To: Senator Scott Jensen
From: Mitch Berg, Obstreporous Peasant
Re: Quitcherbeefin’.
Senator Jensen,
Back in 2016, you ran as a gun-friendly candidate. You gladly accepted the endorsement of the MN Gun Owners PAC.
And then you turned around in the 2018 session, when Everytown for Gun “Safety” started pumping money into the state, and stabbed you pro-human-rights supporters in the back.
And judging by this Facebook post, you don’t seem to get why what’s left of your “base” is upset with you today:
For the benefit of those not following along at home, the Senator is talking about this photo:
It was taken the opening day of the MN State Legislature, on Tuesday. It’s Jensen, spooning with a couple of suburban gun-grabber soccer moms from Moms Want Action.
And now, Senator Jensen, you’re upset that your real supporters – well, former supporters – are taking umbrage at you for cuddling up with the Criminal Safety movement.
No, it’s not you. It’s us, naturally…: “Mean spirited pushiness has halted discussion of important issues” you say. No – the illiteracy, cowardice and inherent bullying nature of the gun grabber movement has halted discussion, Senator Jensen.
You picked the wrong side.
No, seriously – remember Dario Anselmo? The Republican who spoke at the Moms Want Action rally last fall, trying to ingratiate himself with the gun grabbers? Who went and endorsed an actual Democrat who wound up riding into office on a wave of out-of-state money that Anselmo never had the faintest shot at, anyway?
Ringing any bells, Senator?
Repent.
That is all.
Dear Rep. Jensen:
You are free to take your photo or have dinner with anybody you like. We are free to draw inferences about your political inclinations based on who you like.
You are free to candidly express your opinion on any topics you like. We are free to disagree with your opinions, and to support candidates whose opinions more closely match our own.
In a nation as sharply divided as ours, the people you associate with and the opinions you express will cause at least half the voters to oppose you and actively seek someone to replace you.
None of this is mean-spirited. None of this is deplorable. This is how the American system operates. If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
What good is “polite dialogue” when the side you have chosen wants neither “polite” nor “dialogue”? They call names, shout down, denounce and generally spew hatred at those who disagree, while spouting the most insane talking points and demanding no rebuttal be allowed. A man is known by the company he keeps, and don’t tell us you’re just “listening to both sides.”
No, seriously – remember Dario Anselmo? The Republican who spoke at the Moms Want Action rally last fall, trying to ingratiate himself with the gun grabbers? Who went and endorsed an actual Democrat who wound up riding into office on a wave of out-of-state money that Anselmo never had the faintest shot at, anyway?
No kidding. Erik Paulsen got the same treatment and now we have Beto O’Phillips in the House. These are not your friends, Sen. Jensen.
I may have been too hasty. Maybe the senator had a bad day. Maybe he’s just inexperienced and needs some coaching advice. Let me offer mine.
First, Sen. Jensen is a family practice physician. He’s a smart guy. He has a responsible job. I believe he genuinely wants to do the right thing for his patients, and for his constituents. And as a state senator, he does represent all the people in his district, even moms who demand action and people whose lives matter and people who want Minnesota to be a sanctuary for criminals. When those people want to meet with him, he should meet with them and hear their concerns.
But. Then he should compare their requests with his own internal ethical and moral guidelines, his conscience, and decide whether their requests align with his values. If not, he should make that clear. It can be done in a nice way, with calm explanation instead of heated argument, but it must be done both for their sake (so they know you’re not on their side) and for yours (so we know you’re still on our side). In an age when everything a politician does is instantly broadcast, but most people read only the headlines and glance at the photos, it’s easy to understand why people would draw the wrong conclusion from the photo. The state legislature isn’t the school board anymore. The consequences are more important so the fighting is more vicious. Learn new rules.
Shaking hands with visitors to your office? Taking a photo with them? Expected behavior in an elected official. President Trump would do the same with Nancy Pelosi and we know for damned sure there’s no love between them. That photo with the two moms, taken in the Capitol, is an example. No problem with that.
Senator, the problem is the later Facebook post. Instead of blaming your base for drawing the wrong conclusion, you could have invited some orange-shirt gun rights supporters to some take their photo with you. You could have said “My door is open to everyone, but that doesn’t mean I agree with everyone I meet. My principles have not changed.”
People can respect a person who listens and thinks carefully before deciding to disagree. People cannot respect a person who whines about working conditions in a job he chose to do.
It’s not enough to be a smart, caring, good man. Republicans have been sending them to St. Paul for decades, only to fail when they encounter ruthless, amoral zealots. You also need to know how to fight back, nicely, but firmly.
Or else go Full Trump on their a**. That work, too.
*Applause* to JD