I was doing research early this morning on gun rights, hunting issues and Minnesota's congressional delegation. As is sometimes the case, serendipity took over and I stumbled on something that piqued my interest when the search terms "John Kline" and "safari" were plugged in. "Safari" was related to a big game hunters' organization that lobbies Congress, but what I scoped out was not the game I expected.
Instead, up popped a 2009 reference by "John Kline" for legendary African guide Jan Oelofse's Hunting Safaris in Namibia. The email below the reference included the name Vicky. Could it be? Googling the email address lead me to a scholarship program deadline for the Daughters of the American Revolution, with Vicky S. Kline, Minnesota State DAR Scholarship Chairman, listed at a Lakeville address.
Indeed, the Kline home.
Well, cool--the Klines went on a safari in Africa. Since I support gun rights and responsible game management (which includes hunting), I had a momentary pang of envy--the resort and surrounding country in Southwestern Africa would be an adventure of a lifetime.
But part of being a researcher is having a bit of curiosity, and so I could help but wonder when Congressman Kline and his spouse went on the trip. After all, Kline spent the February work break in his district, 2009 Easter-ish break on an official delegation to Israel, Pakistan and Turkey; the time near Memorial Day was devoted to honoring the American cemetery in Normandy and another official trip, and the Congressman's Facebook page has him posting from August 17 on during the August recess. One of his constituents, D.J. Daniels, posted on Bluestem about chance meeting with Kline on August 18.
So far as I could tell from looking at such online sources and in Nexis, the only hole in Congressman Kline's schedule as discernible from his newsletter (and gap on his Facebook postings) was between the end of July and August 17. Was that when Kline was in Africa on vacation?
Curious, since Danielson and others were in Kline's office trying to get him to hold a real life Town Hall meeting, as Collin Peterson and Tim Walz had elected to do at the urging of their constituents. Walz had, in fact, asked Kline to join him in a meeting in the First CD, and then Walz would return the favor. Kline's office declined.
Back in August, the Plumline noted that Kline wrote that he wanted to listen to his own constituents:
GOP Rep. Kline didn’t see the idea’s appeal. He wrote back to Walz yesterday saying No Dice. The reason? He wants to spend all his time listening to his own constituents, not Walz’s.
“Because it is critical for me to hear from the men and women I represent, I will be focusing my time and attention over this district work period on hearing from my constituents and will be unable to attend your meeting,” Kline wrote.
The kicker: Dems point out that Kline, as of now, has no scheduled town hall events in his own district, either.
While Peterson and Walz met with their constituents at Farmfest and other venues, was Kline on vacation in Africa? Or did the trip take place at another time of the year?
Can anyone present or find documented evidence that Kline was in his district during the first two weeks of August?
Great work, Sally -- I love this! Whether or not there's a dark story here, it's a good bit of sleuthing.
Posted by: Swanson71258 | Apr 23, 2010 at 12:09 AM