On its website calendar, the Republican Party of Olmsted County is encouraging members to attend An Overview of Conservative Organizations in Minnesota, sponsored by the Rochester Tea Party Patriots. From the OCGOP calendar:
Numerous conservative organizations are working tirelessly in Minnesota to achieve worthwhile goals. The Rochester Tea Party has invited several of these organizations to address their monthly meeting. This is a great opportunity to learn about other political groups, what their missions are, and what issues they are pursuing. This should be a most interesting evening.
Participants are listed below.
6:30 Meet and Greet
7:00 ProgramThis event is free and open to the public.
Participating Organizations
Americans for Prosperity MN Paul Carlson
College Republicans Andrew Hasek
Minnesota Majority Dan McGrath
Minority Liberty Alliance Dan Severson
Tax Payers League of Minnesota Margret Martin
The 56 Club Minnesota John Larkin
While some of these groups--like the Koch Brothers-founded and dark money funded Americans for Prosperity, College Republicans, Taxpayers League, and Minnesota Majority are well-known, a couple of them are newer or lesser lights.
Minority Liberty Alliance
The Minority Liberty Alliance is a Republican effort started by former state Representative Dan Severson and state senator Dan Hall to recruit new Republican activists from "minority" communities: New Americans and people of color.
While the effort seems directed by white males, the intent does seem to be in good faith (its only podcast, created over a month ago, is billed as "In our pilot show of Minority Liberty Alliance Radio, host Tim McShane interviews MLA Latino outreach coordinator Maria de la Paz, as she describes what got her motivated to become an activist," actually features only McShane talking for 17 minutes).
Facebook posts that applaud the election of new Minneapolis City Council member Abdi Warsame (image above) are certainly a welcome contrast to Tea Party-sponsored events in Greater Minnesota where handouts demonizing Somali-American political engagement were distributed.
The 56 Club Minnesota repeats tasteless "joke"
The 56 Club Minnesota takes it name from the 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence; the group's "About" page echoes an inbox urban legend, "The Price They Paid," examined here by Snopes.
A post on the National Liberty Federation website notes:
The original 56 Club group meets weekly here in Minnesota. Our focus is on the truthful exploration of our early American history, our Founding documents, our Founders and how all of that comes together and impacts us today. We pay close attention to the things that the Founders of this country would have wanted us to pay attention to.
And where does Larkin get that insider knowledge that he shares weekly at the Perkins Restaurant in Eagan? While a guest on the Late Debate in August 2011, Larkin shared that his go-to source is W. Cleon Skousen, and the "Making of America" seminar issued by the National Center for Constitutional Studies (NCSS).
The SPLC's Intelligence Report noted in Fringe Mormon Group Makes Myths with Glenn Beck’s Help:
Defenders of the NCCS argue that the outfit, run by the grandfatherly Taylor, is merely teaching good old-fashioned civics to interested Americans. But while there is a large amount of straight, accurate history included in "Making of America" seminars, the lessons are about much more than just the Constitution. The organization's larger mission is to crudely propagandize against America's secular foundations and sow doubt over the legitimacy of the modern welfare and regulatory state, using a textbook written by a notorious conspiracist who adhered to apocalyptic folklore. . . .
The NCCS views its education crusade as crucial for rebuilding America after a coming cataclysm; thus, "The Making of America" is best seen as a God-centric civics class for the bomb shelter. Speaking last year in Mesa, Ariz., Taylor spoke cryptically of the need for "the Good Lord's help" to take America "into a much better phase of existence lasting for a thousand years."
There's evidence of that worldview being shared on the 56 Club's Facebook page. The "joke" comparing feeding wild animals and feeding hungry people--made infamous in Minnesota by a Republican-caucus communications department constituent video starring Rep. Mary Franson--is repeated in a meme that corrects the confusion about federal agencies in the first version. The image was posted in January 2013; one would think the MNGOP would wish to keep some distance from this one.
The 56 Club hosted CAPS senior fellow and immigration reform opponent Michael Cutler on November 5, according to a post on its Facebook page. Cutler also appeared at SW Metro and Central Minnesota Tea Party meetings last week. A post on the SWMTPP's Facebook page promoting Cutler's visit incited a kerfuffle in the comments between the page admin, xenophobe Ruthie Hendrycks of MinnSIR and Bob Quasius of the pro-CIR group, Cafe Con Leche Republicans.
And there's some Agenda 21 conspiracy theory pandering as well. In January 2013, Senator Dave Brown stopped by:
Good Tuesday Morning! Join us this evening for our weekly meeting at Perkins in Eagan starting at 6pm. Tonight, Minnesota Senator Dave Brown will be speaking with us about Agenda 21.
Larkin also seems to encourage "RINO" framing. In January 2012, 56 Club leader Larkin wrote that Representative John Kline had ". . . fallen into the RINO heap. . . ."
Larkin and the 2010 Recount
However, those tempted to brand Larkin as an anti-party upstart extremist should noted his role in the Republican Party of Minnesota's 2010 gubernatorial recount legal battle. ECM Publisher's T.W. Budig noted in Republican Party, Emmer campaign file petition on Nov. 2 election:
The Republican Party of Minnesota and the Emmer for Governor campaign filed a petition today (Nov. 17) with the Minnesota Supreme Court asking the court to ensure that the number of ballots and number of voters voting in the Nov. 2 gubernatorial election match.
“It can be a game changer,” said Republican Party of Minnesota Chairman Tony Sutton of the result of a court-ordered review of the election. . . .
In their petition, Republicans argue that “strong and growing evidence” exists that some election officials did not determine the number of the ballots to be counted or otherwise failed to follow proper procedure.
Included in their petition is sworn testimony from 11 election judges — judges from Ramsey, Hennepin, Dakota counties — alleging irregularities.
One affidavit is from John Larkin, an election judge in the City of Eagan, in which Larkin alleges that “no judges counted the names of individuals signing the polling roster on election day.” . . .
Talking Points Memo checked out Larkin and the MNGOP's other witnesses in GOPer's MN-GOV Vote Complaint Leans On Witnesses With GOP Ties:
. . .the Minnesota Independent reports that the "vast majority" of the witnesses in the complaint have ties to the Republican Party or the Tea Party movement.
. . .John Larkin: Founder of Tea Party group The 56 Club. . . .
"What this does is enhance the suspicion that this is really based on political factors," Professor David Schultz of Hamline University told the Independent.
Readers may remember that former MNGOP party chair Tony Sutton used the recount effort to create Count Them All Properly, a fund that turned into a giant gobanggo bag for the party and the failed burrito baron.
College Republicans: Not clear on Cam Winton concept?
Bluestem can't close without a parting observation about a Facebook entry posted by College Republicans who were out door knocking for Cam Winton, the leading Republican candidate in the recently concluded Minneapolis mayoral race. The post of two CR leaders eating at a Chick-Fil-A illustrates the messaging mishmash inside a party that fosters the Minority Liberty Alliance while continuing accept date nights with xenophobic and Islamophobic tea party chapters.
In an interview with MinnPost's Karen Boros, Winton framed himself as "a fresh set of eyes to the challenges we face":
. . . I am a Republican. I am not seeking the endorsement of any party in this race. So let me drill down on what I mean by that. I’ve been active in the Republican Party.
That said, I’m married to a DFLer. I have a lot of experience compromising with a DFLer. And while I am a Republican, there are ways I disagree strongly and fundamentally with the party platform.
Gay marriage I support. Period. No equivocation. I was vigorous and outspoken in my opposition to the marriage amendment I co-hosted a fundraiser. That’s one way where I disagree with the Republican Party. . . .
That photo seems like an emblem of messaging confusion, given the Chick-fil-A same-sex marriage controversy:
American fast-food chain Chick-fil-A was the focus of controversy following a series of public comments made in June 2012 by chief operating officer Dan Cathy opposing same-sex marriage. This followed reports that Chick-fil-A's charitable endeavor, the S. Truett Cathy-family-operated WinShape Foundation, had made millions in donations to political organizations which oppose LGBT rights. LGBT rights activists called for protests and boycotts of the chain, while counter-protestors rallied in support by eating at the restaurants. National political figures both for and against the actions spoke out and some business partners severed ties with the chain . . .
Do the Olmsted County Republicans and Rochester Tea Party Republicans share this confusion about message?
Screenshots: MLC Facebook congrats (above); 56 Club Facebook post of the "Feeding the Animals" "joke" (middle); The RCs loving on some of that marriage-inequality fast food (below).
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