Emmer comments on You Can Run donation
Republican Tom Emmer commented today on a 2008 campaign donation to a group that is linked to statements that said "homosexuality is an abomination" and gays are "predators."
Emmer's campaign for announced yesterday that it was working with the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board to see if Emmer violated campaign finance law by donating more than the legal limit to You Can Run International.
The 2008 campaign finance report says Emmer's campaign gave a $250 nonprofit donation to the group - $150 more than the limit. But a spokesman for Emmer's campaign for governor said last night that the funds went to buy a table for a dinner with the group. Here's what Emmer said when he was asked about the donation:
"I bought a table. That's a non-issue. You got some information yesterday when I was on the road. Bradlee Dean, Jake... I met them a couple of times. One of the my constituents is a great supporter of theirs. He asked me to get involved. We were going to have some young kids go to one of their annual events. We bought a table. That's what that's about."
Reporter: "Do you support his comments or where do you stand on what he's been saying?"
Emmer: "I met Bradlee and Jake a couple of times. I think they're good people. I don't know what they said. I don't know, wasn't there, haven't heard it. Some folks have told me in the last 12 hours that somebody might ask about it. This is a non-issue. I don't condone violence and would never support it. When somebody says something that's strong and suggests that, that's not what I'm about.
The only violence should be with a couple of referees on a hockey rink with sticks and pucks."
Emmer made the comments during a news conference announcing a statewide listening tour. We'll post information regarding dates and times of the tour once the campaign releases the information.
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