EDITORIAL: Wellstone's "Memorial" Measured, Restrained(emphasis added)

The Minnesota Daily ^ | 10-31-02

[bigaln2]

Wellstone’s memorial measured, restrained

mmediately after Tuesday night’s ceremony honoring the passengers’ lives of last Friday’s plane crash, there was a significant amount of criticism of the event’s partisan tone. Although the event was not exactly advertised as a political rally, it would have been naive to expect any mention of politics or the upcoming race would have been subdued, especially considering how close the race has been and how urgent many DFLers feel the remaining days before the election will be. While some may have reasonable objections to the memorial service being politicized, the service was actually surprisingly restrained in that regard.

The service was dedicated to the lives of Tom Lapic, Mary McEvoy, Will McLaughlin, Marcia Markuson, and Paul and Sheila Wellstone. Although the two pilots aboard the plane died as well, neither received a personal eulogy, which was a rather conspicuous omission. Many Republicans criticized the event as being overly partisan, but such an attempt to characterize the service contains an implicit allegation that Wellstone’s death was being taken advantage of for political profit. Sarah Janecek, a Republican consultant, said, “I was frankly stunned. It was over the top.”

However, this statement and the implicit allegation are ridiculous and are themselves attempts at manipulating what happened for political gain. First, only one of the 10 speakers had a political message — Rick Kahn, a former student of Paul Wellstone. Even Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin’s message was fairly measured. Second, mainly staunch Wellstone supporters attended the service and were there to remember someone they ardently admired. Third, Wellstone was an inherently feisty person and although nearly all of the speakers were restrained, it would have been difficult to find someone in the audience who felt the same need to be reserved. Lastly, compared to the partisan eulogy Mel Carnahan received in Missouri two years ago, this was decidedly reserved in the Minnesota tradition.

[bigaln2]

It looks as if the fried "brains" behind the "independent" student newspaper here didn't watch the same memorial service that the rest of the nation watched.

That's all I am going to say...(for now)

[eureka!]

Fear not. Those that saw it know what it was. And it sure as hell was not "reserved"....

[mewzilla]

Measured..? Restrained..? They had concession stands and were selling hot dogs and soda, for pete's sake. These clods call that measured and restained?! Talk about defining deviancy down.

[Dallas]

[Always Right]

As long as the future of the Democratic Party are in the hands of these idiots, we are in good shape.

[SerpentDove]

I will repeat till I jolly well get tired of it:

DEMOCRATS SPIT ON
BOY SCOUTS

What do Clinton and Mondale have in common? Eleanor.

Good day.

[MindBender26]

Obviously the writer was Wellstoned when he wrote this.

Probably thinks the Krystal Nacht was a state-sponsored urban renewal project.

[Keith in Iowa]

Man, what did they soak their sox in before thy smoked 'em? I also wonder what color the sky is in their world...

[No Truce With Kings]

They had concession stands and were selling hot dogs and soda, for pete's sake.

You mean, like dude, having concession stands open at a memorial service isn't normal?

Like they have done it at all of the memorial services this college student has gone to, I am sure. Isn't that what religion is about for liberals?

[1Old Pro]

This writer would have called the L.A. riots "reserved" and "expected".

[dalebert]

I don't think this will make any difference to Dems. They like things down and dirty. Just got an email from a friend of mine saying Dems intend to rip country apart with lawyers in districts they don't win.

[Asclepius]

... Many Republicans criticized the event as being overly partisan, but such an attempt to characterize the service contains an implicit allegation that Wellstone?s death was being taken advantage of for political profit ...

Say, what? There's nothing "implicit" about it: Republicans and others are angry precisely because Wellstone's death was taken advantage of for political profit, and they said so, plainly, loudly, over and over. That's what they mean by "overly partisan," moron.

[ffrancone]

IN 5 DAYS, THEY'LL BE VOTING DEMOCRAT

WHAT ARE YOU DOING TODAY TO HELP TAKE BACK THE SENATE?

TakeBackCongress.org

A resource for conservatives who want a Republican majority in the Senate

[mewzilla]

You mean libs actually practice religion? I did wonder why this so-called service wasn't held in a mega-church.

[Between the Lines]

Although the event was not exactly advertised as a political rally, it would have been naive to expect any mention of politics or the upcoming race would have been subdued,

I guess it is also naive of me to expect that the Mondale for Senate posters not be revealed at the rally memorial, but after Mondale agreed to run the next evening?

[Salvation]

Obviously their motto is NOT

"We report; you decide."

What hogwash!

[nina0113]

...Dems intend to rip country apart with lawyers in districts they don't win.

Do they indeed? BLOAT.

[willgetsome]

Is this paper student run?

No worries...let them do "backflips" and try to "spin" their way out of what everyone saw as a grossly political rally. Such hipocracy!...Epsecially after the Democrats cried that campaigning in such somber times dishonored Paul Wellstone. LOL

[Space Wrangler]

Okay people, you didn't see what you saw. Thiw was NOT a political rally, it was an understated and restrained memorial for the 'soul of the Senate'. The mean 'ol republicans are trying to make you think you saw something you didn't see. Okay citizen, you did not see a partisan political rally.......

I love to see lefty eltist journalists try to tell me it's day when I know that it's night. The arrogance of these people.....

[anoldafvet]

Where's the "BARF ALERT"?