Independent endorses Coleman for U.S. Senate
In breaking with our policy on endorsing political candidates, the Independent will endorse a candidate in the U.S. Senate race. The race is tight, and this election year, it's important to make good choices at the poll.
The Independent endorses Sen. Norm Coleman as the choice to return to the U.S. Senate and represent Minnesota.
While DFL challenger Al Franken is smart and passionate about his ideas and views, he just doesn't have the experience. Franken has been likened to former and fellow DFLer Sen. Paul Wellstone in his passion and ideals. True, but Wellstone struck voters as far more sincere and less abrasive in his approach. Those would be obstacles to Franken really getting things accomplished in Washington, D.C.
Coleman knows this region of the state, and he's well-schooled and accessible on issues particular to our area such as the Minnesota Highway 23 corridor.
We haven't always agreed with Coleman's stances or his votes in the past and it's likely we won't in the future, but he's shown himself to be knowledgeable on energy, transportation and other important rural issues. That's important for Minnesota, because what may count more than being Republican or Democrat is Coleman's six years of experience in working with others and his knowledge on the issues at the Capitol.
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rangeral
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11-03-08 10:20 PM
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I read some anti-Coleman sentiment here, boys and girls, but thankfully no support for Franken, who really would be a disaster. Maybe he could help Rangle, Frank and Dodd with their tax preparation.
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Investor
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11-01-08 3:10 AM
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Norm Coleman reminds me of the slippery city slicker who talks out of both sides of his mouth with a smooth tongue. A vote for Norm is a vote for Bush. Norm has done nothing useful in his years in the Senate. He says, for example, he is for health care access but has not lifted one finger to make this happen in the many years he's been in the Senate. He also voted with Bush all the way on Iraq and he supported the bailout of banks in a way that does not protect the interest of taxpayers. His fluffy wife has received questionable payments for "consulting services" and Norms takes too many gifts from businesses eager to feed off of public subsidies. I might not like Franken but I am voting for him because while he is not smooth slicker like Coleman, he will keep his word and address the important issues.
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mnisgreat
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10-31-08 12:41 AM
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New Corruption allegations could lead to an indictment of Norm Coleman. Nasser Kazeminy is the Iranian born businessman that has been been flying Republican Norm Coleman around on his jet and apparently buying Norm expensive suits. So the question no one has asked is why Norm is palling around with someone from Iran, which we still have on the axis of evil. Today we find out the Edina businessman Nasser Kazeminy has been accused of secretly funneling $75,000 through a Houston-based oil-rig servicing company, Deep Marine Technologies, to Laurie Coleman, Norm Coleman's wife. The DFL issued a statement tonight, saying, "The allegations of criminal behavior are serious and deeply troubling... Senator Coleman has a duty to explain why those allegations aren't true." If these new accusations are true Norm Coleman could be the next indicted U.S. Senator. Looks like Senator Ted Stevens may be getting a cell mate.
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mnisgreat
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10-29-08 1:51 PM
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If Norm Coleman has so much so-called experience why can’t anyone tell me what Norm has done as a Senator for Minnesotans? Besides of course the fishing trips to Alaska with now convicted felon Ted Stevens. I have asked this question repeatedly and so far I haven't gotten one clear answer. I don't think any of us asked for 80% increases in our health care premiums, or 20% decreases in our home values, or 6.2% unemployment in Minnesota, shipping 100's of thousands of jobs overseas, or $700 billion of our tax paying dollars going to Iraq, or another $700 billion dollars of our tax paying dollars going to Wall Street. No I am certainly not going to reward Norm Coleman for this horrendous performance. Al has some good ideas for changing the course of this country and getting Minnesota back on track to bringing more jobs to our state and stopping the redistribution of wealth FROM the middle class into the pockets of the top 5%.
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hendermania
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10-26-08 4:14 PM
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Look at the first line of the article. "In breaking with our policy on endorsing political candidates..." I'm going to assume there were reasons for that policy to be in place. The media has a very powerful effect on the public, especially when it's a well respected newspaper like The Independent. If the media starts taking sides (like it already has, just watch FOX News) it will become even harder for people to know how much "truth", and how much "opinion" they are getting from their "news". Regardless of who the Independent comes out and endorses it makes me feel like I can no longer fully trust the news I'm getting from them.
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springb513
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10-24-08 11:37 AM
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For once Al and I agree. I disagree with the Independent's endorsement, but agree that they always strive to be equitable in their coverage and reporting.
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rangeral
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10-24-08 9:36 AM
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whether you agree or disagree with the endorsement, I think the Independent is a very fair newspaper that also allows plenty of room for comments and opinions of its readers. Keep up the good work!
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lisadouglas
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10-23-08 9:43 PM
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It is also important to note that there is a line between the editorial department (which goes without bylines) and the general articles in the paper. Just because the paper endorses a candidate does not mean the reporters or staff members do. I also agree with Fram. Just today I was listening to Erik Black, a very well-known an respected writer formerly of the Star Trib and now who works for MinnPost discuss how newspapers need to start not ony being accurate, but honest. Congratulations Independent for being honest, and for giving the people of Southwest MN an honest opinion. Hopefully everyone can trust the paper enough to know it is just that, an opinion that doesn't go past the op/ed page.
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leansleftinarightleaningtown
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10-23-08 8:00 PM
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hendermania- I wonder if you can further explain your view that the paper has turned itself into a mockery by endorsing a candidate? Are you suggesting that a newspaper cannot endorse a candidate and remain unbiased? Nowhere in this endorsement can I find evidence of bias. What I read is a well-thought out opinion regarding who could best represent Marshall, and the rest of the state based on the standards the newspaper very transparently notes. I do not necessarily agree with the paper, but to say that it made a mockery of itself in endorsing a candidate is unfair.
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Fram11
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10-23-08 6:06 PM
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Congratulations, Marshall Independent staff, for selecting a position in the race between Norm Coleman and Al Franken for a seat in the U.S. Senate, and for stating it to the public you serve.
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Fram11
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10-23-08 6:03 PM
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A newspaper can be (and, some of us believe, should be) many things for the community it serves. It should be a watchdog for political chicanery and malfeasance. It should provide insight into what government agencies are doing. It should offer information about community events and business activities. The list could go on, but I will end with this: It should offer advice and opinion on which candidates for political office are best suited to become office holders. Such a role is traditional and, I think, beneficial to the majority of the residents of a community. Failure for a newspaper to endorse political candidates is, simply put, nothing less than a form of abdication of a leadership role in the community. It is a shame if not everyone understands the role and appreciates the significance of a free press in a democratic society.
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hendermania
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10-23-08 5:06 PM
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For all of the good work this paper does, it just turns itself into a mockery by endorsing a candidate. It is important for people to be able to get news from an unbiased source. The fact that this paper publishes who it backs completely obliterates that notion.
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