Category: Dean Phillips

Paulsen takes campaign to a new low

I was sitting in the waiting room at the Allina Radiology and Oncology center when I first saw Erik Paulsen’s ad demonizing Dean Phillips and the Allina Health Care system. The feeling of gratitude that had filled my heart as I was waiting for my last visit with my radiologist for my breast cancer treatment was replaced with disgust and anger as I watched this dark and vulgar video. I looked around the room at the others waiting for care and I wondered how they would feel if they happened upon the ad as I just did. When you are being treated for a life threatening condition and you have hope you have won the battle with the excellent care of the hospital and their staff, your gratitude makes you want to fight for their honor and reputation.

I am appalled that Erik Paulsen trashes Dean Phillips in one ad after another, but now Paulsen is trashing a place where thousands have found cures and help at the most difficult times of their lives. Erik Paulsen has taken the dark ads to a new low. It is simply disgusting.

Erik Paulsen will be leaving Congress with a disgraced reputation rather than one that honors him for serving. He must be desperate to be willing to tarnish his service in this way. The only ads I see from Paulsen’s team are ones trashing Dean Phillips. Has Paulsen nothing positive to say about himself? Continue reading “Paulsen takes campaign to a new low”

Dean Phillips to Moderate a Gun Violence Prevention Issues Forum This Evening

Public forum with national experts to be held TODAY in Edina

Excelsior, MN — Dean Phillips will moderate a free and open-to-the-public panel discussion focused on gun violence prevention on Monday, October 22nd in Edina. The solutions-focused educational forum will feature national experts. Previous “Everyone’s Invited! Issue Forums” have drawn crowds of more than 200 people.

Event details:

“Everyone’s Invited! Issue Forum” – Gun Violence Prevention

Monday, October 22, 2018

Location: Normandale Elementary, 5701 Normandale Road, Edina, MN 55424

Doors Open: 6:00 PM

Event Time: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Special Guests:

  • Representative Ted Deutch, US Congressman representing Parkland, FL
  • Nancy Nord Bence, Executive Director of Protect Minnesota
  • Lt. Col. Kyleanne Hunter, USMC (ret.), Vice President of Programs at Brady Campaign and Center to Prevent Gun Violence
  • Robin Lloyd, Government Affairs Director at Giffords

Paulsen’s Dishonest Campaign Barrels on with No Regard for Truth in Final MN03 Debate

When asked, Erik Paulsen has a misleading or flat out false answer for everything

Excelsior, MN — At the final debate between Erik Paulsen and Dean Phillips today, Congressman Paulsen doubled down on the lies and distortions that have come to be a hallmark of his campaign. Erik Paulsen deceived at every turn, wrapping up a negative campaign the likes of which is unprecedented in Minnesota political history.

“Congressman Paulsen’s dishonest tactics were on display again today,” said Zach Rodvold, campaign manager for Phillips for Congress. “Not only is Congressman Paulsen voting with Trump 98% of the time, he’s beginning to behave like him too, using personal insults and slander and telling lie after lie in his ads and in public appearances. That’s why more and more former Erik Paulsen supporters are joining the Dean Team every day.”

“I’ve simply had it,” said one of Paulsen’s former supporters, David Hawes from Minnetonka, who has voted for Paulsen four times. “Erik Paulsen is running the worst smear campaign Minnesota has ever seen – and this year I am switching my vote to Dean Phillips.”

Here are a few of Congressman Paulsen’s deviations from the truth from today’s KSTP debate: Continue reading “Paulsen’s Dishonest Campaign Barrels on with No Regard for Truth in Final MN03 Debate”

Medical costs transparency

Erik Paulsen has failed us in healthcare cost containment.

In his position on the Health Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee, he has been presented with numerous ideas to contain costs. He has chosen instead to promote Health Savings Accounts.

Since we have no choice but to pay whatever bill shows up, having an HSA does nothing to check rising healthcare costs. Minnesota did pass a law this year that will require primary care physicians to post the prices of their 25 most common procedures, so next year we will be able to compare the cost of wart removal and a sore throat exam. Where we need the cost comparisons is for a hip replacement, cancer treatment, and heart valve replacement surgery.

I checked and found that other states already require different levels of transparency. Even my home state of Nebraska has had hospitals posting their fees for years now. Minnesota is behind in this commonsense, competitive way to lower the costs of healthcare.

We are the home of big healthcare insurance companies, who have given politicians lots of money to promote ideas that don’t contain costs.

Dean Phillips has pledged not to take this kind of money. I am ready to give him the chance to go to Washington and change Congress, to be responsive to people again.

Working people run this economy. It is time we recognize our value and vote to take care of ourselves and our families.

Sally Johnson, Chanhassen
Chanhassen Villager, October 20, 2018

Erik Paulsen Repeats False and Misleading Claims in TPT Debate

Paulsen’s historically dishonest and negative campaign is beginning to backfire

Excelsior, MN – Throughout the course of last evening’s Third District Congressional debate, Congressman Erik Paulsen repeatedly made false claims about both his own record and Dean Phillips’s policy priorities. For those watching, it was again clear that the incumbent Congressman is out of ideas and instead is waging one of the most dishonest campaigns in Minnesota history in order to hold onto power at all costs.

“Congressman Paulsen’s dishonest campaign is starting to backfire,” said Zach Rodvold, campaign manager for Phillips for Congress. “Not only is Congressman Paulsen voting with Trump 98% of the time, he’s beginning to behave like him too, using personal insults and slander and telling lie after lie in his ads and in public appearances. That’s why more and more former Erik Paulsen supporters are joining the Dean Team every day.”

“I’ve simply had it,” said one of Paulsen’s former supporters, David Hawes from Minnetonka, who has voted for Paulsen four times. “Erik Paulsen is running the worst smear campaign Minnesota has ever seen – and this year I am switching my vote to Dean Phillips.”
Continue reading “Erik Paulsen Repeats False and Misleading Claims in TPT Debate”

Truth Test: Paulsen Attack on Phillips Gets D-

A new television ad by Republican 3rd District Congressional candidate Erik Paulsen exaggerates and misleads in an attempt to tie Democratic opponent Dean Phillips to another candidate accused of domestic abuse.

“Sleazy Keith Ellison and Shady Dean Phillips both caught up in another sexual harassment scandal,” says the new ad, making it sound like the two are caught up in the same sexual harassment scandal.

“Ellison accused of physical abuse,” the ad continues. “Phillips charged with ignoring sexual harassment and discrimination at his companies.”

View the complete October 18 post on the KSTP website here.

Erik Paulsen Needs to Take His Own Advice

Paulsen’s campaign should show the civility, discourse, and restraint he called for last year

Erik Paulsen needs to start taking his own advice. Last year, the Third District Republican called for “civility, discourse, restraint, whether it’s in the political system or society as a whole.”  Yet over the course of his campaign against DFLer Dean Phillips, Congressman Paulsen has run a campaign devoid of civility, discourse, or restraint.

As a member of the bipartisan Congressional Civility Caucus, Erik Paulsen has joined other representatives from both parties who have said they are “taking action to restore civility and respect in our political discourse.” But Paulsen’s campaign tactics are anything but civil and are probably enough to warrant his ejection from that club. As recently as this week Paulsen has been condemned by constituents, business and community leaders for the incivility with which he continues to launch misleading attacks against his opponent Dean Phillips.  

A closer look at Paulsen’s behavior during the campaign shows a stark contradiction between his words and actions. Continue reading “Erik Paulsen Needs to Take His Own Advice”

Dean Phillips to Moderate Gun Violence Prevention Issue Forum

Public forum with national experts to be held on Monday, October 22 in Edina

Excelsior, MN — Dean Phillips will moderate a free and open-to-the-public panel discussion focused on gun violence prevention on Monday, October 22nd in Edina. The solutions-focused educational forum will feature national experts. Previous “Everyone’s Invited! Issue Forums” have drawn crowds of more than 200 people.

Event details:

“Everyone’s Invited! Issue Forum” – Gun Violence Prevention

Monday, October 22, 2018
Location: Normandale Elementary, 5701 Normandale Road, Edina, MN 55424
Doors Open: 6:00 PM
Event Time: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Special Guests:

  • Representative Ted Deutch, US Congressman representing Parkland, FL
  • Nancy Nord Bence, Executive Director of Protect Minnesota
  • Lt. Col. Kyleanne Hunter, USMC (ret.), Vice President of Programs at Brady Campaign and Center to Prevent Gun Violence
  • Katherine Phillips, Federal Affairs Manager at Giffords (no relation to Dean Phillips)