Category: Dean Phillips

Phillips Calls for New “Truth in Political Advertising” Effort, Challenges False Ads

Phillips offers mechanism to protect voters in similar way to how we protect consumers

Excelsior, MN – Congressman Erik Paulsen and the special interest groups supporting his campaign are spending at least $8 million on a coordinated disinformation campaign targeting voters in Minnesota’s 3rd District. Paulsen for Congress, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), and the Congressional Leadership Fund (CLF) have all been called out by local news organizations for spreading false and misleading claims. Today, Politifact confirmed that the ads are distorted, out of context, and mostly false. Still, Paulsen for Congress, NRCC and CLF continue to fill the airwaves with little regard for the truth.

In response, Dean Phillips’s campaign for Congress today formally challenged the false NRCC and CLF ads, issued a letter to Congressman Paulsen correcting his false claims so that he can correct his ads accordingly, and offered a new idea to protect voters from the kind of lies and political distortions that are pervasive on the airwaves right now.

Because the Supreme Court has determined that First Amendment protections of free speech extend to political speech regardless of whether it is true or not, Phillips announced his proposal to establish a national Truth in Political Advertising program whereby political campaigns could voluntarily submit advertisements to an independent, nonpartisan fact-checking organization for verification of claims made. If verified, the advertisement would receive a Truth in Political Advertising Seal of Approval, which could be displayed in the ad. Continue reading “Phillips Calls for New “Truth in Political Advertising” Effort, Challenges False Ads”

Big Pharma has hand in election

Erik Paulsen has repeatedly maintained, “I do what’s right for my constituents regardless of who donates to me.”

And, receive donations, he does: Paulsen ranks sixth of 435 U.S. representatives for the amount of money he receives from PACs: over $2 million. Is it really possible that Paulsen is unaffected by this money?

As a nurse practitioner who prescribes drugs, Minnesota law prohibits me from taking more than $50 annually from any pharmaceutical or other such company. Why? Because research consistently shows that I would likely be influenced by any gift provided me. A 2017 study found that professionals who received gifts from pharmaceutical companies not only prescribe more drugs, but more costly ones, compared to those who did not receive gifts. A big difference in my case: Any company who might gift me with a meal, an education credit, a book a pen or other, is not able to track if I am actually prescribing the drug they are promoting. Continue reading “Big Pharma has hand in election”

Ironically, Paulsen Lies About Fact Checks During Debate

WCCO TV and KARE 11 both called Paulsen claims on healthcare FALSE

Credit: Pedro J. Perez via Morguefile.com

Excelsior, MN – In the third debate of the campaign for Congress in Minnesota’s third district, Congressman Erik Paulsen continued to promote claims called false and misleading by local independent fact checkers, saying instead that those fact checks backed up his claims.

Here’s the truth:

KARE 11 News fact checked the Paulsen claim and declared “Attacks on Phillips Fail Truth Test.”

WCCO TV noted that Congressman Paulsen’s campaign took their own assessment out of context in an effort to mislead voters. Pat Kessler: “Paulsen is trying to make it seem like Phillips doesn’t give his workers healthcare. That’s FALSE.”

WCCO TV included the following facts to clear up Congressman Paulsen’s lie:

 

“Here are the facts about Dean Phillips:

Continue reading “Ironically, Paulsen Lies About Fact Checks During Debate”

Dean Phillips offers a new direction for Third District Voters

Phillips emphasizes bipartisanship, transparency, and common-sense reforms at MPR News debate

Dean Phillips, DFL candidate for Congress in Minnesota’s Third Congressional District, today shared his vision of a Congress that puts people over the interests of corporations and wealthy special interests at a debate hosted by Minnesota Public Radio.
Phillips laid out thoughtful, specific plans to protect and strengthen Medicare and Social Security, guarantee access to quality affordable health care for all Minnesotans, and return transparency and accessibility to a political system that has become mired in dark money interests. Phillips is the only Congressional candidate in the country who has not self-funded or accepted any money from corporations, special interests, PACs, or Members of Congress.

On health care: “I think it’s time that our nation makes the moral decision to ensure that everybody has health care because we are the only developed nation in the world that chooses not to do so right now… I believe in choice. I believe in the freedom to have options. I believe in competition. I believe the way forward is to ensure that there is more competition and more choices… I think it’s time that we start rewarding prevention, rather than rewarding procedures.” Continue reading “Dean Phillips offers a new direction for Third District Voters”

24 House Ratings Change in Favor of Democrats, One Month Out

 

Roll Call elections analyst Nathan L. Gonzales has two dozen House race ratings shifts — and they’re all positive for Democrats. Nearly one month from Election Day, Gonzales discusses how it’s more a question of Democratic prospects being good or great in the House than anything else. See below for a full list of all the ratings shifts and watch the video for more analysis.  Continue reading “24 House Ratings Change in Favor of Democrats, One Month Out”

Phillips is a champion for affordable health care

To the editor:

Why did Third Congressional District Rep. Erik Paulsen use a big money super PAC mouthpiece to mock DFL nominee Dean Phillips, instead of directly addressing affordable health care issues facing his constituents?

An advertisement claims that Phillips did not provide health care to his employees at Penny’s Coffee. Paulsen’s campaign then echoed the claim in an ad with a similar tone. These are misleading and false, as numerous local media outlets have reported.

First off, Paulsen does not know of the pressures of maintaining a small business, especially during the tumultuous first year of a company. If anyone is qualified to speak on such issues, it is Phillips. Continue reading “Phillips is a champion for affordable health care”

Dean Phillips looks out for the little guy

To the Editor:

I encourage everyone in Congressional District 3 to vote for Dean Phillips. I am extremely impressed with his grasp of the issues, his hard work and his creativity. He readily admits that he is “lucky” to have his family background of wealth and education. As voters, we must remember, wealth is not a bad thing; it is how you use the wealth that is important. Dean has used his mostly for the little guy. To create a “government repair truck” and ride around the district meeting people is a refreshing change from our present nearly invisible representative.

Dean has invited our present representative to a series of forums that have been scheduled; he has not shown up to any. To build an ice house on Lake Minnetonka last winter and invite people in is a sign of someone who truly listens to voters. But, most of all I am heartened by his true commitment to getting “big money” out of politics. Thousands of individual contributions are funding his campaign; he rejects all special interest, PAC and SuperPAC money. That cannot be said of our present representative. Continue reading “Dean Phillips looks out for the little guy”

So, you saw a nasty ad …

As you may have noticed, Erik Paulsen and his special interest patrons are spending millions of dollars to flood the airwaves with negative attack ads again Dean Phillips. You might have questions, and Dean and his campaign team were happy to shed light on the truth:

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Dean Phillips is running a people-powered campaign because he believes that our politics are broken — and these kind of ads are part of the problem. Dean has taken $0 from PACs, lobbyists or members of Congress; instead, 64,000 individuals have contributed to the campaign, at an average donation of us $32. Change is coming, and everyone’s invited!