberals for the first time in forty years. |
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Mr. Osskopp was adamant that President Bush and the war didn't cost Republicans the election. Congressman John Kline supports the President and the war effort, and was re-elected by a wide margin. Elections are won by getting to the basics, like voter identification and knocking on doors. The party faithful are asked to volunteer one day a week, write a check, and take Election Day off for party work. |
Audience Questions Fielded |
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Considering that all the major news outlets in this state are largely liberal, what can Republicans do to get the conservative message across? The most effective marketing tool is between people who know each other. We need to talk to people. Everyone has a network of about 250 people they know. Also, call into radio talk shows and write letters to the editor. Letters to local newspapers will be more effective than ones to the Star Tribune or Pioneer Press. Are some of the Governor's stands on issues such as gambling, light rail, and stadiums hurting the conservative cause? Republicans are not always going to agree on all issues. The question is how small will the box be that constitutes a loyal Republican? Although there might be disagreements with the Governor, the election of Mike Hatch would have been a disaster. To what extent do Republicans need to agree on the platform? The challenge is to make the platform more relevant to the average Minnesotan. The party needs to communicate what it means to be a conservative, rather than letting the other party define the meaning. What should the state party plan to do to further build and energize the grass roots? Republican state legislators must fight for conservative values. The differences between the parties must be defined. The Governor must veto tax increases, and the vetoes must be upheld.
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Bill Belanger and Todd Johnson |
Daron Van Helden and Duke Powell |
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Esther and Vern Hochstatter |
Connie Mack, Mary Ann Sarkinen, and Don Sarkinen |
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Cindy Whitehair and Andrea Erickson |
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