For many weeks, fans of Emo Senator, Southern Minnesota's most popular online telenovela, have anticipated the flouncing of a hopeful Mike Parry onto the national stage
Friday, Waseca's rising political star announced his bid for Congress, a move foreshadowed in earlier episodes. In early September, readers thrilled to the drama of The Emo Senator: Mike Parry ends press conference when asked about congressional plans and in October, The Emo Senator: Mike Parry may flounce into MN-01 congressional race against Walz.
Most reports of Parry's grand entrance reflect the press release style in American politics; typical is the report by the Tea Party BFF Heather Carlson at the Rochester Post Bulletin, a reporter who confirms all doubts about the value of a masters degree in journalism. Look to her reporting for the Republican narrative arc in future episodes.
Over at the Mankato Free Press, veteran political reporter Mark Fischenich looked beneath the press conference at our hero's political career in Parry to challenge Walz for Congress:
A Waseca state senator, who has gained a reputation as a deeply conservative and sometimes combative lawmaker during his 21 months in the Legislature, announced Friday that he intends to knock off Congressman Tim Walz in next year’s First District contest. . . .
A former broadcaster and manager in the radio industry and currently co-owner of a Waseca pizza restaurant, Parry said he’s confident he can match Walz in fundraising and win the race.
“Absolutely,” he said. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t believe I could do that, and I know I can.”
Clearly, the Emo Senator's fortunes have changed dramatically since last spring, when he complained to Minnesota Public Radio that his state senator salary was driving him to the poor farm, as he had no other income:
For while Parry doesn't feel that the upper two percent should be taxed according to their ability to pay, he should be paid according to his needs:
"This is for the session, my job. I have no other job at this point in time," said Sen. Mike Parry, R-Waseca. "I'm here to do the work of the people, and I believe what has been established is fair." Waseca is one of the lawmakers that took the maximum amount — which added up to $12,040 for the session.
Parry, who chairs the Senate State Government Finance Committee, said lawmakers put in long hours and that the per diem is a part of the salary package for each legislator. He said he would be open to eliminating daily expenses in exchange for higher pay.
"I would suggest that per diem go away, but that we come up with a salary that would match the needs of the person coming up here," he said. "You get it too low [and] people can't afford to come up here unless they have deep pockets or are very wealthy like the governor."
Fortunately, our hero recovered from his unfortunate bout of amnesia and now remembers he owns a restaurant. However, some lingering symptoms persist in his campaign rhetoric. Fischenich points out that his talking points against his new foe, Congressman Walz, have been used before with little success in wooing Southern Minnesota's voters:
“When he gets to Washington, he votes with his ultra-liberal friends,” Parry said.
Those three votes were the prime targets of Demmer in last year’s election and were the focus of hundreds of thousands of dollars in outside attack ads by various conservative interest groups. Despite the Republican wave that tossed Democratic incumbents aside in droves and gave the GOP control of the House, Walz topped Demmer by 5 percentage points.
The Free Press takes note of the Emo Senator's drama queen ways that telenovela fans find so riveting:
Public opinion polls have also showed frustration with the inability of Congress and the president to compromise and work together during a time of economic crisis, and Parry received some criticism for sometimes pugnacious comments when Republicans were deadlocked over the state budget with Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton.
He reportedly walked out of a meeting between Dayton and Legislative Republicans, called for Dayton’s resignation and once declared that Dayton “has no feelings.”
Will The Emo Senator parse Tim Walz's feelings via indiscrete tweets? Will he criticize the Walz family lawn care style? Tune in for the next episode.
Image: The Emo Senator, by Tild. Paperwork for his campaign was filed Friday, but has not yet been posted by the FEC.
Related posts below the fold.
The Emo Senator: Mike Parry stands against daycare providers' right to vote in union drive
Emo Senator: in a shocking development, Senator Parry talks sense on Owatonna levy
Emo Senator: paper reports opinions on Parry run gamut--even his own opinions on himself
Suddenly stoic Emo Senator deplores giving "money away to make someone feel good"
Emo Senator: Parry to city council, "Don't blame me & Dayton for shutdown, just blame Dayton"
The Emo Senator: Cleveland MN resident points out how much Parry cares for state workers
Emo Senator: Do Parry's reforms include ending pay equity?; took over Carlson's bill in May
Was Senator Parry's single term on Waseca City Council predictive of today's budget flouncing?
Emo Senator flounces out of budget meeting; will Parry's mood swings derail special session?
When a newspaper loves a Republican, he can do no wrong (and the FDN can't factcheck Parry)
Emo senator Mike Parry pats self on back for compassion, reveals another income source
MNGOP's class warfare for dummies: Waseca voter tells Mike Parry he's wrong about Dayton
Emo tweeting senator Mike Parry can see Governor's mansion lawn from Waseca
The Emo Senator cont'd: rocking chairs, resignations, and a retreat to retweets
Thumbs down, Emo senator: "Parry commentary wasn’t helpful"; turn off phone, go count trees
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
Suddenly socialist Mike Parry demands pay according to his needs
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