Unendorsable

A lot of bandwidth went into discussion about the Star Tribune's recent endorsement of Norm Coleman for Senate. Both sides of the political aisle were all taken aback at the Strib's endorsement. However, the one that I find most telling was the one yesterday in the 3rd Congressional District.

All three candidates in the race to replace Republican Jim Ramstad in the Third District are competent. But none inspired the critical mass of confidence required for our endorsement.

Ashwin Madia was recruited and groomed to run for this seat by the DFL. As a Gulf War vet, he was (as Steve Sarvi was in the 2nd) their sure shot at election. After all, a Gulf War vet is unassailable - right? The problem was, Madia ran a horrible campaign. Whether it was staffers spouses stealing Paulsen lawn signs, or running push polls and some of the meanest smear ads seen, Madia has done it all and had it documented for all the world to see by Michael Brodkorb.

What had to hurt Team Madia most were the very words of their friends on the Strib Editorial Staff.

Ashwin Madia, an Iraq veteran and Democrat, is young, bright and energetic. A vote for Madia is a vote for potential. He gets it right on energy policy, and his military service gives him welcome foreign policy perspective.

At the same time, we can't quite shake concerns that Madia's knowledge of key issues is wide, but not deep enough. Health care reform requires more than the efficiencies he emphasizes. His call for more education funding is good, but money alone won't solve school ills. And how does this new funding square with his call to cut spending?

At the last debate, Madia was less polished on policy than his two rivals and repeated an error made in his endorsement interview -- that the Employee Free Choice Act would not allow a unionization drive to bypass a secret ballot.

This has to be the most damaging part of the non-endorsement. For Madia gave the editorial board a glimpse into the heart and soul of the modern progressive movement and what they saw did not impress them at all. In the lexicon of the modern progressive movement, the so-called "Employee Free Choice Act" is not a by-passing of the secret ballot. However, denizens of the real world (including the Star Tribune Editorial staff) see it for what it is - a way for unions to force their way into a shop regardless of whether the workers want it or not.

The Star Tribune has seen through Team Madia - now it's up to the voters. We will have to wait and see if they too have seen through the progressive double speak. Hopefully the Strib helped in that effort.