Note October 20, 2014: This post was originally published under the headline: "Brainerd voter objects to Severson's attitude about having non-express voters stand out in cold." As Eric Ferguson at the Minnesota Progressive Project posted in Severson wrongly denies saying voters should stand in the cold for two hours, on Friday night's Almanac, Teflon Dan denied saying it. We've added a Youtube that starts and stops on the exactly moment when he said it. [end note]
Martha C. Stenglein, a voter in Brainerd, writes in Severson's comments questioned, a letter to the editor of the Brainerd Dispatch:
In the Brainerd Dispatch's recent interview with Dan Severson, he is quoted saying “Long voting lines, particularly in the Twin Cities area, pose an obstacle for time-pressed voters” and that he would like to create express lane voting where those who obtain a state-approved identification card could go to a special line and vote with the swipe of a card, bypassing the normal registration process.
Well, that may sound dandy. But it is worth mentioning that Mr. Severson, in an interview on April 24, 2014 with Tim Kinley on Speechless, may have shown his true colors: "Now, if you don't want to do it, be my guest. You can go over to the side and wait in line two hours in the cold. That's fine."
That is not the type of statement I would expect to hear from someone who is supposed to be a promoter of civic engagement. I'll take an express pass on him and instead cast my vote for Steve Simon, who is a true champion of voting rights. Please join me!
Stenglein mentions the Tim Kinley Speechless interview; Bluestem has looked at it before in the context of judicial corruption.
UPDATE: Here's the exact moment to which Stenglein refers:
Speechless: Severson on judicial and election corruption
Most Minnesotans know little about the conservative "judicial corruption" movement; Tim Kinley, who appeared on the podium during Michelle MacDonald's speech accepting the Republican Party of Minnesot's endorsement for her state supreme court justice bid. We'll have more in an update.
Here's the full interview, which begins about the 12:25 time marker:
Stenglein is right to question the contempt that Severson has for those voters who might not have state issued ID cards; a secretary of state should respect the dignity of all Minnesota voters, not merely those who can avail themselves of an "express" voting experience.
It's also worth noting again that elections expert and Gustavus Adolphus College computer science professor Max Hailperin reacted to Severson's voluntary voter ID/express voting proposal in a GAC Math and Computer Science Department website-based blog post, "What is “Voluntary Voter ID”?
Our take on it is here: MNSOS: Dan Severson touts "express voting" while reporters decline to ask what's new in plan.
Screenshot: Tim Kinley and Dan Severson on Speechless. You might be after listening to the interview.
If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen P.O. Box 108, Maynard MN 56260) or use the paypal button below:
Email subscribers can contribute via this link to paypal; use email sally.jo.sorensen at gmail.com as recipient.
Comments