Congressman Jim Ramstad addressed the Education Minnesota Representative Convention this weekend and gave an excellent speech about partisan politics and the need to support education. In the second part of the speech, Mr. Ramstad discusses the work he has been doing on mental health parity and his memories of Paul Wellstone.
We need more Republicans like Mr. Ramstad:
Unfortunately, they are being driven from the party and punished for voting their conscience. There is a significant lesson here for Democrats. We cannot be a party that kicks out its moderates. We must embrace them and encourage them as they show that we are a party of inclusion and not a party of exclusion. They show that we are a party that encourages dissent and independent thought in its membership. If we do that, the larger population will see our message of inclusion and the Republican Party will be increasingly relegated to the fringe of society.
5 responses to "Jim Ramstad at Education Minnesota"
We cannot be a party that kicks out its moderates. We must embrace them and encourage them as they show that we are a party of inclusion and not a party of exclusion.
Tell that to Joe Lieberman, Zell Miller & Mike Ciresi.
I have long said that Joe Lieberman should not have been given the treatment that he did.
Ciresi really just lost the nomination race and I don't think he was forced out of the party in any way. As you well know, I supported him and his candidacy.
Zell Miller, despite what he wants to believe, left the party entirely on his own and chose to turn around and spit on the party. He is an entirely different case. If someone wants to leave in that manner then I wish them luck, but it certainly doesn't look ill on the party.
Fair points. I posted about the repercussions of Lieberman's primary defeat here.
Lamont vs. Lieberman will have a significant impact on this election, especially when Lieberman campaigns with and/or on behalf of Sen. McCain & when he delivers a primetime speech at the Republican National Convention.
It won't help your side's image to have Franken as your statewide standard-bearer.
Well said Muse. It's not Elwyn's moderate nature that makes him an unattractive candidate to me, it's his lack of consistency.
He's been so inconsistent, I can't trust him.
Anon, Thanks for fostering an attitude of inclusiveness & moderation. Let's get you a bigger bullhorn with which to blast your beliefs.