Political Notebook

Carlson weighs in on Brodkorb and marriage amendment

Former Republican Gov. Arne Carlson was in town last night to talk about his opposition to the Voter ID amendment, but during his presentation he spent some time talking about fired Senate staffer Michael Brodkorb. In particular, he focused on Brodkorb's assertion that the marriage amendment was put on the ballot primary as a way to turn out the Republican base.

"Michael Brodkorb is back in the news. As one political observer said, 'He is the gift that keeps giving,'" Carlson said getting laughs from the crowd.

The former governor went on to talk about the idea that putting the  marriage amendment on the ballot was all about partisan gain.

"How interesting it is to know that while these senators were rolling in each others' beds they were blaming the gay community for violating and threatening the sanctity of marriage. What a novel approach," he said.

Brordkorb was fired from his job as Senate communications director and it was later revealed he had been having an affair with then-Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch. He is suing the Senate arguing he was improperly terminated because other staff who have had affairs with legislators were not fired but moved into other positions. Carlson said he expects Brodkorb "probably will do quite well" in his lawsuit.

 

Walz to help launch 'Veterans United' to defeat marriage amendment

1st District DFL Rep. Tim Walz is helping launch a new group tomorrow called "Veterans United" aimed at helping defeat the marriage amendment.

The group is a coalition of veterans of the armed services that oppose the constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, according to a news release. Walz will be joined by Lori and Jeff Wilfahrt, whose openly-gay soldier son Andrew was killed while on a tour of duty in Afghanistan in 2011. The group is connected to Minnesotans United for All Families, the main organization fighting against the marriage amendment. The kick-off will be at 10 a.m. at the state Capitol.

Walz has already spoken out against this amendment and has supported efforts to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act at the federal level. The Mankato Democrat served 24 years in the Minnesota Army National Guard and retired after achieving the rank of command sergeant major. He is the highest ranking enlisted soldier to serve in Congress.

Veterans United plans to tour the state in the weeks before the Nov. 6 election to urge defeat of the amendment. Walz's opponent, Republican Allen Quist, has said he supports the constitutional amendment, which would define marriage as being between one woman and one man.

It's interesting to note that Richard Carlbom is heading up the Minnesotans United's campaign efforts. He previously worked as Walz's campaign manager.

 

 

 

 

Ventura volunteers to fight marriage amendment

Former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura said both he and former First Lady Terry Ventura have pledged to do whatever they can to help defeat a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage.

"I certainly hope that people don't amend our constitution to stop gay marriage because number one the constitution is there to protect people — not oppress them," Ventura said in a recent interview.

In November, Minnesota voters will decide whether to amend the state's constitution to define marriage as between one man and one woman.

Ventura said the issue is personal for him because when he was a professional wrestler he had a friend who was gay who had been with his partner for more than 20 years. One day, he said his friends' partner got sick and he was unable to be by his bedside because hospital rules only allowed spouse or next of kin.

"And because they are not allowed to be married he's neither. That's cruel," he said.

Ventura said he believes the majority should not be able to make decisions about the civil rights of a minority.

"If you did that, we would still have slavery because the majority isn't going to think about the minority," he said. "You have to have politicians with courage who will stand up and say this is a civil rights issue, and where do we get off that the government should decide who you should fall in love with and marry?"