Bunker Mentality
Mike Hatch and Matt Entenza aren't commenting to the media today about the story in today's Star Tribune. The Strib confirmed that Entenza hired a private research company to examine Attorney General Mike Hatch's office. Entenza says he wanted to learn about the AG's office, where he worked for several years.
The Strib also reported that Hatch obviously wasn't happy with someone snooping around and has asked other DFLers to consider running in a DFL primary against Entenza. What makes this interesting is that Hatch is the DFL endorsed candidate for Governor and Entenza is the DFL endorsed candidate for Attorney General.
In a written statement, Hatch didn't discuss the flap with Entenza. He went after Republican Party Chair Ron Carey, who held a news conference questioning the entire incident. Here's Hatch's statement:
"The Republican Party has nothing to offer Minnesotans. Ron Carey is a paid political complainer who, to date, has not offered one consecutive proposal for Minnesotans as it relates to education reform, the high cost of college tuition, the health care crisis or transportation gridlock. True to form, Mr. Carey is again simply trying to distract voters from focusing on the ineffectiveness of Governor Pawlenty."
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Entenza also wouldn't comment. His written statement also ripped the GOP and said nothing about the flap:
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"Statement from Matt Entenza
Today's State Republican Party's press conference distracts voters from the real issues facing Minnesota: keeping families safe and building a secure future.
A year and a half ago, I requested public records from the Attorney General's Office. No private investigators were involved. The AG's office complied with the request. Anyone may request and receive the same documents.
Now, as we're witnessing, Republicans are intent on using rumor, innuendo, half-truths and outright lies to advance their agenda. My opponent's recent attacks on my wife prove this point.
Despite the fact that AARP is reporting that United Health Group has issued a report, based on an independent, internal investigation, unequivocally stating that my wife, Lois Quam, has never had anything to do with granting stock options or setting compensation policy, my opponent and the State GOP leadership, continue to insinuate otherwise.
I have no conflict of interest on healthcare issues. I've voted to expand access to affordable healthcare; my opponent voted against. I voted to keep Minnesota a non-profit HMO state; my opponent supports for-profit providers. I've been a vigorous consumer advocate; my opponent sides with the insurance and pharmaceutical giants.
The real question before us, is who's side is my opponent on?
The Republican Attorney General candidate, Jeffrey Johnson, now needs to explain how he'll unravel his own deep ties to the insurance, pharmaceutical and corporate agribusiness industries. Johnson is the consummate company man, working against families, consumers and employees at every step, both as a legislator and in his private legal practice.
Johnson's coziness with big business interests has clearly created a major conflict of interest for him. It's obvious in his campaign's failure to address any pro-consumer issues.
I look forward to my opponent's disclosure of his deep industry ties and his many conflicts of interest."
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MPR's Laura McCallum has a story on the flap. Pat Sweeney with the Pi Press also has a good take on the day's events and Entenza's initial statement when Michael Brodkorb with MDE raised the issue last year. Brian Bakst, with the Associated Press, details the DFL rough patch of late.