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Campaign Crawlers
Blundering Toward the Governorship
One of the “worst senators” wants to try his hand as governor.
By his own admission, Mark Dayton wasn’t much of a senator. Minnesota Democrats have decided to give him a chance to prove he’d better a better governor, as he is the party’s choice to run against Republican Tom Emmer in the race to succeed outgoing Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
Dayton won Tuesday’s primary in a tight race with state representative Margaret Anderson Kelliher. While none of the Democrats on the ballot seemed like a good choice to pull Minnesota through the Great Recession, on a scale of one to ten in terms of liberalism, Dayton comes in at 11.
In a recent editorial for the Star Tribune, Dayton laid out his glorious plan for lucky would-be constituents: Tax the rich — even more. He opined, with pride: “My first objective in offsetting an estimated $6 billion deficit for the next biennium would be to make the richest Minnesotans pay at least that same share of their incomes in Minnesota taxes.”
While Minnesotans tend to elect liberals, the occasional conservative slips through. Pawlenty, the departing governor was one. Under his tenure, Minnesota slipped from one of the most heavily taxed states.
Dayton’s biography differs considerably. He was a legislative aide for Walter Mondale, another liberal Minnesota gem, and then served as U.S. Senator from 2001-07. He earned a reputation, albeit a poor one, during his tenure in Congress. Dayton told a group of high school students in 2006 if he were to grade himself on his accomplishments as a U.S. Senator, he’d give himself an “F.” That same year Time magazine named Dayton one of the country’s five worst Senators (they called him “The Blunderer”) because he “exhibited erratic behavior” and at one point closed his office for a month because of an “unspecified terrorist threat.”
Unfortunately his political philosophy is even worse. He’s as progressive as President Barack Obama, siding with him on policy issues from advocating universal health care, to opposing privatization of Social Security and raising taxes on the wealthy. He opposes the Iraq war, supports same-sex marriage, and is pro-choice. Hardly any of those positions would be as harmful to Minnesotans — or more in line with the President’s playbook — as an increase in taxes on the rich. On his web page he unabashedly declares:
Read my lips, “Tax the rich.” Minnesota’s wealthiest citizens pay only two-thirds of their fair share of state and local taxes. That’s wrong. As Governor, I will raise taxes on the rich of Minnesota, NOT on the rest of Minnesota.
Dayton actually supports as many as three new income tax brackets including persons/couples earning between $130,000 and $150,000, those who earn over $500,000, and those who rake in $1 million. He says he would also tax million dollar homes and eliminate tax loopholes which allow “snowbirds” — Minnesotans who bear its frigid winters in warm climate for six months plus one day — to evade paying personal income taxes. The plan is based on data from the Minnesota Department of Revenue’s Tax Incidence Study. From it he derives that if “the richest 10% of Minnesota households paid the same percentage of their incomes in state and local taxes as the rest of taxpayers, they would provide $3.8 billion in additional revenues for the current biennium and, by extrapolation, over $4 billion in the next biennium.”
His logic is faulty, though certainly consistent with liberal thinking. He concludes this would erase the future deficit and balance the budget (and though he fails to mention it, throw some wealthy folks into irascible rage). What he of course neglects to realize, or at least acknowledge, is that a tax on the rich does the opposite because it compels them to relocate, affecting the economy and the deficit. Rich States, Poor States authors Arthur Laffer and Stephen Moore argued in the Wall Street Journal last year, “Here’s the problem for states that want to pry more money out of the wallets of rich people. It never works because people, investment capital and businesses are mobile: They can leave tax-unfriendly states and move to tax-friendly states.”
The real irony about Dayton’s soapbox regarding money is how much of it he has. Dayton is the heir to the Dayton-Hudson fortune of Dayton department store — now Macy’s — fame. The Dayton Company started Target Corporations and financed his 2000 run for Senate with related funds.
That’s not all. The group “Alliance For a Better Minnesota” has been pummeling his opponent, Republican Tom Emmer with negative ads for a while. One of their biggest contributors is “Win Minnesota” which operates via the generous donations from members of Dayton’s own family, including his ex-wife (the eldest daughter of John D. Rockefeller III). His mantra: If you can’t convince them; buy them. Dayton might succeed at both. In a mid-June KSTP/Survey USA poll of likely voters, in a three-way race Dayton would win a plurality.
Minnesotans have already elected one embarrassment, whose blunders never cease. They don’t need two in the nation’s limelight.
About the Author
Nicole Russell writes from Northern Virginia.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (39) | Leave a comment
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drudge ette obama| 8.12.10 @ 6:28AM
Another "skipped the generation" heir - he can spend the family fortune, but could he have earn it?
Why are these types so odd. Is it white-guilt? Inheritance guilt? Silver spoon poisoning? When one of these fruits of a bent loom actually gives up his fortune and lives the life of his own talk, then maybe I will listen (or vote) for him.
Now another reason not to shop Target or Macy's.
Lu Dumak| 8.12.10 @ 12:10PM
Are the people from Minn. that stupid? Being from Wis. I thought we elected the most idiots.
IzeHavitt| 8.12.10 @ 10:57PM
The reason many of these trust fund babies turn out so stupidly is because their parents made the huge mistake of not forcing them to work for everything they have. Hard work and earning something have a way of teaching somebody to respect how others made an initial fortune at some endeavor.
Mike| 8.13.10 @ 3:58AM
The reason is quite simple...it has always been the wealthy and ruling elite that support Socialism...it is a way of consoldating and maintaining their powerwhile keeping hold over the populace...Kennedy, Rockefeller, Rothschild, etc.. have rung rhetorical concerning "the people" but couldn't give a sh-t about the plight of the "person"
Bydand76| 8.12.10 @ 7:28AM
Minnesotan's are freaks'
Franken
Ventura
Dayton
Wellstone
Mondale
Klobuchar
Perpich
Ellison
The only thing that I can say in their defense is that at least some people in the state are smart enough to elect Michelle Bachmann!
Don't get me wrong. Minnesota is a great state that has alot going for it. Great music scene. Fishing, Hunting, Boating, etc. etc. etc
But a lot of people over there are drinking copius amounts of kool-aid !!! Wierd!
Pro Libertate!
Bydand76| 8.12.10 @ 7:31AM
Oh yeah! I forgot to mention this.
The Vikings suck too!
GO PACK!
( Sorry! I could'nt resist)
Pro Libertate!
Bo Darville| 8.12.10 @ 10:38AM
Dahmer and Gein salute you, sir.
Shamus| 8.12.10 @ 12:09PM
Dahmer was in Milwaukee in the early 90's. At around that time, the city water became so polluted that it poisoned residents. The joke was that in Milwaukee you could eat the people but you couldn't drink the water.
Bydand76| 8.13.10 @ 7:12AM
You forgot about Russ Feingold and Ron Kind Bo!
I wasn't aware that Jeff and Ed were Packer fans either, but thanks for the info!
Pro Libertate!
michigander_sandusky| 8.12.10 @ 7:58AM
What do you expect from a state that elected Ventura and Franken?!
Len| 8.12.10 @ 10:20AM
Franken wasn't elected.
Mystie| 8.12.10 @ 12:46PM
Runoff elections would have spared Minnesota from both Ventura and Franken (neither one got even close to a majority of the votes) -- and resulted in Norm Coleman's election, BOTH TIMES.
Mystie| 8.12.10 @ 12:59PM
And based on the poll referenced in the article, a runoff election would likely spare Minnesota from Dayton and result in the election of Tom Emmer as Governor.
Badger| 8.12.10 @ 8:27AM
The Dayton's have been excentric for a while. One daughter joined a zany religious cult.
I'll give you Jesse the body Ventura. Franken stole the election. Walter Mondale was a decent man and doesn't belong on that list.
Curly Smith| 8.12.10 @ 8:28AM
So the Snowbird Plan is based on the theory "If you tax them, they will stay"?
grant1863| 8.12.10 @ 10:32AM
Good news for Florida. We have no income taxes and lots of property for sale. Come on down.
Petronius| 8.12.10 @ 10:22AM
What's with these people besides a proclivity for Peterpantheism? Oh yeah. They want the rest of us to pay their bills too. Ask that overgrown toddler Kiellor. He'll tell you.
jpocali| 8.12.10 @ 10:57AM
It is the Twin CIties. That place is crawling with those who soooo desperately want to be considered cultured and cosmopolitan. In their fear of being labeled flyover country they strive to put forth the most progressive of the progressives to prove to those who don't care that they should be considered as part of the intellectual elite. Their dismissal only causes them to redouble their efforts and we end up with people like Dayton. Just one non-Dem Minnesotan's perspective.....
MinnesotaDem| 8.12.10 @ 3:56PM
Actually, Kelliher was leading in the Democratic primary until the votes from the Iron Range came in. You and I will never see eye to eye politically, but I agree that Dayton is a horrible candidate
At least he doesn't have two DUIs. Let he who is without sin...
jpocali| 8.12.10 @ 4:20PM
Who is without sin?
And you might be surprised at what we might agree on. ;)
Bydand76| 8.14.10 @ 9:37AM
Minnesota Dem,
You need to do some fact checking there.
Emmer was actually never convicted of DUI. The charges were reduced to careless driving in both instances.
NOT saying it was okay. I am just saying that before you insinuate you should have your facts down straight.
The point is redundant in any case as both of them were over 20 years ago.
I thought Dems did not like this kind of politics?
I wonder what demon lie within Mr Daytons' proverbial closet?
Pro Libertate!
RAMIII| 8.12.10 @ 1:43PM
This is just more proof to me that modern politics is a power grab and attracts the LOWEST common denominator.
RAMIII| 8.12.10 @ 1:48PM
Oh, I forgot to mention: the reason rich liberals don't care about "tax the rich" mantras is because they have the money to find the loop holes in the tax code.
In effect "tax the rich" means TAX THE MIDDLE CLASS, so that we have no middle class only the few rich elites and the rest of the poor and down trodden. The worst of human nature comes out in these environments. Kind of reminds me of the "Dark Ages" with modern technology to further the elites' schemes.
jomo2009| 8.12.10 @ 3:23PM
Either that or, like Geithner,Rangel etc., they just don't pay their taxes.
Chairman Nobomba| 8.12.10 @ 4:03PM
This country can survive the worst of the outside enemies, but it will die at the hands of idiots like Dayton and assorted lefists and parasites within its border.
reads1| 8.12.10 @ 4:11PM
I have often puzzled over the people that Minnesotans elect to Public Office. I have concluded that it stems from the fact that most are Nordic descent and they are born with a liberal tendency. (The long cold winters may also be a factor, slowing down their thought processes, like the people in Maine!)
scotchieguy| 8.13.10 @ 2:30AM
You are right. I have lived here on and off for years. It is definitely the scandinavian thing. There is something about these people who just don't mind paying taxes. Some time ago, the Startribune (main newspaper) had a huge article on Norway, and the norwegian way of life. Partly based on the North Sea oil revenue, they have been spoiled beyond hope. Doctors in Norway pay up to 90% in taxes and don't seem to mind!!! Something in the Scandinavian blood. To make matters worse, Dayton is a classic liberally trained trust-fund baby, just guilty as hell. Think John Kerry. He's loaded. He's never worked. He's dumb as dog sh-t. And he has the typical dumb-ass liberal ideas that have never worked anywhere. In a sick way, I almost want him to win the governership just so I can tell these rubes up here--I told you so! Ventura wasn't bad enough. Franken isn't bad enough. We'll never learn.
Ms. Jones| 8.12.10 @ 4:31PM
Their brains are frozen half the year. What else would you expect?
Redstateboy| 8.12.10 @ 4:35PM
why is it that the Mantra of the Slave Party is that the Republican Party is the Party of the Rich when the Slave Party is so infested with Wealthy effete condescending Liber-uls like Dayton, Pelosi, Kerry, Rockefeller, Feinstein to mention a few...?
GavInTucson| 8.14.10 @ 1:45AM
Well, if you look at who votes for the Slave Party, the answer is simple... they're about as sharp as a bag of wet mice. And, like mice, they're keenly aware of which part of the cage has the water bottle for them to suck on.
sestamibi| 8.12.10 @ 5:14PM
As a former Minnesota resident, I can't help but wonder if the "Hillary factor" (namely, feminist resentment over the loss of their DFL-endorsed candidate) will play out in November to the extent that many of them sit this one out.
Ole Sarge| 8.12.10 @ 5:28PM
Only problem with electing this clown, people leave and they seem to end up in Texas, we don't need more luke warm libs, thank you.
Long Ben| 8.12.10 @ 8:33PM
It's been reported lately that it was the voting felons of Minnesota that provided the winning margen for Sen. Stuart Smalley . Maybe they can pull Dayton through .
bubba16123| 8.12.10 @ 9:37PM
Please don't call Gov. Greenjeans (pawlenty) A conservertive he is just another RINO enviro-nut that thinks man made global warming is real
scotchieguy| 8.13.10 @ 2:20AM
...and he raised the tax on cigarettes and called it a "fee." Aaaaaah!!!
Gene Charles| 8.12.10 @ 10:15PM
Time for Mark to blow some more of his trust fund. (How about taxing trust funds??) You have got to feel sorry for this guy, he has had a truly wasted life.
If he looses, he will just be another loser. If he wins, he will get to display his incompetence.
I wonder if he would have any friends if he wasn't rich?
So sad it is sort of embarassing.
Gene Charles
...winter| 8.13.10 @ 11:26PM
TAX THE RICH.
I don't care what you have to do to do it; hunt them down from state to state where they run and hide like the sociopathic pirate dogs they are.
Its gotten where people who "Work" for a living earn less than sittin on your ass hobbyist money.
Somebody get Glenn Beck a rubber nose and a powdered wig and some of you mutants too.
Bydand76| 8.14.10 @ 9:40AM
Ahh yes,
Another fine example of the brilliant Progressive mindset!
Its gotten where people who "Work" for a living earn less than sittin on your ass hobbyist money.
This is just brilliant!
Pro Libertate!