From the St. Cloud Times:
Our view: Olson does not belong at Capitol anymore
Times Editorial Board
Published: August 24. 2007 12:30AMHe continues to claim he committed no crime despite a jury's conviction and a judge's sentence. He's repeatedly said "no" to a not-so-subtle request from leaders of his (former) political party to resign. Not to mention he wouldn't even talk issues with this editorial board in his last election bid.
Clearly, District 16B House Rep. Mark Olson is a denial machine. So we make this request in the wake of his criminal conviction and recent sentencing for causing his wife fear of bodily harm: Resign your legislative seat immediately.
Presuming yet another denial, we make this request of District 16B voters: Do not re-elect him, should he seek a ninth term in November 2008.
Why our formal call for his immediate resignation supplanted with a nonendorsement in an election 14 months away?
Well, just from the perspective of legislative representation, we believe Olson no longer embodies an effective approach, especially for a fast-growing district such as 16B, the geographic heart of Sherburne County.
While he once held some appeal as a "maverick" legislator, he's really yielded few tangible results considering he's served the district since 1992. And now that he's lost the support of his own party, he's truly become a nonfactor in Minnesota's two-party system.
Really, though, Olson should resign because of his obsession with denial.
The news coverage of the entire domestic abuse case involving he and his wife, Heidi, consistently shows a man who never even offers the slightest hint he did something wrong. He doesn't seem to understand that physical reactions in emotional situations are the textbook definition of abuse and assault. Not to mention such responses are criminal.
Indeed, aside from his unsubstantiated claims of him being the victim, he seems most upset by how the whole situation put his family in the spotlight.
Funny. If he was so concerned about the impact on his family, why did he adopt legal strategies that included multiple delays for trial dates? Or why is he talking about keeping the court case alive through appeals?
Such actions seem only destined to contribute to more public attention on family matters, not less.
But we digress. Ultimately, Olson and his wife, Heidi, who is seeking a divorce, clearly had a troubled four-year marriage.
That in itself is sad, but not a crime. However, the judicial system determined Olson did commit a crime, one certainly serious enough to warrant his immediate resignation.
Assuming he doesn't offer it, district voters must elect someone else come next November. They need a strong, credible voice grounded in reality.
Olson doesn't meet that standard at any level any more.
These people seem to disagree and would rather talk around the conviction by either using Mark's technique of blaming Heidi, refocusing the conversation by highlighting the behavior of Democrats in the classic "But you do it too!" defense, or simply using ad Hominem techniques to attack liberals (as if it was liberals who forced Mark to abuse his wife).
Here is a sampling:
1.
Archie from Coon Rapids
Comment Posted: 8/24/2007 1:37:42 AM
95% politics and 5% misdemeanor:
Does not justify such harsh punishment
10.
Earth Angel
Comment Posted: 8/24/2007 8:43:48 AM
I'm waiting for the Times to ask Senator Metzen to step down.
11.
Earth Angel
Comment Posted: 8/24/2007 8:46:45 AM
Senator Metzen, president of the Senate -- Democrat -- earned a DUI last May, on the last night of the regular session.
18.
Simon Sez from Northside
Comment Posted: 8/24/2007 9:02:26 AM
Simon Sez, there was that wacky lefty from the cities that stole campaign lit from her opponent. Right off of the door steps. Is the bird cage liner going to ask her to resign ?
Simon Sez, the goofballs name was Phyills Kahn. She plead guilty to a misdemeanor.
*I love these two, from the party that consistently talks about personal responsibility, they choose to ignore the behavior at hand and highlight misdeeds of other people.
25.
Earth Angel
Comment Posted: 8/24/2007 9:07:23 AM
Olsen's point all along has been that the voters of his district should decide if his crimes should remove him from the Senate.
It's been Teddy Kennedy's position for years.
*The classic defense whenever any Republican does anything wrong, bring up Ted Kennedy!
49.
Simon Sez from Northside
Comment Posted: 8/24/2007 11:44:45 AM
Simon Sez, ok answer this Joan. Mrs Olson testified she hit him on many occasions. Tore up his property with a knife. Made threats and abused him. He NEVER HIT HER BACK. He simply put her to the ground.
Simon knows you have it out for him even though he was protecting himself.
Simon asks, is it right she walks off scott free ?
56.
Earth Angel
Comment Posted: 8/24/2007 12:07:57 PM
Since Mrs. Olson is so much taller than Mr. Olson, we could have, here, a legitimate case of husband battering.
Although the concept seems absurd, it is a real syndrome from which men suffer shame and isolation.
70.
Simon Sez from Northside
Comment Posted: 8/24/2007 1:12:37 PM
Simon Sez, so he cared about her and the 5 kids he took on. He cared enough knowing that she is mentally unstable not to report her for abuses that far exceeded his. And you are fine with that. Exactly the answer I expected.
*This one infuriates the most as Heidi has previously described the mental abuse Mark put her autistic child through with his inability to let even the most insignificant of conflicts go. The man couldn't get past this boy playing MONOPOLY in a slightly different manner.
