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An E-Mail To Katherine Kersten

by: TwoPuttTommy

Mon Dec 07, 2009 at 10:55:58 AM CST

Yesterday in the Strib, Katherine Kersten went off on a typical rant. So, I sent her and Scott Gillespie (Editorial Page Editor) the following e-mail:

Dear Ms. Kersten,
My name is Tommy Johnson; I'm a blogger and host "Minnesota Matters - Friday Edition" on AM-950 KTNF radio.
I read your Sunday Op/Ed with interest - you claim, and I quote:
"In 2005, a left-wing outfit called Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), ..."
I just visited the CREW website, and noted they have a "15 Most Corrupt Members Of Congress" list. That list is:
Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL)
Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL)
Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA)
Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA)
Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)
Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL)
Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA)
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-WV)
Rep. John Murtha (D-PA)
Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY)
Rep. Laura Richardson (D-CA)
Rep. Pete Visclosky (D-IN)
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA)
Rep. Don Young (R-AK)
You will note there are 8 Democrats and 7 Republicans on that list.
Furthermore, CREW also has an "Under Investigation" list, as follows - you will note that there are 10 Democratic Party House Members and 7 Republicans listed along with 2 Democratic Senators and 1 Republican:
U.S. Representatives
Representative Ken Calvert (R-CA)
Representative Norm Dicks (D-WA)
Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL)
Representative Marcy Kaptur (D-OH)
Representative Jerry Lewis (R-CA)
Representative Gary Miller (R-CA)
Representative Allan Mollohan (D-WV)
Representative Jim Moran (D-VA)
Representative Timothy Murphy (R-PA)
Representative John Murtha (D-PA)
Representative Charles Rangel (D-NY)
Representative Laura Richardson (D-CA)
Representative Todd Tiahrt (R-KS)
Representative Pete Visclosky (D-IN)
Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA)
Representative C.W. Bill Young (R-FL)
Representative Don Young (R-AK)
U.S. Senators
Senator Roland Burris (D-IL) UPDATE
Senator John Ensign (R-NV)
Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ)
Can you please advise how you determined that CREW is "a left wing outfit" when they identify more Democrats than Republicans as corrupt?
I appreciate your prompt reply as I anticipate discussing your column on air tomorrow night as I am Guest Hosting "Minnesota Matters - Tuesday Edition."
A copy of this email will be sent to CREW seeking their comment.
Sincerely,
Tommy Johnson

I won't hold my breath for a response....

TwoPuttTommy :: An E-Mail To Katherine Kersten

Tags: MN-06, Most Corrupt, CREW, Michele Bachmann, Bizzaro World, Katherine Kersten, (All Tags)

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An E-Mail To Katherine Kersten | 3 comments

Poor picked on Michele (0.00 / 0)

Right on TPT. In addition to Kersten's usual collection of lies she was pleading for sympathy for the angelic, picked on Michele Bachman. People are so mean to her. My heart bleeds.

by: Curmudgeon @ Mon Dec 07, 2009 at 15:33:05 PM CST

by: you @ soon

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torn on commenting on Kersten (0.00 / 0)

If anyone wonders why the strib keeps publishing Kersten, remember that she gets a lot of hits on the web and a lot of letters in response. She may be a factually loose ideologue, but she's a factually loose ideologue who gets read. I avoid reading her on the web site. I don't read her much anymore on paper wither, but at least in print I'm not increasing her hits. I resist the temptation to write letters because even when I know she's wrong, like I spotted the CREW error too, I'm worried the editors' reaction will be to say "that's proof subscribers are reading her".

Though Tommy, that's different when you have your show and so you're also media. I'm glad you followed up on that.

by: ericf @ Tue Dec 08, 2009 at 00:17:06 AM CST

by: you @ soon

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Kersten Actually Replied... (0.00 / 0)

...and here's her response:

Thanks for your email, Tommy. I suggest that you examine the backgrounds of CREW's founders, funders and staffers since its inception. You will find strong Democratic party ties.
CREW tends to list Democrats as corrupt when that label is impossible to avoid, or when the Democrats in question hail from safe districts.

Which prompted me to respond, and we'll be discussing that response/fisking Kersten's column on AM-950 - "Minnesota Matters" tonight!

"Those that forget the lessons of history, tend to vote GOP"

by: TwoPuttTommy @ Tue Dec 08, 2009 at 09:30:06 AM CST

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