DSCC release on Coleman/Rove

[Dickie Flatt]

COLEMAN TO ROVE: “THANKS FOR EVERYTHING!”



Norm Coleman is paying back his political patrons Karl Rove and George Bush today, picking up the hatchet for the White House and doing its dirty work. At a press conference this afternoon in Washington, Coleman attacked Joe Wilson, the husband of the covert CIA agent whose identity was made public. If Norm Coleman spent as much time focusing on Minnesota as he does protecting George Bush, Karl Rove and the White House, there’s a remote chance he might be a more effective Senator.



Karl Rove Handpicked Coleman for U.S. Senate Seat. “(I)n Minnesota, Rove recruited Norm Coleman…to run against liberal icon Paul Wellstone. When Wellstone was killed in a plane crash shortly before the election, Rove made the decision to have Bush return to the state in the final weekend to plug Coleman, who ultimately defeated former Vice President Walter Mondale.” (Houston Chronicle, 11/9/02)



Karl Rove Cleared the GOP Primary Field for Coleman. In 2002, Rove reportedly called Norm Coleman’s primary opponent to clear the field for Norm Coleman’s nomination. Rove enabled Coleman “to build the momentum” that propelled him into the U.S. Senate. (Vancouver Sun, 11/7/02)



Rove and Bush Were Essential to Coleman’s Victory, Fighting For Him From Start to Finish. In 2002, President Bush “plunged his prestige into the race” for his Senate seat, traveling to a rally for Coleman nine days after Wellstone’s death. The Washington Post reported, “Vice President Cheney and Bush senior adviser Karl Rove cleared the way for Coleman by leaning on Tim Pawlenty, the Minnesota House majority leader, to scrap his plans to run. Coleman, who had formed an exploratory committee to run against Gov. Jesse Ventura (I), then decided to run against Wellstone after strolling with Bush in the Rose Garden.” (Washington Post, 11/4/02)



NORM COLEMAN’S HOMELAND SECURITY RECORD IS NOTHING TO BE PROUD OF…

Coleman Voted Against $2.7 Billion in Additional Funding For Counterterrorism. In 2003, Coleman voted against an amendment that would increase spending for the counterterrorism provision by $2.7 billion, including increases of $200 million for the Coast Guard, $366 million for the Customs Service and border protection, $1 billion for the Transportation Security Administration, $225 million for the FBI, and increased spending on the FBI and other agencies. (S 762, 4/3/03, #119)



Coleman Opposed Increasing Funding by $93.2 Million to Train Bio-Terrorism Workers. In 2003, Coleman voted against an amendment to increase funding by $93.2 million to train members of the bio-terrorism workforce, including funding “to double the number of outbreak specialists in the Epidemic Intelligence Service,” in accordance with the recommendation of the Center for Disease Control’s National Advisory Committee on Children and Terrorism. “These EIS specialists are dispatched to respond to epidemics and bio-terrorism.” (HR 2660, 9/5/03, #328; Hillary Clinton, Floor Statement, 9/5/03)



Coleman Voted Against $1.6 Billion for First Responders. In 2005, Coleman voted against an amendment that would increase funding for first responder programs by $1.6 billion in fiscal 2006 and reduce the federal debt by $1.6 billion. It would be offset by a $3.2 billion reduction in tax reconciliation provisions. (S Con Res 18, 3/15/05, #50)



Coleman Opposed Additional First Responder Funding. In 2004, Coleman voted against an amendment that would have created a reserve fund that would allow up to $11.2 billion in additional spending. A portion of these funds would have gone to law enforcement and first responder grants. (S Con Res 95, 3/11/04, #48)


Coleman Opposed $15.8 Billion for First Responders. In 2004, Coleman voted against increasing funding for police, firefighters and other state and local emergency personnel by $15.8 billion. (HR 4567, 9/9/04, #170)



Coleman Opposed Increasing Homeland Security Funding by $1.1 Billion. In 2004, Coleman voted against an amendment to create a reserve fund that would allow up to $1.1 billion in additional funding for law enforcement programs. (S Con Res 95, 3/11/04, #44)



Coleman Opposed $6.8 Billion for Homeland Security Programs. In 2004, Coleman voted against an amendment to provide an additional $6.8 billion for homeland security, including $4.4 billion for first responders and $900 million for port security, with the $6.8 billion offset by reducing tax breaks for those with annual income of more than $1 million. (S Con Res 95, 3/11/04, #50)

[MnFats]

1. Time to bombard Coleman's office with phone calls? Remember,

if you can't get yourself worked up to maul Coleman, that he declared himself "a 99 percent improvement over Wellstone."

Fucker is haunted by the fact that he could not have won a straight-up race against the incumbent, Paul Wellstone, and he knows it. He does not deserve to be in the U.S. Senate but will do anythng for anyone who can help him stay there.

[CatholicEdHead]

2. Boy, with each thing Normy owes them more and more and more...

He is a joke now. He cut a deal which was only good for the White House. He is a disgrace being the lead waterboy all the time.

[cosmicdot]

3. "Rove and Bush Were Essential to Coleman’s Victory,"

****Minneapolis Star-Tribune Poll on Nov. 3 for Minnesota Senate
Walter Mondale (D) 46%
Norm Coleman (R) 41%

** "Official Results" from the 'Diebold Electronic Voting Machines' on Nov. 5
Norm Coleman (R) 50%
Walter Mondale (D) 47%


“(I)n Minnesota, Rove recruited Norm Coleman…to run against liberal icon Paul Wellstone. When Wellstone was killed in a plane crash shortly before the election, Rove made the decision to have Bush return to the state in the final weekend to plug Coleman, who ultimately defeated former Vice President Walter Mondale.” (Houston Chronicle, 11/9/02)