Liberal in the Land of Conservative: DFL Candidate Forum (November 15th)

Dump Bachmann has obtained a copy of a memo by Donald Schultz in the 6th District DFL. He emailed Olson campaign people and Tinklenberg campaign people:

Attached find what I hope is the final version of the ground rules for
our forum. Please contact me by email or phone (xxx-xxx-xxx) if you
find any problems or have other concerns with these.

Thanks for your great assistance in helping with the Forum. I look
forward to seeing you on Thursday, perhaps 15-30 minutes in advance of
the 7 pm program.

As always, with solidarity ....
Don

Money Quote:

7. Plans are afoot to publicize the Candidate Forum as broadly as possible in Democratic Party circles, specifically Democratic Party activists. We feel it not appropriate at this time to extend the circle of publicity much outside the party, although it will be impossible entirely to avoid getting the word out to a more general audience. Representatives of the news media will be invited to cover the event after the fact.

Which of the campaigns wants to debate in secret?

CD 6 DFL Congressional Candidate Forum – November 15, 2007

Atwood Center, Saint Cloud State University

1. Both the Olson and Tinklenberg campaigns have indicated their preparedness to participate in a candidate forum on Thursday, November 15 in the Saint Cloud area.

2. The Saint Cloud State University College Democratic Club has been invited to co-sponsor the forum, together with Senate Districts 14 and 15, and they have agreed to do so.

3. A room has been secured for November 15 from 6:30 pm in the Atwood Campus Center at St. Cloud State. This should allow us to accomodate comfortably an audience of 125 - 175 persons for a program lasting from 7-8:30 pm (or later if this becomes desirable).

4. The suggested format for the Candiate Forum is as follows:
7:00 Greetings and Ground-Rules
7:07 Candidate Statements -- 8 minutes each
7:23 Candidate Responses -- 4 minutes each
7:35 Audience Questions and Answers -- 3 minutes each
8:26 Concluding Statements – 2 minutes each

8:30 Thank You and Adjournment

5. Audience questions will be submitted in writing. The chairs of Senate Districts 14 and 15 have been asked to serve as a panel to organize the audience questions to avoid repetitiveness and focus the discussion. If either chair cannot serve or feels it unwise to serve in this function, then they are asked to designate their representative to perform this function.

6. Sue Rego has agreed to be Moderator; Renee Ehlenz, Time Keeper.

7. Plans are afoot to publicize the Candidate Forum as broadly as possible in Democratic Party circles, specifically Democratic Party activists. We feel it not appropriate at this time to extend the circle of publicity much outside the party, although it will be impossible entirely to avoid getting the word out to a more general audience. Representatives of the news media will be invited to cover the event after the fact.

9. There will be a podium for the candidates to speak from as well as chairs and a table for them to use when not speaking.

After getting this memo, I contacted Schultz and asked him the reasons for rule 7. He asked me how I'd obtained the memo, and I told him that we do not disclose sources at Dump Bachmann. Don said that this was a forum geared towards party activists, and while they would not turn away members of the public, they saw no obligation to notify the public. I asked if any particular campaign pressed for this rule, and he said he would not comment on that point.

Later in the day, the Olson campaign sent out the following press advisary:

Bob Olson will participate in a candidates forum this week in St. Cloud:

Date: Thursday, Nov. 15
Time: 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Place: St. Cloud State University's Atwood Center
Sponsors: SCSU College Democrats and Senate Districts 14 and 15

--
Christopher Truscott
Olson for Congress
Communications Director
chris@bobolson.org
www.bobolson.org

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