Day of the Dead: uber-conservative Fairmont Sentinel endorses Allen Quist for Congress

Two more daily news outlets have made endorsements in Minnesota's First Congressional race. Falling into the "Water Is Wet" and "Sun Sinks In The West" category, the conservative Farimont Sentinel, which never met a Republican candidate it didn't like, has endorsed Quist.

To the east, where a lot more people live, several Lee Media papers--including the Winona Daily News and the LaCrosse Tribune--have endorsed Congressman Walz.

In a signed editorial, the Sentinel's board writes in For Congress:?Quist sees the right problems:

Republican congressional candidate Allen Quist has found a masterful way to illustrate the problem of the nation's debt. You've probably seen the commercials.

Quist's granddaughter, Martha, is seen climbing a red staircase, representing the ever-increasing federal debt. . . .

We believe a new president is going to need all the help he can get in Congress to make the changes necessary to shore up the federal budget. Quist is the kind of leader who sees the right problems and is ready to act to make a difference.

We have indeed seen the commercials, and "masterful" isn't exactly the way we'd describe the green-screening.  But perhaps our technical standards differ from those held by the editors in Martin County (lest we be accused of some urban bias with that remark, Bluestem reminds readers that our world headquarters is in pastoral McLeod County).

Head over to the Driftless region, and readers will find that the sands have shifted. The ever-sassy board of the Winona Daily News writes in Our view: Walz deserves to be re-elected:

We admire courage – which is a key reason we endorse Tim Walz to continue serving Minnesota’s 1st District as our congressman.

It took courage to propose a bill to prohibit members of Congress from using information they receive in their elected roles to profit personally.

The Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act passed 96-3 in the Senate and 417-2 in the House and earned this from Republican Eric Cantor, the House Majority Leader: “I particularly want to recognize his willingness to reach across the aisle and keep the lines of communication open as we work to make clear that elected officials abide by the same rules as the American people.”

. . . Walz isn’t afraid to take the lead — even on a local issue.

He served as a catalyst with local and state officials to reach consensus and clearly articulate the need for a second Mississippi River span to connect Winona to Wisconsin.

It would have been much easier for the Mankato Democrat to sit on the sidelines and watch an otherwise local issue play out. But that’s not his style. . . .

The three-term congressman also has spoken out against the state’s upcoming vote on a proposed constitutional marriage amendment because he doesn’t believe in limiting freedoms.

That stance is one of many that his opponent, Allen Quist, disagrees with.

The former three-term state representative from St. Peter and unsuccessful candidate for governor in 1994 and 1998, says Walz is the problem in Washington.

He disagrees with Walz about the marriage amendment. He disagrees with Walz’ support of a bill to reform farm subsidies.

While we respect Quist’s persistence, we absolutely disagree with his notion that Walz is the problem in Washington.

Instead, we think he continues to be the solution for southern Minnesota.

The LaCrosse Tribune reprints the editorial in Our view: Walz strong representative for Minnesota.

The other Lee Media paper with readers in the First, the weekly Houston County Chronicle, doesn't not appear to be endorsing candidates at any level, but has been running a lively letters section.

Images: Allen Quist crowdsurfs, by Ken Avidor (above); Tim Walz (below).

Comments

[Phoenix Woman]

So the papers endorsing Walz cite his actual legislative accomplishments, and the paper backing Quist cites a rather cheesy ad he did?

Okay then.

[Mike Worcester]

I seem to recall that the Sentinel endorsed David Minge at one point, and it was a BIG deal. How amazing they would now endorse Mr. Quist over someone who has many of the same traits as Mr. Minge.

Editor's note: Thanks! However, that had to have been in another century.