Alan Fine fires away at Keith Ellison
Alan Fine, the GOP candidate running in Minnesota's Fifth Congressional District, says DFL candidate Keith Ellison is "unfit to represent the voters in the fifth district." Fine, Ellison, Independence Party member Tammy Lee and Green Party candidate Jay Pond are all on the November ballot in the fifth. Fine provided a blistering criticism (some of which he couldn't back up) of Ellison at an afternoon news conference. You can listen to it here.
Ellison issued this written response:
Ellison Responds To Republican Candidate’s Remarks
Minneapolis—September 13 “The remarks about which I’ve been asked to respond to are diametrically opposed to what our campaign has been about, what my career as a public servant and a grassroots organizer has been about. To engage them is to be sullied by them.
This campaign is about inclusion, not alienation. This campaign is about reaching across the needless barriers that divide us, not erecting them. Last night’s primary election’s record turnout is all the evidence I need to know that our message of enfranchisement, of peace and a society where there are no throwaway people resonated with voters. In fact, it brought more people into the democratic process. The remarks made this afternoon by my Republican opponent are calculated to do just the opposite.
I intend to continue reaching out to the marginalized, to the disenfranchised, the dispossessed and inviting them in, to join us as we take our country back from those who would pander to our worst fears. This campaign will continue to speak to our highest hopes. And together, I am confident those hopes can be realized."
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