In early November 2013, Blaze morning talker Doc Thompson will bring his Operation RINO (Republican in name only) Hunt to Tea Party meetings in Chanhassen and Sauk Rapids.
The RINO Hunt launch
On June 26, 2013, The Blaze radio host Doc Thompson announced Operation RINO Hunt after former Senator Jim DeMint joined the talker to discuss immigration reform (he was against it, as one might expect).
The rant begins around 1:59 as Thompson introduces Operation RINO Hunt, a self-described "desperate" measure to "punish":
Any Republican who supports these wrong ideas--maybe it will spread beyond the idea of immigration--but certainly now as part of this immigration bill, that any Republican that supports this bill, ANY immigration bill that has any even remote hint with of amnesty, that they will be targeted for a loss in their next election. And I wll do everything I can within my power to see them kicked out of office.
But here's the key. In addition to trying to run people against them in their primaries, in addition to trying to boot them out of office anyways, this is what I'm proposing and it's radical. Number one that we swear, that we make a solemn promise and let them know that those fifteen who voted for it before, they still have one more shot . . .at the Senate. If you vote for this bill, I swear I will never support you, I will never vote for you in any capacity whether it's that office or future political aspirations, no matter the opponent. If Satan himself popped up as their political opponent,that you will not support them . . . and as we get to the general elections, that even means voting for a Democrat...
There's more, but you get the drift.
November RINO Hunt visit in Minnesota
This brand will be coming to Minnesota in just over a month. On September 21 Central Minnesota Tea Party blog posted in Doc Thompson Show In St. Cloud:
My name is Paul Brandmire and I’m active with the BPOU of Senate District 14 which is the St. Cloud area. We are in the process of securing a visit by a national talk-show personality named Doc Thompson. He was a regular fill-in host for Glenn Beck until he got his own show on Beck’s Blaze Radio Network. He does a great show which I listen to nearly every morning. It’s available on the internet or through iHeart Radio.I got a response back from the Doc Thompson show and they want to come to St. Cloud Friday, November 8, and speak at a venue (we’d have to plan). They’ve already been plugging “a second location in Minnesota” on their radio show as they put together their “Great American RINO hunt” tour. Their goal is to actively target RINOs and assist promoting conservative candidates who run against them. We would have to not only get a venue and promote the event, but identify and approach truly conservative candidates for federal office who desire our support, and get their participation as well.We want to do Central Minnesota proud and make it a large event. As such, we’re approaching TEA Party groups and BPOUs from Central Minnesota. As Doc plugs the event on his show, I’m sure word will spread (I can’t be the only guy in our area who listens to his show!), but we want to get the word out.
11/7/13 – Chanhassen, MN
11/8/13 – Sauk Rapids, MN
Is the SW Metro the sponsor of the Chanhassen event? On August 17, the Doc Thompson Show tweeted:
Let us know if your Patriot group wants to host a stop our #DocTour First stop OKC 11/3! Also confirmed...Chanhassen, Minnesota
— Doc Thompson (@DocThompsonShow) August 17, 2013
It's likely, since it's a "Patriot" group.
Collision course with Norm Coleman's Conservative Immigration Support Network?
The Tea Party event may signal a split among Minnesota's conservatives. In July, MinnPost's Washington correspondent Devin Henry reported in GOP begins long immigration reform process, focusing on border security:
. . . [The Senate] bill is DOA in the Republican-controlled House, where the GOP caucus is divided on the question of citizenship for those immigrants. The divisions are evident in the Minnesota delegation as well — Reps. John Kline and Erik Paulsen said they’re open to looking at the legal status of immigrants, while Michele Bachmann and the caucus’ conservative wing oppose reform, equating it to amnesty.
“We’re absolutely not going to take up the Senate bill, we’re going to move forward with the process and we’re going to have to evaluate each of these bills as they come up,” Kline said after the meeting. “It was very clear in the conversation that there was unanimous agreement that you’ve got to have real solid border security before you can take the next step.” . . .
The willingness of Paulsen and Kline to consider examining the legal status of immigrants moved reformers to target their districts. Later in August, the Star Tribune's Mark Brunswick reported in Local congressional offices targets of immigration reform rallies:
Rallies at offices of Reps. Kline and Paulsen were part of a national effort to target “persuadable” conservatives as recess nears an end. . . .
Two busloads of activists, clergy and children stopped at the Burnsville offices of Second District Republican John Kline and the Eden Prairie office of Third District Republican Erik Paulsen, part of a national coordinated effort to put pressure on GOP House representatives who have been identified as possibly “persuadable” on immigration reform.
Later in August, religious activists held a rally in the Guardian Angels Parish School gymnasium in Chaska, near Chanhassen in Carver County--and part of Paulsen's district.
But the mostly-liberal leaning clergy were not alone in seeking reform. Norm Coleman's American Action Network announced via a press release, AAN Launching August Initiative: Conservative Immigration Support Network:
The American Action Network is launching the Conservative Immigration Support Network, an August initiative delivering positive and supportive messages to House Republicans to continue tackling immigration reform. The initiative includes a new $250,000 grasstops program engaging key local leaders, mobilizing our existing grassroots network, and releasing district-by-district studies on the economic impact of immigration reform.
Our grasstops and grassroots supporters will be active in over 20 districts in 10-plus states, including Pennsylvania, Ohio, Minnesota, California and Texas. The Conservative Immigration Support Network’s message will be simple: Our immigration system is broken and it’s an important issue that needs to be addressed, but in a different way than the Senate did. We support the House’s effort to deal with immigration reform in a methodical step-by-step conservative way. We need to give Congress the space to offer conservative and responsible solutions. . . .
On September 2, Coleman published The United States needs immigration reform, an op-ed piece in the Star Tribune. Judging by some of the comments left on Coleman's thoughtful column, Doc Thompson's RINO Hunt will get a warm welcome in Minnesota come November. More's the pity, since Coleman and business groups, as well as the faith community activists, are heading in the right direction on this issue.
Photo: Doc Thompson, via The Blaze.
If you appreciate reading posts on Bluestem Prairie, consider making a donation via paypal:
Comments