I was born by a scheduled C-section, my parents' second child. After my mother went through a prolonged labor with my sister that nearly ended her life, both my brother and I showed up on schedule; my mom loved to tell the story of taking the local bus to the hospital the day before my deliver everytime she heard about someone being "rushed to the hospital."
My parents picked my birthday within a window doctors gave them--a day after Grandmother Sorensen's birthday, but before Halloween and the coming holy days.
Thus it wasn't surprising to read about a scheduled C-Section in an ABC newpapers article, Governor speaks with students at Blaine High School:
Responding to inquiries on everything from gay marriage to gun control, increasing the minimum wage to lowering the drinking age, fully funding all-day kindergarten, legalizing marijuana and more, Dayton gave thoughtful and straightforward answers.
Later he told the students, “I’m impressed with how well-attuned you are to the world around you. These are great questions and they give me great hope for the future of our state, our nation. Thank you.”
After his allotted time had ended, the governor stuck around a few minutes longer, chatting with staff and students, greeting custodians and secretaries before signing out.
And then, eager to greet his first grandchild – a baby boy born by scheduled C-section late Wednesday morning – Dayton climbed into his SUV and made his exit.
A call to Blaine High School established that Governor Dayton had been at the high school from 9:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.
Governor Dayton had had another event scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., speaking at the St. Paul Chamber of Commerce's "Public Affairs Series featuring Governor Mark Dayton," but had sent Chief of Staff Tina Flint Smith in his place; the substitution had been arranged two weeks before.
Finance and Commerce reports in Dayton assistant stresses support for business:
Dayton “deeply respects” the business community, said Smith, who said she was speaking in the governor’s stead because he was becoming a grandfather for the first time. (A Dayton spokeswoman confirmed the governor’s son Eric and his wife, Cornelia (Cory) Dayton, were the parents-to-be.)
Not good enough for a number of Minnesota's finest conservatives commentators on twitter. The substitution became a "cancellation;" without stopping to learn the circumstances of the birth, it became "induced labor;" and, the lack of interest by the press about the alleged snubbing of the business community became occasion for outrage.
Yes, really. Presented in their self-evident glory, here's that gentle chorus of family values, with Bluestem's favorite leading the list:
Dayton never speaks 4 long periods of time anyway. A politician wouldn't like 2 tell an audience he has to leave rt away 4 grandchild birth?
— SheilaKihne (@SheilaKihne) March 27, 2013
Somehow Dayton's destination ended up in the Blaine story--and news of it in Finance and Commerce as well. Perhaps Ms. Kihne misjudged yesterday's political climate. Here's what the St. Paul Chamber tweeted:
MT @govmarkdayton's tax hike not popular with @spacc. But they got mushy over him becoming a grandpa @businessmn: bit.ly/XfRRZ0
— St Paul Area Chamber (@SPACC) March 27, 2013
But we digress. Here's some of the rest of the discussion about the birth of Dayton's grandchild:
BREAKING: Gov. Dayton has cancelled his speech to St. Paul Chamber luncheon. Do we have media that are curious about this pattern?
— JohnGilmore (@Shabbosgoy) March 27, 2013
@shabbosgoySo, did we get an answer on why Mark Dayton skipped Chamber lunch last minute?
— SheilaKihne (@SheilaKihne) March 27, 2013
#mDayton cancels because of impending birth of grandchild. Let's be sure to check the time on that birth certificate, shall we?
— JohnGilmore (@Shabbosgoy) March 27, 2013
@sheilakihne @shabbosgoy Was reported that it was birth of a grandchild.
— John Rouleau (@John_Rouleau) March 27, 2013
Uh- what? My dad was able to wait a few hours/days/months to see his kids/babies post-childbirth & he's just a realtor. @shabbosgoy
— SheilaKihne (@SheilaKihne) March 27, 2013
@sheilakihne I’m sure one of our curious journalists will have a multi-part series about why Dayton has pattern of last minute cancellations
— JohnGilmore (@Shabbosgoy) March 27, 2013
@shabbosgoy @john_rouleau @sheilakihne Seems a little rude to the guests if they knew 2 weeks in advance that he wasn't going to be there.
— Jeff Kolb (@jpkolb) March 27, 2013
@sheilakihne @jpkolb @shabbosgoy Maybe specific date to induce labor but no decency to announce cancelation? I'm sure the media is on it?
— John Rouleau (@John_Rouleau) March 27, 2013
@sheilakihne @jpkolb @shabbosgoy Maybe specific date to induce labor but no decency to announce cancelation? I'm sure the media is on it?
— John Rouleau (@John_Rouleau) March 27, 2013
You don't set dates to induce labor 2 weeks out.No way. He's just an arrogant jerk w/no work ethic. @john_rouleau @jpkolb @shabbosgoy
— SheilaKihne (@SheilaKihne) March 27, 2013
Has anyone asked @erikradtke if the chamber knew that Gov Dayton had canceled? @sheilakihne @shabbosgoy @jpkolb
— John Rouleau (@John_Rouleau) March 27, 2013
You think something is afoot? @sheilakihne
— Jack Tomczak (@JackTomczak) March 27, 2013
I don't doubt a baby was born today (MN journos CAN'T WAIT to tweet) but it's not an excuse to cancel unless you're the 1 having the baby.
— SheilaKihne (@SheilaKihne) March 27, 2013
Seems to be strange behavior. I've heard of that before. RT @jacktomczak: You think something is afoot? @sheilakihne
— John Rouleau (@John_Rouleau) March 27, 2013
Has Gov. #mDayton’s grandchild been born? Asking because local press won’t, apparently. cc: @sheilakihne #mnleg #stribpol #tptalmanac
— JohnGilmore (@Shabbosgoy) March 28, 2013
Whatever Governor Dayton's faults may be--and Bluestem has counted the push for the stadium as one of them--his kind heart for dogs and children isn't one of them.
Moreover, the tenacious trolling about yesterday underscores the RNC's own report noting that Republicans don't seem to care for people. The birth of a child is a welcomed event, and I know from tales of my own scheduled C-section that there's nothing odd about this tale except for public boorishness.
Sheesh. Congratulations to the Dayton family.
Photo: zombie trolls.
Ah, yes, the Dayton-haters - an anti-personality cult if ever there were one - offer daily doses of Dayton defamation. Here's a sample - http://bit.ly/YWwUgS - spiced with the irony of exiled GOP hitman Michael Brodkorb trying to drag the DH shock troops back to reality!
Posted by: alice gibson | Mar 28, 2013 at 04:14 PM
As a grandpa to seven wonderful youngsters let me congratulate our governor on his first grandchild! I would choose being with child and grandchild over the Chamber any day.
Posted by: Tom Rees | Mar 29, 2013 at 04:50 PM