As we rejoin Emo Senator, Southern Minnesota's most watched telenovela, loyal fans of Mike Parry will be dismayed to learn that the Belle of Waseca Count is being booed on his own campaign Facebook page, with no one except Joey Miller to defend him.
Sara Jun-Hee Wollin, a Winona State University student who's a 9th alternate from Winona County, chastized Mike Parry for not accepting Quist's debate challenge:
I was unable to talk to you personally last night at the District Convention in Mankato, but I would really like to give you some feedback now on your performance last night.
I thought that the competition between you and Allen Quist was pretty typical until your refusal to answer the call to debate. While the motion that Quist made did not prevail, due to not having received a 2/3 approval vote, there was a clear majority of delegates who wished to hear both of your responses to some questions and issues central to this year's election.
I understand that debate may not be your strong point, especially pitted against your competitor who is a former teacher of the skills of debate. However, I cannot understand why you and your supporters would not desire delegates to be able to make the most well-informed vote as possible. Since when is the quest for more knowledge and more information undesirable? Especially when participating in the Democratic process at a convention!
And, yes, I was present and heard you when you said that if people had questions for you that they should come find you and ask you themselves, but I believe that answering questions in a public manner, in front of a microphone, is the best way to educate people on your stance on issues. There may be a question one delegate thought of that others may not have. Not to mention that a debate would provide the most active comparison between you and your opponent.
I will readily admit that I was one of the people on the floor that booed you when you simply ignored the questions that Quist put before you. In that situation, I believe that you could very easily have had the upper hand. You could plan your responses in advance. You could also ask him any questions you thought might be advantageous to you. So I booed you. You did not even address those questions by denying to answer them. You just ignored it. And, I, desiring to be active in my participation booed you because I thought you should know when your constituents disapproved of your actions. Frankly, I took your reaction to being booed more as a tantrum than anything else. Booing at a candidate who has the stage is not so much an act of disrespect than an act and show of disapproval. And isn't gaining the approval of your constituents what being a politician is all about? Offering the most accurate representation of your constituents is what I believe is the mark of a true politician, and you can not do so without receiving such feedback in the form of applause in the case of approval or boos in the case of disapproval.
I sincerely hope that you will take my opinion and disapproval (as well as that of those present last night at the convention) into account the next time you are challenged to a debate.
--Sara Wollin, Alternate #9 from Winona County
The gallant Joey Miller rose to Parry's defense:
sarah there was a forum on Friday night you should have went if you wanted to see a debate convention isn't the place for debate. Mr.Quist is just making it more easier for Tim Walz to win. He had govt subsidies and walz will hammer him on that in the General election. Parry is the right choice for the first district.
Quist supporter (Quist is in his Facebook profile picture) Adam Pace takes up Wollin's point:
Joey, not all of the Delegates were present for the debate on Friday. Considering the deadlocked vote on Saturday, I don't see the problem with having a debate so that the delegates would be able to make a more informed decision
She's perfectly able to take care of herself with Miller:
My name is spelled Sara. I was at the forum on Friday night, but many people may not have been able to make it not to mention that the small hotel room where the dinner and forum were held would not have been able to fit the entirety of delegates, alternates, and guests that were present at the convention. I also do not see any reason why I cannot post something other than support on Senator Parry's facebook page. And just as a little tip, you may want to proofread your statements before posting. Grammatical errors are not only distracting, they also make you seem less credible. Beyond errors, though, if you can explain to me how Quist is apparently making it "more easier" for Tim Walz to win other than just simply stating that he is, I might take your opinion more seriously.
But even more fun on Parry's page? A post from Kim Maas, a Creed fan and College Republican from Waseca, posted this query:
Kim Maas
Hi. I received a letter from Mike Parry that discusses meet and greets. However, there were no event dates or locations listed in the letter. When are these? Thank you!
April 12 at 11:40am
The last Meet & Greet on Parry's Facebook page was March 15 in Dodge County. Maas may be the Kimberly who tweeted information about Quist's farm subsidies at Mankato Free Press reporter Mark Fischenich on Saturday night.
Bluestem applauds the young people on both sides of the Parry-Quist divide for getting involved on the political stage at such a young age and we hope this bunch stays active in the Republican Party.
Images: Screenshots of the Quistian Youth attacks.
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