Tag: 3rd Congressional District

Phillips guided by constituents, not special interest groups

To the editor:

It is exciting to see so much agreement in the community about U.S. House candidate Dean Phillips’ refusal to take any campaign money from special interest groups, including PACs. I have been out door-knocking in our neighborhoods, and it is clear that people are eager for a representative who is guided by his constituents rather than by special interest groups.

The incumbent, Erik Paulsen, takes in more special interest money than almost all other House members. Only 5 out of 435 House members take in more money than he does (bit.ly/2KyphfZ).

What this means is that it is up to us, Dean Phillips’s future constituents, to show him that he was right to take this stand – that he was right to believe that we will donate our time, energy and money so that special interest money is no longer needed to win a race.

Let’s live up to Dean Phillips’ faith in our community and our country. Donate and volunteer at phillipsforcongress.org.

Kathy Christensen, Edina
Edina Sun-Current, August 8, 2018

Phillips is inspiring the next generation

To the editor:

In the past few years, we’ve seen an uptick in activism from our country’s young people.

Like many famous American movements, our nation’s youth are once again leading the way to a better more compassionate America. From immigration to gun violence to women’s rights, you can see these young people marching across the country. This political fervor can be felt in all corners of the country, including in our own community.

Volunteering on the Dean Phillips campaign has been an experience unlike any other campaign I’ve witnessed. There’s a different energy in the air with so many young people helping out. These high school students can be seen marching in parades, helping out at fairs and rallying support, even though many of them aren’t old enough to vote. Seeing this outpouring of political activism from young people gives me hope that the next generation will fight, even harder than we did, to preserve democracy and protect the rights of our most vulnerable citizens.

Carol Bush, Bloomington
Bloomington Sun-Current, August 5, 2018

Not this time, Erik

To the Editor:

I’d be receptive to Sean Boylan’s recent letter to the editor (“Phillips’ investments demonstrate hypocrisy,” July 12) if it wasn’t so clearly from the mouth of Erik Paulsen’s campaign. For heaven’s sake, the letter cites “the news section of pauslenforcongress.com.”  After years of watching Erik’s campaigns, I know better than to trust him for accurate information.

Take his campaign ad that appeared last week promoting himself as an environmentalist. Somehow, in the midst of all his Boundary Water babble, he forgot to mention his 16 percent rating from the League of Conservation Voters or his dismal 0 percent rating from Clean Water Action.

Erik Paulsen thinks he can mislead and obfuscate his way to re-election. Not this time, Erik. The people are watching — and we don’t like what we see.

Daylon Prochaska, Eden Prairie
Eden Prairie Sun-Current, August 2, 2018

3 reasons not to vote for Paulsen

To the editor:

Rep. Erik Paulsen will not be getting my vote this autumn for three big reasons.

First, his recent town hall was only the first such event in seven years. That’s right: until the three town hall events he hosted in May, Paulsen hadn’t held a real town hall in seven long years – and my neighbors and I won’t forget that.

Second, while he positions himself as a moderate, he votes in line with President Donald Trump over 97 percent of the time, according to political data site FiveThirtyEight.com. But Trump and his radical policies don’t represent Minnesota; that’s why he lost our district by 10 points in 2016. And I don’t want anyone who votes like Trump representing me in Washington.

Finally, despite re-imagining himself as an environmentalist in his recent TV spot, in which he claimed to love the outdoors, Paulsen’s record on environmental issues has been abysmal. He holds a 16 percent score from the League of Conservation Voters, and when he was asked in 2008 if humans were contributing to climate change, he said he was “not smart enough to know if that’s true or not.”

If he wasn’t smart enough to know that humans are driving climate change, then he’s not smart enough to deserve my vote now.

Joseph Rapacki, Edina
Edina Sun-Current, August 2, 2018

Dean Phillips’ donations from individuals, not PACs

The Star Tribune reported the other day that the Paulsen-Phillips race is shaping up to be one of the most expensive in the state. As reported, this is largely thanks to the efforts of PACS (political action committees), who have poured millions into the race — over half of Erik Paulsen’s $3.7 million come from PACs. And no wonder they’re giving him so much money.

Congressman Paulsen has shown himself to be a reliable vote for his donors, as indicated by his support for bills that benefit Big Pharma, Big Oil, and the insurance industry.

Unlike with Erik Paulsen, the money funding Dean Phillips comes entirely from individuals. He’s refused every cent from PACs and special interests and takes six times the number of small money donations that Erik Paulsen does. Congressman Paulsen may call this a “gimmick,” but he’s received $2 million from PACs. Giving up that kind of fundraising isn’t a gimmick. It’s conviction — something Erik Paulsen could use a little more of in my opinion.

Heather Kurth Flesland, Maple Grove
Press & News, August 2, 2018

Paulsen mimics Mrs. Trump

To the editor:

Our congressman, Republican Erik Paulsen, had his own “Melania Moment” at the Edina Fourth of July parade.

Melania Trump made headlines a week earlier when she visited immigrant children, presumably to show them that someone cared.

But she wore a fashionable coat that said on the back, “I really don’t care; do U?” Continue reading “Paulsen mimics Mrs. Trump”

WCCO’s Pat Kessler’s Reality Check of Erik Paulsen’s Boundary Waters Ad

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A television campaign ad featuring Minnesota 3rd District Congressman Erik Paulsen highlights his work to protect the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

The ad also serves to put distance between the Republican Congressman and President Donald Trump.

The Congressman is featured enjoying the outdoors with his family in the ad.

View the complete article here.

I support Dean Phillips because he listens

To the Editor:

Dean Phillips is my choice for Minnesota’s Third Congressional District. Our part of Minnesota needs someone new in that seat, and judging by the groundswell of excitement around Dean, change is coming!

I’m a mother of six, work full-time as a marketing director at a nonprofit and have lived in this area most of my life. Excelsior is my hometown; Minnetonka is my current residence. My heart and priorities and values are deeply rooted in this community. I’ve always voted, but never gotten involved in politics or a campaign, until now.

Why? Because Dean Phillips is the guy you see at the co-op, on his bike around town, at the kids’ games and events and talking to people he meets on the street. He listens. I had the chance to test that out this winter when my husband, 15-year-old daughter and I visited his ice house in Excelsior. There, we sat down face-to-face and talked about healthcare, sensible gun reform, taxes, support for vulnerable members of our community, robust and inclusive education, the environment and more. Dean listened, asked questions and listened some more. He was particularly interested in what my daughter had to say and ask. Dean knows the spirit of these kids and that their way of getting things done is key to the future of change at home and in Washington. He’s a dad, and he gets it. Continue reading “I support Dean Phillips because he listens”

Dean Phillips represents the people

To the Editor:

I never thought I would get into politics. It always seemed boring and unnecessarily argumentative. My parents are both conservative but not politically active, and I guess I never was one to choose sides. The year 2016 was the first time I realized that elections have consequences. Before then, elections were just a horse race. Someone wins, someone loses and my life went on the same as it had before.

This time was different, people around me were scared, and shocked that we ended up here. We were all angry. We were too young to vote and we wanted to scream at the people that could vote but didn’t.

Instead, we found a more productive way to channel our energy, by supporting Dean Phillips. About 100 or so high school and college kids are campaigning for Dean. We knock on doors, we march in parades and we spread the word that there’s a new candidate in town who is providing hope to those who feel helpless because of the current administration. Continue reading “Dean Phillips represents the people”