In our Tuesday post, GOP state auditor candidate Wilson scolds Blaha for not doing job. If only he knew what it was Bluestem Prairie noted the audit of Southwest Light Rail Transit, which was approved by the state legislature for the legislative auditor (a different position than the state auditor, with different responsibilities.
That post riffed off an article by Deena Winter at the Minnesota Reformer. A new Winter article, Mortensen was the sole vote against light rail audit; he also got donations from its project manager, reminded us of earlier Bluestem Prairie posts about the light rail project manager's wife.
Michele Even.
While much of the source material from old Michele Even Facebook posts have disappeared (and the laptop where screenshots were stored crashed years ago), there's still enough there to illustrate a history of extreme right wackadoodle activity.
Anti-Muslim
Let start with Michele Even's anti-Muslim attacks directed toward members of the Minnesota legislature. In MN1: Anti-Somali Minnesotans turn Facebook attention toward Anoka's Senator Jim Abeler, there's this note:
In last week's post, Anatomy of a smear: Jihad Watch blasts MN01 hopeful Nelson for economic development bill, Bluestem examined how a nation anti-Muslim activist stepped into the First Congressional race, slamming Rochester-area Republican Carla Nelson for being the "likely driver" for a straight-to-no-committee-hearing bill Somali community development bill authored by Jim Abeler, R-Anoka, in the Senate.
Nelson was the last of five state senators to sign on; senate rules allow only five authors for any bill. File numbers for bills in both chambers are SF1722 and HF1946.. . .
The going nowhere status of the bill hasn't stopped anti-Muslim Minnesotans--mostly Republican rank-and-file folks as from turning their attention to senate author Abeler. For example, Prior Lake GOP activist and Jason Lewis admirer Michele Even has been flooding her Facebook page with appeals to contact Abeler. . ..
Her anti-Muslim became more personal when she and another anti-Muslim activist cornered Republican Mountain Lake state representative Rod Hamilton at his office desk, as we reported in Anti-Muslim activists badger Rod Hamilton about Muslim Day at capitol and more during office visit:
Anti-Muslim activists Michele Even and Marni Hockenberg might not have known where Mountain Lake Republican Rod Hamilton's district is, but the women, who were deeply upset that Tuesday's Muslim Day was taking place at the state capitol spent a few heated moments in his office berating him about it and his support for refugee communities.
Hamilton mildly pointed out that all people could peaceably assemble at the state capitol, but the anti-Muslim visitors continued to insist that CAIR-MN is terrorist organization. Hockenberg had earlier presented Hamilton with a folder containing the usual conspiracy theories about the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) being a terrorist organization.
Michele Even then expressed the sentiment that people needed permission to move to the state and three "human trafficking organizations" brought refugees to Minnesota. She didn't name the groups but that's the name-calling used by anti-Muslims to call out Lutheran Social Services, Catholic Charities and the evangelical Christian Arrive Ministries.
When Hamilton called their bluff and asked his aide to call Capitol Security to his office so that Hockenberg could report her security concerns, which he said he was obliged to do, the women left his office. At one point, Even represents the call to Capitol Security as an attempt to throw the women out of his office.
Leaving the office, Even spews a series of derogatory names for Hamilton, including "asshole." . . .
Michele Even's anti-Muslim advocacy was discussed in our post, MN1: Anti-Somali Minnesotans turn Facebook attention toward Anoka's Senator Jim Abeler. Even is a Prior Lake Republican activist who ran for Lt. Gov. on the Lance Johnson ticket for Governor. The Uptake's Bill Sorem reported in Precinct Caucuses Boost And End Campaigns For MN Governor that the ticket came in last in the Republican precinct caucus straw poll with 53 votes.
The Lance Johnson 2018 Year End fundraising report on file at the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board lists "Allison Heruth" as campaign manager on the first page of disbursements; Heruth is also known as Allison Waterbury and Alison Woodbury; she was the Actress Sentenced in TV Investment Scam whose career Bluestem explored in Pro-Trump activist concerned about MN precinct caucus training has inspirational backstory.
Michele Even's exchange on Facebook turns up in a screenshot in our January 30, 2018 post, In email to Star Tribune, Pugh distances self from anti-Muslim post; FB comments tell another story. Also in this post:
A friend sent news that Kathy Lohmer, R-Stillwater had also shared the message, as our screenshot below illustrates. It's on her Facebook page as we write. It's shared from Alley Waterbury, whose Facebook page speaks for itself.
Even is currently campaigning to eliminate the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) completely because of unsubstantiated accusations linking fraud in the program with funding terrorism. . . .
Yeah, that Michele Even.
Magasota and its discontents
In late 2019, Michele Even created a political action committee, using a name developed by Minnesota Trump supporters. The filings for the PAC can be viewed here.
In February 2020, we posted Who owns Trump brand in MN?: MN GOP, #mnleg caucuses' battle Dorr Bros, MAGAsota "scams" on new website; MAGASota fights back. At the core of this post? The website created by the MNGOP, Minnesota House Republican Caucus and the Minnesot Republican Caucus, Minnesota Scammers Exposed.
The Republican Party of Minnesota saw some brand infringement here. One tab: MAGAsota and Trump Club of Minnesota. Part of the text:
The MAGAsota folks are diverting valuable volunteer time to an effort that will have a marginal effect on the actual election. Remember, Minnesota has not voted for a Republican Presidential candidate since 1972 so it will take everyone “rowing the boat” in the same direction. The Trump campaign is working with the Republican National Committee (RNC), the Minnesota Republican Party, the National Republican Campaign Committee (NRCC) and the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) in a coordinated effort to identify and turn out voters for President Trump and all Republican candidates on the ballot in 2020. There has never been a more robust effort in the state of Minnesota. Efforts like MAGAsota look good on the surface but without coordination with the real campaigns, ultimately result in a waste of valuable volunteer time.
We posted Even's response in MAGASOTA's Michele Even responds to party creators of Minnesota Scammers Exposed:
On Friday, we posted Who owns Trump brand in MN?: MN GOP, #mnleg caucuses' battle Dorr Bros, MAGAsota "scams" on new website; MAGASota fights back, about a turf war among Minnesota conservatives.
The state Republican Part of Minnesota, the Minnesota House Republican Caucus and the Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus has posted a website, Minnesota Scammers Exposed, which took after two Dorr Brothers' pro-gun and pro-life efforts that attack Republican state lawmakers (we looked at these operations in early February's Dorr family expands brand: adds scaring abortion foes about GOP to gun rights stories) and MAGASOTA, a grassroots pro-Trump group that formed federal PAC at the end of December.
The filing gave the address of Prior Lake conservative activist Michele Even as its own. Monday morning, Even replied in a writter statement on social media, after posting a long Facebook video last week.
MAGASOTA’s response to the recent attacks:
Last week the MNGOP, the House Republican Caucus and the Senate Republican Caucus unleashed it’s animosity toward MAGASOTA, its members and insulted grassroots activists across the state.
From the moment MAGASOTA launched we have been under attack. Sadly those attacks have been lies, mischaracterizations and smear campaigns. They have been constant and ongoing by RINOs and other activists who supposedly support our president.
Thursday the MNGOP led by chair Jennifer Carnahan, the Senate Republican Caucus led by Senator Paul Gazelka and House Minority leader Kurt Daudt , with your tax dollars, created a website that features MAGASOTA, a pro life group and a pro gun group as scammers.
This is a serious allegation that has no merit. They are accusing us of something criminal. No crime has been committed. No one has been scammed. It is truly pathetic to know that our elected officials who are paid by our tax dollars would spend your tax money and waste valuable time going after Trump supporters.
The swamp is alive and well right here in St Paul. Why aren’t they putting effort into denouncing America hating Ilhan Omar? Why aren’t they lowering our taxes? Why are they funding the fraudulent DHS? Why do they continue to infringe on our rights? Why are they voting on unconstitutional omnibus bills and funding abortion? Why are they giving themselves a raise?
Who are the real scammers?
They would rather spend time and money going after taxpayers, voters, grassroots activists, Trump supporters and people who love freedom and liberty- Americans.
This is the most outrageous attack on MAGASOTA and members. This is a Minnesota version of what President Trump has gone through in DC. Tragically the MNGOP is attacking it’s very own supporters. The Trump haters in this state are coming out of the closet. Are they afraid of losing their power? Are they afraid of WE THE PEOPLE?
MAGASOTA’s mission has been clear from the beginning and hasn’t changed. We are here to win Minnesota for President Trump.
This attack is sickening and without merit, tarnishing the reputation of the good people working for President Trump. It’s a play straight out of Saul Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals.
MAGASOTA will not be stopped. We know our supporters and members see right through the slander and libel, and will continue to work for President Trump. Read what they published on their website about MAGASOTA.
“ these scammers aren’t affiliated with the official campaign in any way, shape or form.”
“The MAGAsota folks are diverting valuable volunteer time to an effort that will have a marginal effect on the actual election. Remember, Minnesota has not voted for a Republican Presidential candidate since 1972 so it will take everyone “rowing the boat” in the same direction”
“There has never been a more robust effort in the state of Minnesota. Efforts like MAGAsota look good on the surface but without coordination with the real campaigns, ultimately result in a waste of valuable volunteer time.”
So because we are not affiliated with the “official campaign” our efforts will be marginal? Diverting valuable volunteer time? No -we are actually doing the work.
Do you really think President Trump would support this kind of BS? No. He would not. He would welcome any support and effort put forth on his behalf.
President Trump has been the outsider and remains the outsider. He is working to drain the swamp-not be a part of it.
Then on Friday the MNGOP sent an email to everyone in the state standing behind their false allegations of scamming. Let me tell you what they said.
“Despite those great strides, the foundation of who we are as Minnesota Republicans is being assaulted and manipulated by outside groups posing as Trump supporters and leaders.”
Those are pretty strong baseless allegations. MAGASOTA has not assaulted anyone nor has anyone been manipulated. MAGASOTA members are free to come and go as they please. Our members are “free thinkers”. Why is the mngop assaulting the intelligence of our members?
“These groups prey on low information activists that love our President- and manipulate those activists to get involved in efforts that cause harm to our President’s ability to win Minnesota”.
The GOP Party leadership believes that YOU are low information activists because you don’t tow the line for them.
Hillary Clinton called us Deplorables. Now our own Republican party is calling us “low information”. I think not.
No one is causing harm to the President. It’s the party that is causing harm to the President. They are dividing supporters -not MAGASOTA. Our state hasn’t won a Republican Presidential race since 1972.
This is on the party-not me and not you! Own up to your own failures MNGOP.
“These groups also actively work against Republicans in our state- which hurt our chances to hold the majority in the State Senate and win back the State House.”
More lies. We are endorsing one candidate and supporting one race. President Trump. If Trump doesn’t win we all lose!
“We have one goal in this state- to elect Republicans up and down the ballot. Any outside group or entity that tries to use our activists and leaders to work against our President and fellow Republicans will not be accepted by our party. We are standing strong with our Repuclicna partners at the RNC, Trump Victory, NRcc, NRSC, Minnesota House and MInnesota State Senate.”
Who is the party to lay claim on activists and volunteers? They do not own you. The arrogance of this statement is nauseating.
And finally the party is making it very clear that MAGASOTA or any other grassroots effort is REJECTED BY THEM!
“Turn out to caucus and don’t let the scammers take over our party and run us into the ground.”
Really? That is what they think about us? That we will participate in the political process, take over “our” party and run “us” into the ground. This is just unbelievable. This party does NOT want Trump supporters participating.
Finally my friend, MAGASOTA is a PAC. We by law cannot work in direct coordination with a campaign. We will be using our financial resources to support our effort to win Minnesota for President Trump. Our members have already been going door to door, making thousands of phone calls, participating in MAGASOTA meetups, sending thousands of email and more. Our efforts remain in Minnesota. Our calls stay in Minnesota.
President Trump has claimed Minnesota. WE are not going to disappoint him.
2020 is likely our last chance to elect a Republican President in this state. I do not believe in my life time there will be another opportunity. Communism has taken hold in St.Paul.
Your support of MAGASOTA is needed now more than ever! Please show the MN GOP that we are the opposite of ‘low information activists’ by working with us!
2020 is about Freedom and Liberty!!
-Michele Even
According to the Federal Election Committee website, the Magasota committee was terminated on August 2, 2021. Even now, unity within the Republican brand is hard.
Liberate Minnesota
Even was also an organizer of Liberate Minnesota in April 2020, which involved a rally in front of the governor's residence. We first posted about it in Footnote: Liberate Minnesota leader Michele Even part of GOP's MN Scammers Exposed:
In Thursday's Pioneer Press, Bill Salisbury reported Friday protest outside MN Governor’s Residence seeks end of ‘Stay at Home’ order over coronavirus.
Lots of other media coverage, but only one venue took a glance at the leadership of the Facebook group organizing the event.
At City Pages, Mike Mullen does a good job looking at some of the leadership behind the rally in 'Liberate Minnesota' rally to protest coronavirus order, 'anti-American governor,' science, reason.
He does miss Michele Even's central role in one recent intra-conservation fight in Minnesota. We looked at the February scuffle in Who owns Trump brand in MN?: MN GOP, #mnleg caucuses' battle Dorr Bros, MAGASOTA "scams" on new website; MAGASOTA fights back.
Minnesota Scammers Exposed is a project of the Republican Party of Minnesota, the Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus and the Minnesota House Republican Caucus. The logos of all three organizations are on the bottom of the website.
Michele Even--whom we profiled in the post Anti-Muslim activists badger Rod Hamilton about Muslim Day at capitol and more during office visit--formed a MAGASOTA federal PAC, which we explored in MAGASOTA's Michele Even responds to party creators of Minnesota Scammers Exposed. . . .
On Even's personal Facebook page, executive director at Libertarian Party of Minnesota Matt Kowalski posted Kowala Media's sharing of her press release about the event, Activists to protest Walz’ peacetime emergency orders:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 14, 2020 Contact: Michele Even Phone: [redacted by Bluestem Prairie] Email: [redacted] Liberate Minnesota - Reopen Our Lives Credit River Twp, Minn. – Gov. Tim Walz issued an Executive Order on March 13, 2020 declaring a Peacetime Emergency that he just extended into the middle of May. This has effectively put the entire populace in the state on hold that is now destroying our economy and people’s homes along with it.
“This overreaction by the governor has gone on long enough and we aren’t going to take it anymore,” Liberate Minnesota organizer, Michele Even, said in a statement. She continued, “All jobs are essential. People need to support themselves and their families. The governor and these legislators need to stop hurting us. We need someone to care about us. Give us our life back!”
Liberate Minnesota is seeking to send a message to the governor and legislators by exercising their 1st amendment right to peacefully assemble and use their free speech. “People’s lives are already in turmoil and the cure is worse than the disease at this point,” Michele said. “People are fed up with this lock down and want to get back to their jobs to support themselves and their families. This ‘Stay Home’ order has destroyed homes. Enough is enough!” she concluded. Liberate Minnesota will be holding a 1st Amendment peaceful assembly at the Governor's mansion on April 17, 2020 from 12:00 - 3:00 pm to send a strong message that people have had enough and they’re not going to take it anymore. It’s time to Liberate Minnesota now.
And a couple of days later, we posted Action 4 Liberty scolds MN Senate Republican Caucus Facebook notice of Liberate Minnesota.
Down column in that post:
. . . We suspect that news reports will continue to brand the Liberate Rally--with its Proud Boy and Three Percenter elements plainly speaking in Liberate Minnesota rally at Governor's residence: Unicorn Riot's exclusive livesteam interviews--as "Republican." We'll continue to explore just what slice of "Republican" this is, guided by groups the Republican Party of Minnesota and its state-level caucuses have condemned.
Condemned in the past, at least. We're curious how Minnesota Republicans will respond to this level of fringe. It's not like the Tea Party, which wasn't defying public health measures, as far as we remember. . . .
Just a little background on one of Mortensen's contributors in the news today and her history as an organizer.
Perhaps some of it has led to primary election headlines like the Star Tribune's Republicans battle over messaging, credentials in Minnesota. Perhaps Mort might not always be the loneliest man in the Minnesota legislature.
Image: Banner from Minnesota Scammers Exposed.
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