Sue Jeffers carries on about Governor Dayton's health, alcohol & pill use to Rochester Tea Party

by Sally Jo Sorensen

On September 26, radio talk show host and unsuccessful 2012 Ramsey County Commissioner Sue Jeffers was featured speaker at a meeting of the Rochester (MN) Tea Party Patriots, carrying on about her support of state senator Dave Thompson for Governor, her equal enthusiasm for Tom Emmer's congressional bid and her hatred of Republicans in name Only (RINOs).

Jeffers also talked her theory that Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton would not be running again for office:

We're going to see some really interesting things coming this next election. Everybody thinks it's going to be Mark Dayton.

Mark mywords: it's not. He's not healthy. Has anyone seen him recently? He's not healthy.

He's not healthy. There is something physically wrong with him.

[Crowd guffaws. Man off camera says, "Physically!" and crowd laughs].

Jeffers: ...mentally competent. There are rumors on the street that he's drinking again. Rumors are on the street that because he was drinking or his meds or whatever it was, he fell and hurt his hip. He was down here for something with his back. You know, who knows what any of those things are true...

The statement recalls former state senator Mike Parry's remarks at a 2012 fundraiser in Brown County that the governor is "scary" because Parry saw Dayton pop pills in meetings. Dayton denounced Parry's remarks as "gutter politics" and Republican leaders denied sharing this experience.

In late June, Minnesota Public Radio reported in Dayton sidelined by hip muscle injury:

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton says his doctors have told him to use a cane or crutch for the next couple weeks while he recovers from a hip-muscle tear.
Dayton says in a statement that he was hurrying downstairs at the Governor's Residence to get to a DFL Party beanbag toss fundraiser Saturday when he took two steps together, landed wrong on his left leg, felt and heard a pop, and felt a spasm of pain. He went Monday to the Mayo Clinic, where doctors concluded he tore a muscle in his left hip. He says they recommended rest, physical therapy, ice and anti-inflammatories.

The 66-year-old governor has canceled his public appearances for the rest of the week.

Last winter, the first-term Democrat was sidelined for weeks by major back surgery.

Stay classy, Ms. Jeffers.

Watch the segment below; full talk here.