The Section:
Olson is Pro Choice
Olson looks to the issue of abortion as separating himself from his DFL rival. “I’m Pro Choice,” he said. “I respect a women’s right to privacy. I just don’t think the government should get involved,” said Olson.
His and Tinklenberg’s views are not the same, Olson maintains.
“No, he’s (Tinklenberg) saying he’s ‘Pro Life,’” said Olson. “Sometimes when you listen to Elwyn, and if you listen closely, you don’t know what he meant,” said Olson.
Olson must be “a little disparate” to suggest that he is Pro Life, said Tinklenberg. “He knows better,” said Tinklenberg.
He’s not interested in seeing Roe v. Wade overturned, nor criminalizing the relationship between a woman and her doctor, said Tinklenberg. Rather, he supports education, prevention, and other tactics to reduce the number of abortions. “I believe that is ‘Pro Life,’” Tinklenberg said.
Tinklenberg believes his political stances reflect the 6th District.
He declared himself a pro-life Democrat - a different position on abortion than child safety advocate and Democrat Patty Wetterling ran on last election in the district.
"It's (pro life) been my perspective since the early days of my life as a minister," said Tinklenberg.
Second, simply because you have now decided to parse your previous statements in an attempt to assure Democrats in the 6th District that you are acceptable to those of us who are Pro-Choice does NOT make Mr. Olson desperate. It makes us confused Mr. Tinklenberg! It makes us wonder how we could possibly trust you to support our principles when you are so willing to bend them in times of need. What it should do is make us concerned that you will parse any issue to the point that it no longer has any meaning because you are trying to be all things to all people.
4 responses to "What Are You Playing At Mr. Tinklenberg?"
I remember ET saying in 2006 that he doesn't want to overturn Roe v. Wade. From a MNPublius Interview -
MNP: Do you think Roe v. Wade should be overturned?
ET: My position on the choice issue has been distorted by some of my opponents. I don�t believe that the most effective way to reduce the number of abortions in this country is by criminalizing private decisions between a woman and her doctor.
Now, he went on to mention the 95/10 initiative in talking about the need to reduce unwanted pregnancies. I don't really like the 95/10 stuff, cuz it seems like a lot of fear tactics, but reducing unwanted pregnancies is definitely a good thing.
In any case, you may not like El, but Bob clearly mischaracterized his opponent's position, and you should try to be honest about that. God forbid we have a candidate with a nuanced position on something as complicated and controversial as abortion.
Any news on the EdMinn endorsement?
Anon: The question is, then, what was Tinklenberg saying then and now about his "different position" than his Democratic opponents. Is his contention that either Wetterling then or Olson now DON'T want to reduce abortions through education or prevention? I am not sure that I know anyone who is Pro-Choice that wants to see more abortions and who wouldn't like to see abortion reduced through education. You can claim I am not being honest but it seems like a very muddled position to many people listening.
On the endorsement, I have promised not to say anything until the information is already out there and given that no one appears to have leaked it and there hasn't been an official announcement I am keeping my lips zipped.
Here's the MN Publius Interview, and my followup questions:
http://mnpublius.com/2006/04/an-interview-with-el-tinklenberg/#more-2083
Eva Young Apr 6th, 2006 at 10:37 pm
Thanks for the link to the Democrats for Life website.
Here’s from the website:
On February 1, 2006, Kristen Day addressed members of the media at a press conference urging members of Congress to bring Holly’s Law, H.R. 1079, to the House floor for a vote. Holly’s Law, named in honor of a victim who died from taking RU-486, calls for a ban on the distribution of the drug until the FDA can reconsider the potentially deadly side effects.
In her remarks, Day pointed out the dangers of the abortion drug, noting that women are at risk of serious bleeding problems and even death. Day acknowledged the Democrats who have co-sponsored this life-saving legislation: U.S. Representatives Lincoln Davis, Daniel Lipinski, Alan Mollohan, Gene Taylor and Bart Stupak.
Read Kristen’s remarks in our press release.
Last Updated ( Monday, 13 March 2006 )
I’d like to hear where Elwyn Tinklenberg stands on this.
In latest news they have this:
http://www.democratsforlife.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=151&Itemid=2
Disability Rights Advocates Mark Anniversary of Terri Schiavo’s Euthanasia
EY: I’d like to hear what Elwyn Tinklenberg thinks of the Terri Schiavo situation.
From the Dems for Life website, these folks are single issue extremists. Janet Robert - who is promoting the Dems for Life in Minnesota is an extremist on this issue - she wouldn’t let stem cell research be discussed on her “progressive” radio station.
The 95:10 plan sounds pretty bogus - Elwyn Tinklenberg needs to be asked if he supports bogus claims - such as the so-called “abortion breast cancer link”?
******
When I interviewed ET, I did NOT ask him about Democrats for Life and their bogus science website claims. I hope someone else will get him on the record on this issue. I did ask about Stem Cell research.
I don't know that there's any difference between Olson and Tinklenberg on this issue, but that's not the question you asked in your post. Your post suggested he's changed his position to appeal more to DFLers or that he hasn't been clear that he's not interested in overturning Roe v. Wade. That's where I though you were being dishonest.
I think Tink is tring to label himself as a democrat with a different primary objective, and that's where the 'pro-life' label comes in. He's trying to make sure people know that his main goal is reducing unwanted pregnancies. It's a messaging package, I'm sure, but what politician doesn't do that? I think you're supposed to do that. Give people a feel for who you are, what your priorities are, how you approach your role, etc. I think that's legitimate.
All of Eva's concerns above are fair things to ask. I'd like to hear his answers, too, though I don't expect him to endorse their claims. He seems to support real science.