Category: The Real Erik Paulsen

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”

Paul Ryan Travels to Minnesota to Reward Paulsen and Lewis for Their Unabashed Support of His Radical Agenda

Paulsen and Lewis have voted for the Ryan-Trump agenda more than 95% of the time, despite representing politically moderate districts

Speaker Paul Ryan traveled to Minnesota yesterday to boost the flailing campaigns of Republican Congressmen Jason Lewis (MN-02) and Erik Paulsen (MN-03). Ryan’s visit is a reward for the duo’s unabashed support of harmful GOP priorities, like trying to gut health care for millions of Americans and voting for huge tax cuts to billionaires and wealthy special interests that have caused a massive national deficit.

“It’s no surprise Paul Ryan is in Minnesota campaigning with his friends Erik Paulsen and Jason Lewis,” said DFL Chair Ken Martin. “Lewis helped Ryan pass a trillion dollar tax giveaway to the billionaires and special interests who fund their political operation, and Paulsen has been a proud rubber stamp for the Ryan-Trump agenda, voting in lockstep with Republican leadership more than 96% of the time. Continue reading “Paul Ryan Travels to Minnesota to Reward Paulsen and Lewis for Their Unabashed Support of His Radical Agenda”

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.

Scalise Defends Trump Joking About Gianforte Assaulting a Reporter

Majority whip says Trump was ‘ribbing’ Gianforte, not asking his supporters to engage in violence

Reps. Paulsen and Scalise Credit: Paulsen Instagram screengrab

House Majority Whip Steve Scalise has been on TV, Twitter and writing op-eds criticizing Democrats for inciting violence, but on Friday he defended President Donald Trump’s comments about a congressman’s assault on a reporter as simply a joke.

Last year Montana Rep. Greg Gianforte body slammed Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs after the reporter tried to ask him questions about his views on a GOP health care plan.

Trump, during a rally in Montana with Gianforte on Thursday night, said he thought the incident actually helped the Republican get elected to Congress.

Paulsen Gets Promoted:

ERIK PAULSEN IS NOW THE 4TH BIGGEST TAKER OF PAC MONEY IN CONGRESS

Paulsen’s special interest patrons are desperate, scrambling to buy election as Paulsen’s negative campaign backfires

Excelsior, MN – Erik Paulsen’s unprecedented negative campaign has drawn public rebuke from independent journalists, community leaders, sexual harassment and assault survivors, attorneys, and members of his own party in the past week alone. Meanwhile, special interest groups and super PACs are pouring money into Paulsen’s campaign coffers and spending even more on his behalf, doubling down on their deceitful campaign in a last-ditch effort to protect their investment. As a result, Congressman Erik Paulsen is now the fourth biggest taker of PAC money in all of Congress, up from sixth just a few weeks ago, and eighth in August.

“Erik Paulsen has sold his votes to the highest bidder,” said Zach Rodvold, campaign manager for Phillips for Congress. “Voters should ask: can the 4th biggest taker of special interest money in all of Congress really represent the people of Minnesota’s Third Congressional District? Congressman Paulsen’s record – voting 98% of the time with Donald Trump, and over and over again with special interests – proves the answer is ‘no.’ The staggering about of PAC money that bankrolls Erik Paulsen’s campaign speaks for itself. Erik Paulsen is bought and sold.”

MORE FROM PACS THAN FROM PEOPLE

Erik Paulsen has taken more than $2.6 million from PACs in this election cycle alone. That sum accounts for 51% of his total fundraising. Only 3% of Erik Paulsen’s campaign contributions came from individual small dollar donors. In the same period, Dean Phillips has taken $0 from PACs, instead raising over $4 million from 64,000 individual donors and counting. Continue reading “Paulsen Gets Promoted:”