A little bird in Minneapolis sent me an invitation.
Not, it’s not to me. It was to someone else – for a $100/plate fundraiser for Minneapolis’ Ward 3 Councilcritter Diane Hofstede, featuring Governor Dayton, Rep. Phyllis Kahn,City Council president Barbara Johnson, and a galaxy of Minneapolis DFL stars.
Not my kind of crowd.
The interesting bit, though, is the stationery.
That’s City of Minneapolis stationery.
For an election fundraiser, this coming Thursday night.
Is this kosher?
Or is this just another of the petty little bits of corruption that attend life in a one-party city?
UPDATE: I’m informed that the letter and the use of the letterhead is kosher. It says “not printed at taxpayers expense” in the lower left corner.
That answers that question…
Of course it’s kosher, it’s Minneapolis and it’s the DFL. Anything the Bolsheviks want is kosher.
Throw out the spurious accusation, then find out there’s absolutely nothing to it? Nice, how professional.
Ears,
Accuse someone of unprofessionalism, completely ignoring the fact that he posted the correction – exactly as a professional does.
Nice. How typical of a liberal.
Legal? Apparently. Ethical? Hardly. Using the stationery of civic organization to promote a fundraiser for a single political party implies an endorsement by that organization, even if tax-dollars aren’t used. Why use the City Council’s letterhead at all? It doesn’t pass the smell test – unless the pervading stench of corruption in City Hall makes it impossible to identify other odors.
Just out of curiosity, what if the letterhead were used to promote a “Christmas” (not Holiday) party?
Mitch,
A priofessional wouldn’t publish until he knew for a fact his posting was true and accurate. The fact that you see no problem in throwing out a baseless accusation, then issuing an “update” pointing out how the original accusation had no merit? And your response is to label me a “liberal”? Nice, albeit weak attempt at misdirection. Try putting as much lipstick on that pig as you can, but it’s still 3rd rate, amateurish journalism. Maybe give ‘er another go again tomorrow.
Regardless the disclaimer “not printed at taxpayers expense”, I just think it’s bad form to use city letterhead in a fund raiser invite letter. I’ve never liked getting mail from Michelle Bachmann on “US House of Representatives” letterhead extolling her accomplishments (sometimes with a questionaire on issues, sometimes not) in what was really no more than an ad for her. Appreciate that it’s the power of incumbancy and all but why not raise your money or support using your own or DFL or Republican letterhead and leave the institution you are a part of out of it.
Ears,
Doh, you’re onto me. I’m not a “professional”.
News flash – I’m not. I’m a blogger.
I shoot for factuality – and hit it every bit as consistently as the mainstream media does. On some issues, much better than the mainstream media or any of my critics.
And when I’m not sure of the facts (and the question isn’t defamatory)? I sometimes ask questions. As I did in the post above. Is it “professional?”
No, but either am I.
Duly noted.
Because whatever the actual legalities are (whatever my questions about it may be), I’m with Seflores.
Ears –
Did you ever comment back on the question of your posting a link that purported to say that Ginny Morris was a conservative when it did not?
Just wondering.
For the record, I just looked back at http://www.shotinthedark.info/wp/?p=24387&cpage=1#comment-98176 and find that Ears never responded.
So much for “A priofessional wouldn’t publish until he knew for a fact his posting was true and accurate.” Different standards for others and one’s self?
Of course, what is a priofessional anyway?
City Business?
To be a “professional journalist” you would have to post a correction on a separate part of the web site, preferably a part that no one reads, and do so at some indeterminate future time. That’s how the “professionals” do it. Posting it right below the original article with a prominent “UPDATE” label reeks of honesty and humility, so you can see why it offends Earsall Mackbee.