Legalectric

Here it is, just found it in my inbasket! But it’s still not online:

Wedge Issue

Fear-mongering is back

Thanks to Pat Peoples for standing up and exposing the lengths those supporting this agenda of hatred will go to to shore up their beliefs. I wonder what she was feeling as she sat in that “focus group.” And thanks to Nick Coleman for exposing this anti-immigrant campaign in his Dec. 28th column.

I shudder to think what’s in store for us this legislative session and in the coming campaign, but it’s guaranteed to be a continuation of last year’s hate-filled fear-mongering.

Isn’t there some special sin category reserved for those who use unChristian diversionary tactics and lies? Isn’t there some special hell for those who will do anything to keep the focus off the economy, unfair taxation, statutorily bankrupt schools, increasing poverty and uninsured Minnesotans? And I pray that special place in hell isn’t Minnesota 2006

CAROL A. OVERLAND, Red Wing, Minn

And as I look at this, I realize Pat Peoples could be “he” not “she!” Hmmmmmm… biases…

In the LTE’s for January 1, the similar title:

IMMIGRATION

Wedge politics

It is important that we understand the political motivations behind the right-wing Republican push to make immigration a central issue in the 2006 elections.

Along with the gay marriage issue, Gov. Tim Pawlenty, House Speaker Steve Sviggum, Pawlenty spokesman Brian McClung, Sen. Michelle Bachmann and others who share their distorted view of humanity are promoting wedge issues to distract voters from the issues that actually affect them. They aim to divide support for solving Minnesota’s problems that were in fact created by the current administration.

I hear no discussion from this group on the loss of health insurance faced by many families. Nothing about transportation funding blocked by the governor last session. Nothing about rising property taxes due to breaking the state’s promise to fully fund our public schools. Not a word about working in partnership with Democrats to promote the common good.

They are not interested in immigration or gay marriage. They are interested in winning elections. They are setting up gay people and undocumented workers as scapegoats for the ills of our society. They are working to turn out their base while dividing the rest of us.

This is not about immigration and gay marriage. This is about fear, prejudice, discrimination and hatred.

DAVID GREENE, MINNEAPOLIS