Last weekend, the Mankato Free Press was the first to publish Mike Parry's crack about Dayton's need to resign because of the shutdown, as Bluestem posted in The Emo Senator: Mike Parry calls for Governor Dayton's resignation, cites feelings, trust fund.
Today, the paper calls him out in Parry commentary wasn’t helpful:
Thumbs down: To Sen. Mike Parry, R-Waseca, for his bomb-throwing commentary saying Gov. Mark Dayton should resign because he intentionally wants to hurt state workers and doesn’t care about them.
Not only are the comments detrimental to creating an atmosphere where Republicans and Democrats can work together in respect, they shed an unpleasant light on the Waseca area as people wonder if Mr. Parry is representing the sentiment of average Wasecans.
We know that’s not the case, and we wonder if Parry’s incendiary comments will come back to haunt him and his constituents if he ever has to work together with Dayton to achieve something for Waseca and his district.
As far as who wants to “hurt state workers” we suspect Parry would find it hard to defend the proposal he supports that cuts 15 percent of the state work force versus Dayton’s proposed cut of only 6 percent.
The Free Press isn't alone among Southern Minnesota newspapers in calling out Parry. Earlier in the week, the Rochester Post Bulletin editorial board wrote in Will serious lawmakers please step up?:
To avoid a lengthy and economically devastating government shutdown, Minnesota needs thoughtful elected officials who can set aside party dogma in favor of the greater good. Those incapable of such big-picture thinking should at least refrain from pouring gasoline onto the already-hot partisan fires.
For example, we'd politely ask Sen. Mike Parry, a Republican from Waseca, to go to some remote cabin in northern Minnesota, turn off his phone and spend the next several weeks fishing, water skiing or counting trees. Any pastime he prefers would be more useful than his comment that he government shutdown will be resolved "the day the governor resigns and (lieutenant governor) Yvonne Prettner Solon, with some common sense, comes to the governor's office." [emphasis added]
Great statesmanship, that. . . .
Earlier the year, Bluestem had heard Mike Parry's name mentioned as a possible congressional contender against Tim Walz and the WOM was mentioned in an article in the Faribault Daily News. Not surprisingly, that talk has simply died off as Parry's public profile was raised with this session.
Image: Plan 9 Parry by Tild.
Related posts: The Emo Senator cont'd: rocking chairs, resignations, and a retreat to retweets
Emo senator, part 3: Mike Parry collecting paycheck and per diem during shutdown
The Emo Senator, part 2: Mike Parry cries crocodile tears over laid-off state workers
The Emo Senator: Mike Parry calls for Governor Dayton's resignation, cites feelings, trust fund
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