The DFL’s Edina Brahmins
By Mitch Berg
Why does the DFL hate the First Amendment?
Trackers – interns for various campaigns and groups filming footage of politicians giving speeches and doing other public appearances – have been a fixture of Minnesota political life for at least a decade now. Most politicians – and by “most” I mean “everyone I’ve encountered, from every party, so far” – accepts that with good grace, and tries not to say something stupid.
Apparently “good grace” is beyond DFL Rep. Paul Rosethal, from District 49B in Edina:
“You’re in the Edina City Hall. You’re not allowed to be here without their permission to film. So I’d appreciate your leaving,” Rosenthal said in an exchange posted on YouTube.
“It doesn’t matter. It’s a public building” replied [photographer Ethan] Hellier.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” said Rosenthal, moving in front of the camera.
Clever, Mr. Rosenthal.
At least, compared to representative Ron Erhardt, from District 498, who seems to be going more and more Tony Soprano as he gets older (With emphasis gleefully added):
Rep. Ron Erhardt, a Democrat, took a different approach.
“Do you know what would happen to that thing if we dropped it? Probably wouldn’t work very well. Now would you back off please?” Erhardt said.
At least he isn’t threatening to blow Mr. Helier’s head off.
Dear Edina – these are the thugs you sent to StPaul in 2012. Let’s shoot for better this time, okay?
September 24th, 2014 at 8:46 am
Edina needs to face the reality that they share the fate of most first ring suburbs that embrace the same political values as their core city, eventually they become the dumping ground for the social effluvia the core city produces. While they trudge willingly downmarket they are easy victims of thugs like Erhardt and Rosenthal.
They get exactly the representation they deserve.
September 24th, 2014 at 9:16 am
It’s going to be a long and protracted battle in Edina of the moneyed and their property values vs. the inevitable outward push of the subsidized class. Unless the economic collapse occurs and civilization returns to foraging and crime for survival, I anticipate that Edina is gentrified enough to be able to resist the the pressures of poverty (due to neighborhoods like Interlachen, 50th/France, Tracy/Vernon/62) for a couple more decades.
September 24th, 2014 at 9:19 am
Lower in profile, but just as big of a liar, is Michelle Franzen. Stood on my front step last election cycle, while my neighbor was running against Paul Rosenthal, and told me that she was fiscally responsible. She then signs off on a project that would benefit her husband’s company and for the new DFL shrine.
September 24th, 2014 at 9:50 am
Oh, and Erhardt’s just as much of an unruly thug as Franken is. He just realizes that he’s in his 70s and can’t do a flying tackle at his age.
September 24th, 2014 at 9:52 am
Erhardt’s in his mid-80s, not 70s.
September 24th, 2014 at 10:11 am
It’s very interesting how government elites–I think of both parties but especially the Democrats–are so against recording devices. One would think that if they were on the up& up, they’d welcome the ability to “roll tape” when a dispute arose, and would welcome the calming effect that the possibility of “Roll tape” might have.
Of course, if they are not on the up& up, I can see why they wouldn’t want to “roll tape.” Just sayin’.
September 24th, 2014 at 10:34 am
bb; for the most part, the DFL only likes those recordings when it hurts their opposition, ala Romney’s 47% footage.
September 24th, 2014 at 11:55 am
Erhardt has outlived his usefulness by a decade…according to Ezekiel Emanual.
September 24th, 2014 at 2:30 pm
FR: Then he really won the genetic lottery. I have met very few 80-something men who were of sound enough mind and body that they could convice anyone they were still fit for public office.
September 25th, 2014 at 3:55 pm
I was there but not for this. A woman told me after the forum that I shouldn’t have talked during the forum I said fuck you and probably set the tone for this. Wish I would have stayed