Bell to National Democrats: Don’t Meddle in Minnesota Politics

01/24/2006

This is a fight for the soul of the DFL Party.

MINNEAPOLIS - U.S. Senate Candidate Ford Bell says national Democrats are trying to corrupt the DFL’s nomination process, and he is demanding they stay out of Minnesota’s DFL endorsement process.  Bell says the primary battle for the spot on the ballot is a fight for the “soul of the DFL Party.”

In a letter to New York Senator Charles Schumer, the Chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Bell said he was stunned to hear that the national party had declared that Patty Wetterling’s withdrawal from Minnesota’s U.S. Senate race had left the field clear for Amy Klobuchar.

“I was stunned and disappointed to see you use such a negative and bald intimidation tactic to try to clear the rest of the DFL field in the Minnesota Senate race,” Bell said in the letter to Schumer.  “As Democrats we both know that the strength of our party comes from the courage of our convictions, the integrity of our candidates, and our respect for the democratic process.  You are a powerful man and you have a great amount of responsibility to help elect Democrats.  I caution you to not corrupt Minnesota’s process.”

Bell says there is a bigger issue at stake than who represents the DFL Party on the ballot in November.  He is calling this primary a fight for the soul of the Democratic Party. “…DFL’ers can make a clear choice as to what type of leader they want to have speaking for them in Washington.  Will they vote for the Washington insider’s candidate or will they vote for the grassroots people’s candidate”

Bell repeated his call for a series of debates with his DFL opponent Amy Klobuchar, “To quote Mark Twain: “The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated.” I can assure you that there will be a DFL primary for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota.  I have challenged Amy Klobuchar to a series of debates across our state.  I await her response.”

A copy of Bell’s letter to Schumer is attached.

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January 22, 2006

The Honorable Charles Schumer
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Senator Schumer:

The heavy-handed party politics of New York and Washington D.C. have no place in Minnesota while members of the DFL Party choose their leaders through a time honored grassroots process that begins with the caucuses.  This is the very process that raised Paul Wellstone from obscurity to the Conscience of the Congress.  I believe that you and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee are attempting to circumvent that process with a negative and cynical attempt to put your own candidate on the ballot.

Last Thursday you sent an e-mail to Minnesota congratulating Amy Klobuchar on being the only remaining DFL’er in our state’s race for the U.S. Senate in response to the announcement that Patty Wetterling had decided to drop out of the Senate race.  I was stunned and disappointed to see you use such a negative and bald intimidation tactic to try to clear the rest of the DFL field in the Minnesota Senate race.

I am in this race to win, because there is a clear choice for our party to make as it decides what interests it wants to represent.  Will it be the party of connected insiders, or will it be the party of the people? 

As Democrats, we both know that the strength of our party comes from the courage of our convictions, the integrity of our candidates, and our respect for the democratic process.  You are a powerful man and you have a great amount of responsibility to help elect Democrats.  That is why I am surprised that you would attempt to corrupt Minnesota’s process.

A primary contest fought on the battleground of issues and conviction between Amy Klobuchar and myself will allow us as a party to have a positive debate of the issues.  Then the Minnesota DFL’ers can make a clear choice as to what type of leader they want to have speaking for them in Washington.  Will they vote for the Washington insider’s candidate or will they vote for the grassroots people’s candidate?

One thing is certain – a coronation in January is premature. 

To quote Mark Twain: “The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated.” I can assure you that there will be a DFL primary for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota.  I have challenged Amy Klobuchar to a series of debates across our state.  I await her response. 

I understand that the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has a keen interest in this race as it attempts to build a Democratic majority in the U.S. Senate and I look forward to working more closely with you after I win the Primary. 

Until then I anticipate that you will respect the DFL Party’s grassroots nomination process for the next Democratic Senator from Minnesota. 

Sincerely,

Ford Bell
Candidate for U.S. Senate - Minnesota