It’s Spelled Bemidji

By Jake Levy-Pollans, Hindsight Community Fellow, February 7, 2012 at 8:30 am

Dear Conservative Presidential Candidates,

Welcome to Minnesota!

The moment was bound to happen but it doesn't make it any more fun: The reality TV show that some are charitably calling your 2012 presidential primary season has reached Minnesota. We're glad to have you and your traveling cohorts spending time (and money) here, but I wanted to clear up a few things because, just like in Iowa, the picture of Minnesota that you are trying to paint in order to fit us into your conservative rhetoric is not the real Minnesota.

For one thing, it's spelled Bemidji.

If you are going to insist on bringing your hateful rhetoric and deeply flawed policy proposals to Minnesota (not to mention those super stylish sweater vests) you can at least have the dignity to spell the name of our cities right. Chief Bemidji didn't bring his tribe to the banks of a beautiful lake and struggle through harsh winters only to have your race baiting candidacy misspell his name not once, not twice, but 6 times.

For another thing, don't come to a state that has historically been on the forefront of smart health care policy that increases affordable, effective coverage to its citizens and tell us that a new national law that expands coverage to millions of people using progressive and conservative policy proposals is "socialism."

Now, I get it. Watching conservatives in our state legislature this past year might make you think that divisive politics sells in Minnesota. After all, we're the state that shutdown government so conservatives wouldn't have to compromise on a balanced approach to balancing the state budget. But they're wrong and you're wrong. Minnesota became a national model for good government, attracting numerous Fortune 500 companies to our state with a well educated workforce and world-class quality of life because, for decades we were "the state that worked." Divisiveness might win conservative primaries but it hasn't made Minnesota great and it won't put America back to work.

We've got enough problems in Minnesota with conservative members of our legislature favoring divisive amendments over honest solutions without you coming in and giving them more bad ideas.

I hope you enjoy your visit, I really do, if you want to stop by a few more restaurants and spend a bit more money please feel free to do so. But when you leave, please know that nothing will have changed. Most Minnesotans will still know the truth about the immensely positive impact that progressive policy has had for our state. And you better believe that we'll still know how to spell Bemidji.

All the best,

Jake

Posted in News & Notes | Related Topics: 2012 Election  Minnesota Elections  Progressive Community