DFL uses God's name to mock pastors.

DFL uses God's name to mock pastors.
Make sure to vote your biblical values on November 2.

Will last minute attack on catholics and evangelicals by DFL Party and Melendez cost DFLers' elections?

This not so subtle attack on Catholics and evangelicals by the DFL party through a series of post cards mailed out in a local state Senate district may cost DFL'ers in the elections Tuesday. The problem was only compounded by DFL party chair Brian Melendez who didn't apologize for the postcards but, in fact, defended them saying they were good ads.

His response evidences not only arrogance and an anti-Catholic and evangelical Christian bias but political tone deafness.

It's reported that DFL Catholic elected officials are livid by their party's actions. They are facing tight, tough local, legislative races which could turn on a controversy ad like this.

The fact that Dayton and his family have given $900,000 to the DFL Party and Tom Emmer who is Catholic could mean the controversy could spill over to the tight governor's race.

I came across this interview with Jeff Blodgett who talked about the impact last minute political blunders can have. Blodgett was the campaign manager for Paul Wellstone in 1990 when Rudy Boschwitz sent out a letter to Jewish leaders calling for their support over the less observant Paul Wellstone. It upset many non-Jewish voters. Some say it impacted the outcome of the election. Here's what Blodgett said about last minute blunders.

"Rule No. 1 in politics," said Blodgett, "is don't do something that becomes an issue itself."

If it's so basic, why does the rule seem to be violated so frequently?

"In a campaign, you have to be careful because you can end up losing perspective," said Blodgett.

At some point in a campaign, politics gets personal, and the personal gets emotional. Your candidate is good. The other candidate is evil.

"It's a big mistake when one campaign ends up hating the other campaign," Blodgett said.

We'll see what the political impact of this attack on catholics and evangelicals is Tuesday.

Minnesota is on the verge of passing marriage "equality"

This post card from Outfront Minnesota validates MFC's warning that "Minnesota is on the verge of passing [homosexual] marriage...". And, that a vote for Mark Dayton is the way to do it.

Emmer is the only candidate that believes the people of Minnesota should be able to vote on marriage. Mark Dayton and Tom Horner are opposed to allowing you to vote.

Who said this election isn't about social issues?

Go to mnvoter.com to get a voter guide. Share it with your friends and neighbors.

WCCO ignores Catholic Defense League call for apology

WCCO spins story about DFL mailing depicting Catholic imagery. WCCO says GOP is demanding an apology. Interesting how they ignore the Catholic Defense Leagues demand for an apology. CDF President Dick Houck says the DFL is attacking Archbishop Nienstedt for mailing DVD's on marraige.

Further, allegations against Dan Hall are dubious as it attacks Hall for allegedly not saying anything on health care.

Strange that the DFL would attack Catholics because a Protestant pastor was mum on healthcare.

DFL Chair Melendez support and defense of anti-catholic political ad only digs him a deeper hole and doesn't pass straight face test.

The political offensive ad used against Republican senatorial candidate Dan Hall by the state DFL party and its subsequent endorsement by DFL party chair Brian Melendez only deepens the controversy and outrage over a blatantly, bigoted political attack ad on Catholics specifically and Christians in general.

In the DFL ad attacking Hall, they show a picture of a man in a clerical collar wearing a button saying, "Ignore the Poor". Melendez supports the ad and says the depicted collar is worn "by just about every major christian denomination." I'd like to know where he's seen the depicted collar worn outside the Catholic Church. It shows his ignorance of Christian practices in Minnesota.

The other pictures used, an altar and stain glass window, are also very strong Catholic imagery. As for Hall, who's a nondenominational pastor, those scenes are not found in nondenominational churches.

In the ad, the DFL accuses Hall of ignoring the poor, because he didn't oppose Governor Pawlenty's reductions in health care expenditure increases. Such an assertion is ridiculous.

To suggest that one doesn't care about the poor, because one thinks the government should live within its means and doesn't have a responsibility to everybody with health care is a sham and a distortion of Christian beliefs. (The demand that government must provide health care for everyone is called socialism. And socialism is in fact inconsistent with Christian principles.) And to say Hall doesn't care about the poor and vulnerable is outrageous. He's been a chaplain for years helping those in great need; I suspect far more than the perpetrators of the vicious attack ad.

Why attack the Catholic church because a protestant pastor was mum on health care?

Things that make you go hmmm.

Why would the DFL attack the Catholic church because Dan Hall, a protestant pastor was allegedly silent on health care?

Catholic Defense League President, Dick Houck believes the DFL has singled out the Catholic church because all three post cards use Catholic imagery and because Dan Hall has never worn a collar.

Houck also accused the DFL of attacking Archbishop Nienstedt because of the recent marriage DVD sent t0 Catholic homes. Houck believes the DFL is trying to diminish the influence of the Catholic church in the community. The DFL is going for the tri-fecta with three mailings, all using Catholic imagery.

Do you think these are "good ads"?

DFL chair Brian Melendez does.

Daily Caller calls on DNC to dennounce mailing by DFL

Catholics are calling on DNC chairman Tim Kaine to condemn a campaign flyer paid for by Minnesota Democrats depicting a priest in a collar wearing a button that says, “ignore the poor.”

One group, the St. Michael Society, said the flyer is an “anti-Catholic slur,” and posted contact information for the DNC on its website and Facebook page, asking members to demand that Kaine denounce it.

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2010/10/27/catholic-group-calls-on-dnc-to-condemn-ad-attacking-evangelical-preacher-and-republican-candidate-dan-hall/#ixzz13b6cpmju

DFL insults Catholics and Protestants with offensive mailing

DFL insults Catholics and Protestants with mailing.

"Despicable," said Dick Houck, president of Catholic Defense League at a press conference earlier today.

Houck was referring to a post card mailed by the DFL into Senate Dist 40 that depicted a "Catholic priest in a Roman collar wearing a large button the read 'Ignore the Poor.'"

"The DFL is hopelessly out of touch with people of faith," said Chuck Darrell of the Minnesota Family Council. "With one postcard the DFL insulted both Protestants and Catholics. The copy slanders Pastor Dan Hall while using the image of a Catholic Priest with a button that says 'Ignore the Poor'. Dan Hall says he has never worn a collar."

"I can't help but feel this was the DFL's way of trying to sling mud at the Church in response to the marriage DVD," said Houck.

Hall Piece 1

Who's the big money, elite political party? Democrats.

Traditionally, the Democrat party was viewed as the party of the little guy. The average person on the street. The Republicans were the money party with lots of money coming from business and the well to do.

The facts are different today. While business generally leans to the Republican side, many in big business try to buy influence and favor with whoever is in power. The big money is now on the Democrat side. According to Politico,

So far, the latest figures show that the Democratic Party machinery has outraised its Republican counterpart in this campaign cycle by almost $270 million.

And even when outside spending on television advertising and direct mail is added to the mix, Republicans still haven’t closed the gap.

The money race totals come to $856 million for the Democratic committees and their aligned outside groups, compared to $677 for their Republican adversaries, based on figures compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics.

I think the complexion of the parties has also changed. Generally speaking, the Democrat party is the party of government. The very poor who are dependent on government and the liberal wealthy and elites who believe government is the answer are key constituents. The Republicans really are more the party of the working, middle class who don't see the government as the answer to all of society's problems.

DFL attacks Catholic Church

A new mailing by the DFL attacks the Catholic Church.

California marijuana initiative in trouble. Overreach by proponents?

A poll out on California Prop 19 initiative, legalizing marijuana in California, is behind in the polls. 51% oppose legalizing pot and 39% support it. Previously, polls were much closer.

According to a USC/Los Angeles Times Poll, 51 percent of likely voters said they would vote against Proposition 19, which would allow people 21 years-old or older to possess, cultivate, or transport marijuana for personal use. Thirty-nine percent of likely voters said they support the measure....

Proponents of Prop 19 say it would generate much needed revenue and cut drug enforcement costs. The California Attorney General's office estimated that the measure has the potential to bring in hundreds of millions of dollars annually in taxes and fees, while saving the state tens of millions of dollars annually on costs related to incarceration and supervision of marijuana offenders.

But opponents, including the U.S. Justice Department and former heads of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, say the measure violates federal law and endangers public safety. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said last week that the Justice Department will continue to enforce federal law regardless of the outcome of the ballot initiative. Federal law prohibits individuals and organizations from possessing, manufacturing, or distributing marijuana for recreational use.

I think Californians realize the problems with marijuana more than any other state. They have the most lenient medical marijuana laws in the country. It's become a mess. If pot legalization goes down big time in California it isn't bode well for similar efforts elsewhere in the country.

Duluth Tribune endorses Cravaack

October 24, 2010 Duluth News Tribune endorses Cravaack, looking past Oberstar for first time

Source: startribune.com

The Duluth News Tribune editorial board has endorsed Republican Chip Cravaack in the 8th Congressional District. It was the first time the paper has not endorsed 18-term Democrat Rep. Jim Oberstar during his 30-year political career. Oberstar says the decision was made by the paper’s ownership in Fargo and questioned the process.

KSTP Video - Oberstar Cravaack go toe-to-toe in 8th Dist Debate

Oberstar in race for Congressional Seat. More he says more out of touch he appears.

The political climate has made things even tough for Jim Oberstar in the supposedly safe 8th Congressional seat. By the looks of his recent debate, which he didn't want to do, it only further those frustrated with upset with the current state of affairs. He comes off as condescending and arrogant. He lectures and name calls those who disagree with him.

Here's a video clip of his support for cap and trade which would significant hurt the economy through tax increases and regulations.

In the Duluth News Tribune story on a debate between Oberstar and his opponent Chip Cravaack, a raucous crowd was probably made even more raucous by Oberstar's comments. He aggressively defended the stimulus bill, health care bill and cap and trade. And then charged those who disagreed with him of being members of the "Flat Earth Society.

Not a way to make friends and influence people.

When asked what their first priority would be if elected to Congress, Republican Cravaack said he would "get rid of Obamacare" to shouts of glee and applause from his supporters.

"I want to make sure that never happens," DFLer Oberstar snapped back, adding that he would work to protect health-care reform. He said his top priority would be to pass a federal transportation funding bill to put construction workers back to work rebuilding the nation’s highways, rails and airports.

The differences on health care reform were stark.

"It’s going to be a job killer," Cravaack said. "It’s going to put a bureaucrat between us and our doctor."

But Oberstar said the health-reform package "that I proudly voted for" will guarantee coverage despite pre-existing conditions, guarantee coverage won’t be cut off, end caps on benefits and, eventually, reduce the cost of health insurance while covering more people....

The candidates also were at opposite ends on whether the federal economic stimulus efforts have paid off.

Cravaack said no, that the increased federal spending has put the nation farther into debt with little to show. Democrats vowed the stimulus would keep unemployment at 8 percent or lower, Cravaack noted, but it now stands at 10 percent "and it’s 13 percent in Brainerd (Minn.)."

The stimulus has increased the federal debt that future generations "will be paying for for the rest of their lives.

"Did the stimulus bill work? No," Cravaack said. "The United States government does not create jobs."

Cravaack said the government would create more jobs by cutting business taxes.

"Get rid of the regulations and restrictions," Cravaack said, adding that "I trust you with your money. He (Oberstar) trusts government with your money."....

Oberstar also noted that much of the stimulus spending actually went to cut tax bills on paychecks.

"The stimulus bill included a tax break for everyone in America... that put money back in the pockets of people to spend," Oberstar said. "And it put people back to work."

On cap-and-trade legislation aimed at reducing carbon emissions, which Oberstar voted for before the bill failed to advance, Cravaack said the nation can’t afford higher energy costs. He claimed increased costs for electricity from the carbon-cutting effort could kill Minnesota’s taconite industry...

"It’s changing our way of life. We have to deal with this issue" of climate change, Oberstar said to boos and cat calls from Cravaack supporters. Oberstar said the claims carbon-cutting legislation will put "our industry out of work is fundamentally wrong."

When the heckling on climate change grew louder, Oberstar accused the Cravaack supporters of being in the "Flat Earth Society." When he tried to rattle off statistics on warming trends, he was shouted down again with calls of "liar."

Our liberties are a gift of God

If a politician said "Our {America's] liberties are a gift of God" would that be a violation of the separation of church and state?

Michael Gerson’s article in today’s Star Tribune makes an important point that is ignored by some and misunderstood by others. Gerson states, “The Founders were not secularists. They assumed that people would bring their deepest moral motivations to political life -- motivations often informed by religious belief. But they firmly rejected sectarianism. America was designed to be a nation where all faiths are welcomed, not where one faith is favored. This was and is the American genius.”

In other words, the Founders never intended to silence motivations informed by religious belief in the public square. That means, people of all faiths are welcome to bring their religious convictions into politics and use them to inform our laws and legislation.

In fact, when some people say that America is a Christian nation, they mean that our politic and laws have been influenced primarily by Christian “motivations.”

Gerson concurs, “Religious faith remains one of the main foundations for belief in human equality and dignity -- as it was in the Declaration of Independence.”

Too many people erroneously label this motivation as being “in violation of separation of church and state.”

Some of these people are victims of historical revisionism. Others are more like thought police, viciously cleansing the public square of any and all religious motivations.

I like Jefferson's comment, "God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that His justice cannot sleep forever."

Rush hits the nail on the head over the "separation of church and state" debate

The debate over whether the US Constitution contains the "separation of church and state" concept was clarified by none other than Rush Limbaugh during a recent radio monologue. What the left and liberals understand by the term is much different from what conservatives and the founding father mean by the the phrase.

Basically the term, like many, has been co-opted by the left to mean the public square should be a religion free zone. That of course would have been anathema to the founders. They understood it mean the separation of religious and governmental institutions not exclusion of faith grounded beliefs and values from the public square. (Frankly, what public views aren't ultimately grounded in faith, faith in God, faith in evolution, faith in materialism, etc. But that's worthy of discussion another time.)

Where does the Constitution say that Christians can't bring their values into the public square?

Separation of church and state is becoming an issue in the elections.

It’s painfully obvious that neither side is listening.

However, let me give some advice to those who make the technical argument that the “separation of church and state doesn’t exist in the First Amendment.”

Reframe the debate. Ask your opponent, “Where does the First Amendment say that Christians can’t bring their values into the public square?”

Or, “Are you saying the Constitution (First Amendment) prohibits people of faith from expressing their religious views in the public square?"

Keep repeating the question.

Why won't the IRS prosecute pastors that endorse political candidates from the pulpit?

Why won’t the IRS prosecute pastors that endorse candidates from the pulpit?

“American United has filed more than 100 of these complain[t]s this year alone. The IRS has dropped all of them, but has not said why,” concludes WCCO’s Reg Chapman in this story about Hastings Pastor Brad Brandon.

Pastor Brandon came under attack by Americans United for Separation of Church and State for endorsing political candidates from the pulpit.

Good question Reg!

MFC suggests the reason the IRS has dropped all the complaints is because they know the restrictions on pastors’ speech are unconstitutional and that they would lose in court.

Behind the scenes, the Alliance Defense Fund is encouraging pastors across the country to speak out from the pulpit on the political issues of the day. If a complaint is filed, they will defend the pastor all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary.

Imagine the backlash if the IRS tried to prosecute 100 churches for exercising free speech.

WCCO reports that the “’11 candidates he endorsed are listed on the church's website. The list includes Republican Tom Emmer for Governor, eight other republicans, an independent and a constitution candidate.’”

In response, the Americans United for Separation of Church and State, filed a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service. “They want the IRS to take away the church's tax-exempt status,” reports Chapman. “’Pastor Brandon has pulled his tax-exempt church into partisan politics in blatant violation fo federal law,’ said American United’s executive director.”

That “federal law” was quietly slipped into a bill sponsored by then Sen. Lyndon Johnson in 1954 who wanted to silence critics of his campaign in Texas. Prior to that, pastors could and did speak out on election related issues and candidates.

Brandon wants the law overturned – and so does MFC. Encourage your pastor to speak out and defend free speech in the pulpit. "I'd love to see the IRS do something. I'd love to fight this in court and I would love to see a judge look me in the eye and say that the Johnson Amendment is constitutional," said Brandon.

CLICK HERE to see the broadcast.

Minnesota's most liberal Congressional representative per their district? Without a doubt Tim Walz in the 1st Cong. District.

Without a doubt the liberal representative in relation to his or her district is Rep. Tim Walz in the 1st Congressional District which runs along the southern border of Minnesota. I've noticed that on our last two voter's guides, he's in lock step with Ellison and McCollum in terms of votes taken on issues.

He voted for federal health care takeover.
He voted for government subsidy of abortion.
He voted for cap and trade.
He voted to fund abortion promoting organizations like Planned Parenthood.
He voted for repealing "Don't ask, don't tell".
He voted for the massively expensive "stimulus' bill.
He voted to expand hate crimes to give special status to sexual orientation.
He voted to federal fund the destruction of human embryos.
He voted to give special employment protections to homosexuals.
He voted against making the tax cuts permanent.

You get the picture. Whether it's abortion, taxes, family, cap and trade, government spending, Walz votes on the left side of the spectrum. The American Conservative Union gives him a lifetime score of 8% through 2009.

Walz got elected in 2006, a strong anti-incumbent year. With voters again aroused, they're no doubt paying closer attention to his liberal voting record which is far, far out of touch with his district. The more scrutiny his record receives the more problems he'll have.

Pastor Bob Battle links Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and one man, one woman marriage.

There has been a lot of rhetoric surrounding the use of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in a recent television ad about the right to vote on marriage in Minnesota by NOM and MFC.

Here is a clip of Pastor Bob Battle of the Church of God in Christ (COGIC) speaking at a NOM rally for traditional marriage in St. Paul last July. Pastor Battle links Dr. Kings legacy to one man, one woman marriage.

Complete text of Tom Prichards editorial concerning bullying

The following is the complete text of the editorial printed in the Star Tribune by Tom Prichard on Oct. 14th.

Clarification: MFC is aware that some readers have concluded that MFC is calling on the victims to stand up to the bullies by themselves. This is a misconception. MFC is calling on students who are not being bullied to stand up for the ones who are being bullied - including bullied students who identify as GLBT. Students can do this by using humor, alerting a school official, leading the bullied student away from the bully, or by telling the bully to knock it off. One study showed that when peers intervened, bullying stopped within 10 seconds 57% of the time.

Complete text of editorial
There has been a lot written about the tragic suicide of an Anoka-Hennepin district student and how best to protect students. Rather than bringing people together to produce real solutions, it has generated more controversy and driven people further apart. MFC is calling on all people of good will to find common ground, even with those we might disagree with, so we can stand together against the bullying of children in our schools.

The loss of a child to suicide is excruciatingly painful. When bullying plays a role it must seem unbearable. Our hearts and prayers go out to the bereaved parents, friends and loved ones of Justin Aaberg and all families that have suffered the same tragic loss.

MFC is strongly opposed to all kinds of bullying – and that includes students who identify themselves as GLBT students. The bullying of students, because of their skin color, their looks, appearance, beliefs or because they identify themselves as GLBT, should never be tolerated. Current state law requires that each school district have a bullying policy. MFC strongly supports these policies and believes they should be vigorously enforced.

As teachers and school officials can’t be everywhere, MFC is calling on parents and students to join with their school officials and stand up to the bullies in their schools. An excellent example is Jesus who stood up for the woman who was about to be stoned. He didn’t agree with her behavior but confronted those attempting to bully her.

Imagine the impact of dozens of students in every school district standing up to the bullies! Studies show that when peers intervene, bullying stops within 10 seconds, 57% of the time. this is a highly effective response to bullying. We believe Jesus’ example, and the bringing together of parents, students, teachers and school officials would have an immediate impact on putting an end to the bullying and the tragic suicides.

Some are calling for the Anoka-Hennepin school district to adopt highly controversial “homophobia” curricula, which has ignited division amongst parents, students and teachers in school districts across the state. MFC does not support “homophobia” curricula as it crosses the line from addressing bullying words and behavior to targeting the values and beliefs of students and undermining the authority of parents regarding homosexuality, homosexual “marriage”, and same sex relationships.

An example of “homophobia” curricula is “Welcoming Schools” developed by the nations largest homosexual lobbying group, the Human Rights Campaign Fund.

In 2008, MFC examined “Welcoming Schools” when it was introduced in a handful of Minneapolis elementary schools under the guise of anti-bullying. MFC found it had very little to do with stopping bullying and more to do with changing children’s beliefs, values and attitudes towards homosexual “marriage”, relationships, and behavior.

“Welcoming Schools” immediately ignited enormous controversy, and vicious attacks on a diverse group of parents who peacefully objected to its content and methods. Lessons included reading controversial books like “The King and King”, and “Both of My Moms’ Names are Judy”, to elementary school children. It included a video, “It’s Elementary” that showed an eight-year-old girl receiving praise from her teacher for saying people who believe what the Bible says about homosexuality are “stupid.” This video and others were so clearly geared towards homosexual advocacy that significant portions of the curricula were pulled by the Minneapolis school district because the parental outcry was so great.

Concerned parents told the Minneapolis School Board that “Welcoming Schools” encouraged children to “question the moral authority of their parents and created conflict between child and teacher, child and parent, and parent and teacher.” We are concerned that efforts to introduce “homophobia” curricula in Anoka-Hennepin and other districts will do the same while not addressing the concern of bullying.

Instead of forcing one-sided “homophobia” curricula on students and parents, MFC recommends examining more fair and objective alternatives that focus on the wrong behavior of the bullies and are inclusive of all children who are at high risk of being bullied such as children with allergies, disabilities and obesity, etc..

Let’s stop focusing on what divides us and start fighting the bullies by joining together in condemning the bullying of all children – including “GLBT” students. MFC urges parents and children to join their school district and stand up to the bullies – just like Jesus did.

Andy Birkey is having problems telling the truth

Andy Birkey's journalistic integrity has reached a new low in his piece regarding Tom Prichard’s blog post of September 28^th. Birkey creates false statements by lifting words and phrases from Prichard’s post and dropping them into his own biased sentences.

See for yourself.

In his post, Prichard reported that some parents said Justin Aaberg committed suicide because he was distraught over his male lover having an affair.

“It’s been argued that Justin committed suicide, because he was harassed for being homosexual. I talked to parents of students in the district and the word among students is that Justin was distraught over his male lover having an affair. Whatever the exact reason for Justin’s suicide it’s an enormous tragedy that shouldn’t be manipulated for ideological purposes which is what’s being done now.”

Now compare that to what I Birkey reports: “Prichard asserts that the suicide death of 15-year-old Justin Aaberg was not due to anti-LGBT bullying.”

C’mon Andy, we can agree to disagree without resorting to mendacity.

Apparently a believer in “the bigger the lie the more they believe it” Birkey says "Prichard wrote last week that ‘homosexual activists’ share in the blame when LGBT students commit suicide because ‘they’ve embraced an unhealthy sexual identity and lifestyle.’”

Birkey’s quote is pure fabrication. He just made it up.

Birkey's lack of journalistic integrity would be laughable if weren't for the fact that when kids are committing suicide we owe it to them to tell the truth.

MFC urges Christian parents to encourage their children to emulate Christ in John 8:3-11 and stand up to the bullies in school

Is Oberstar at risk of losing? Will the Iron Range go Republican?

Here's an interesting column by Michael Barone on what the polls are saying about the anti-incumbent sentiment across the country, translated anti-democrat sentiment. He points to a number of races across the country showing how previously safe democrats are at risk of getting defeated in 2010.

One example is Jim Oberstar in Minnesota's the eighth congressional district.

But we do keep seeing poll results from surprising districts that tend to support the Gallup results. Last week I pointed to a poll (from a pollster I don’t know) showing an even race in North Carolina 7 between Republican Ilario Pantano and 14-year Democratic incumbent Mike McIntyre, who won his 2008 race, in which he had an active Republican opponent, with 69% of the vote. Now Ed Morrissey directs our attention to a poll by Public Opinion Strategies, a highly respected Republican firm, in Minnesota 8 showing 36-year incumbent James Oberstar leading Republican challenger Chip Cravaacke by only 45%-42%, within the margin of error.

John McCormack has a good post in the Weekly Standard’s blog on this. Oberstar was first elected in 1974, he is Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and has brought public dollars to an economically chronically ailing district. He was reelected in 2008 with 68% of the vote. But this is also a district that, despite containing the Democratic strongholds of Duluth and much of the Iron Range (both in St. Louis County) that voted only 53%
for John Kerry in 2004 and Barack Obama in 2008. However, at its southern end it includes Isanti and Chisago Counties, exurban counties in the Twin Cities metro area, which despite a Democratic heritage have trended away from Democrats in recent elections—toward Jesse Ventura in 1998 and toward Republicans between 2000 and 2008, when they both voted for John McCain.

Minnesota 8 has a certain historic resonance for Democrats. It was one of only two or three districts (I am away from my desk where I have my papers and sources on this) which in the Republican landslide year of 1946 switched from a Republican to a Democratic congressman. This was a move away from progressive and isolationist Republicans (like Alvin O’Konski in the
adjoining then-10th District of Wisconsin) toward labor-backed Democrats (completed in the Wisconsin case by the victory of young Democrat David Obey over O’Konski when they were redistricted together in 1972). Only two Democrats have represented Minnesota 8 ever since, John Blatnik, first elected in 1946 and for whom Oberstar worked as a staffer, and since 1974 Oberstar; only one Democrat, David Obey, has represented what is now Wisconsin 7 since 1969. For Oberstar to have a serious challenge, much less to be in danger of defeat, is quite astonishing. If these numbers are right—and like all poll numbers they are subject to some degree of doubt—they tend to confirm the Gallup likely voter numbers.

It's hard to imagine that happening on November 2nd. But Barone also alludes to the 1896 election when democrats lost 100 seats out of 350. It will be interesting whether we're approaching a once in a 100 years sort of election.

Evidence of gay activists motivation in Anoka-Hennepin School controversy. Looks like they want homosexuality promoted in district.

A call from the Star Tribune reporter on the Anoka-Hennepin sexual orientation policy controversy got me digger a bit deeper. I found an interesting February 2009, Star Tribune article on the change in its sexual orientation policy, to its current form. The new policy includes neutral language regarding discussion of sexual orientation by school personnel.

Back then gay activists praised the policy change.

From the February 2009 Star Tribune story.

OutFront Minnesota and the Midwest Office of Family Equality Council, two of the state's leading gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) advocacy groups, praised the vote.

Phil Duran, a staff attorney for OutFront, said since the policy was enacted 14 years ago his office has received several inquiries from students and parents who said it led to censorship in journalism assignments and GLBT awareness training for teachers.

"It was a very odd situation," Duran said. "We're grateful the board put some thoughtful effort into moving forward and balancing the district's obligation to serve all students and recognize there was some sensitivity about this issue."

The old board policy "made teachers nervous," said Mary Pedersen, a Champlin Park High School teacher who advises the school's gay-straight alliance. "They didn't want to overstep the boundary of that board directive."

What's changed? I think it's quite clear they want homosexual advocacy in the district.