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Health & Fitness

The Primaries are Important for Statewide and Federal Races Too

I voted today. Have you voted yet? Today is Primary Day and polls are open until 8:00pm. Turnout is expected to be low, and thus, enthusiastic supporters of extremists can alter an election…

I voted today. Have you voted yet? Today, August 14, is Primary Day, and polls are open until 8:00 tonight. Turnout is expected to be very low, and thus, the enthusiastic supporters of extremists can alter an election more easily. Several people have asked my advice on the primary, and while my opinion is no better than yours, nor more informed probably, I will give DFL, progressive and even some independent minded people a couple of insights.

Senate
Senator Amy Klobuchar does have three challengers. One, Jack Shepard, is a Republican running in the primary because he thinks the only way Kurt Bills can win is to keep Amy off the ballot in November. I think Amy is a great senator for Minnesota, even if those farther to the left than I am do not adore her. She is a tireless worker who places a tremendous amount of attention on issues important to Minnesota. She has avoided getting involved in the extreme partisanship that is dividing Congress and the nation. She has support of Democrats and Republicans. And while I have no doubt Amy Klobuchar will handily defeat her primary challengers and her opponents in the General Election, I would encourage Democrats to get out and vote for Senator Klobuchar today.

Congress
DFLers have a great candidate in Mike Obermueller, and as evidence, he does not have any primary challengers. But, John Kline does. Congressman Kline is being challenged by David Gerson. I’m not sure if Gerson would call himself a Libertarian, a TEA Partier, or a Paulite, regardless, to Gerson, John Kline is not conservative enough. I would agree, John Kline is no “conservative,” in fact I agree with Gerson that John Kline is a “Rubber Stamp Politician for John Boehner and their special interest groups.” I also agree with David Gerson that “John Kline Supports Wall Street, Not Main Street” and that “John Kline Does Not Listen to His Constituents!” That is why Mike Obermueller should win. Some Democrats are encouraging other Democrats to vote for Gerson, but, since you can only vote for one party in the primary, I would encourage you to vote for Amy on the DFL side of the ballot in the Primary, then vote for Mike Obermueller in the general election in November.

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Judicial Races
The more important primary races to me are in the primary elections for Minnesota Supreme Court judges.

There are two races with primary challengers, Chief Justice and Associate Justice 4. In these three person races, we can each vote for one candidate in each race, with the top two finishers moving on to the General Election in November.

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Chief Justice Lorie Skjerven Gildea is being challenged by a TEA Partier and Christian extremist Dan Griffith. Griffith tries to hide behind carefully molded buzz phrases and issues, but in reality, his goals seem to be to use the judicial branch to implement far-right policies. The term judicial activism has become a misused derogatory label, but his recordings and comments lead me to believe his plan is to be an activist judge. It is hard for many Democrats to think it is a good thing to vote for a Tim Pawlenty appointed Chief Justice in Gildea, but I would encourage Minnesota DFLers to vote for the incumbent Lorie Skjerven Gildea.

In the other race for Associate Justice, Justice David Stras is being challenged by Alan Nelson and Tim Tingelstad. Tingelstad is running on an agenda to have “the Truth of God and His Word, returned to the highest courts.”  He also states “It is NOT unconstitutional to bring the Word of God back into public education.” Do you think Thomas Jefferson who wrote that there should be “a wall of separation between church and State” would vote for Tingelstad? Maybe not. I am definitely not voting for Tingelstad. Despite being and active and involved Christian, I believe the Bible has no place in how the constitution is interpreted. The Constitution is the Word when it comes to our highest courts. I would encourage you to vote for Stras or Nelson.

The top two vote getters in today’s Supreme Court Primaries will move on to the General Election, my hope is that Griffith and Tingelstad are eliminated today. But take my opinion with a grain of salt. Because I am in a leadership position does not give me any more insight than others. I hope you do your own research, and I hope you get out and vote.

Posted by Steve Quist. Follow Steve on Twitter @Quist_Galaxie

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