Posted: 9/22/06
Independence Party 6th District candidate Binkowski has a flare for the provocative line during debate
by T.W. Budig
ECM capitol reporter
The Independence Party flare for the provocative line was displayed at the 6th District congressional debate in Woodbury on Thursday (Sept. 21).
Independence Party candidate John Binkowski challenged Republican Sen. Michele Bachmann and Democrat Patty Wetterling for the most memorable lines of the hour-long debate.
Binkowski, who recently polled single-digits in one poll, both pleased and drew a few boos from the partisan audience at the Woodbury Amphitheater.
Candidate John Binkowski
"I would be first on the list to give our president a swift kick in the butt for getting us into the situation in the first place," said Binkowski, of St. Mary's Point, in discussing the Iraq War.
Binkowski, in praising Salt Lake City's transportation system, called Salt Lake "the most conservative city in the world outside of Riyedh (Saudi Arabia),"
He later commented that he didn't believe either the Muslim suicide bomber or Christian blowing up an abortion clinic truly represented their faiths.
On a lighter note, the candidate later said he had brought his guitar and would leave the case open for supporters to toss money in while he played.
Speaking after the debate, sponsored by Debate Minnesota, Binkowski explained that he was having fun, not being flippant.
Independence Party Chairman Jim Moore agreed. "The campaign is just starting for him," said Moore.
Moore saw Binkowski's rhetoric as a means of exposing the "white elephant" issues being ignored.
The party has a history of verbal fireworks.
Independence Party gubernatorial candidate Peter Hutchinson recently lit up a gubernatorial debate in Bloomington with flamboyant remarks.
Binkowski was sole candidate of the 6th District trio to support a federal gas tax increase.
And he wants the gas tax, as all user taxes, indexed for inflation.
Both Wetterling and Bachmann explained they didn't support increasing the federal gas tax. "I don't think it's a good time to raise taxes right now," said Bachmann.
DFL-endorsed candidate Patty Wetterling
On the Iraq War, Binkowski called for an immediate "intelligent withdrawal" from the country, saying he's concluded the presence of U.S. troops is destabilizing.
Wetterling, while asserting there is a global war on terrorism, said that "it's not going to be won in Iraq" and called for the U..S to get out of the "quagmire."
Bachmann spoke on an ideological war currently taking place and the need to understand the enemy.
On transportation, Bachmann spoke of the need to lay more asphalt in the 6th District and disparaged the proposed Northstar Communter Rail line as not being cost-effective.
State Sen. Michele Bachmann
Wetterling backed the line, saying it should extend all the way to from Minneapolis to St. Cloud.
In general, Wetterling and Bachmann avoided criticizing the other during the debate.
(Photos by T.W. Budig, ECM Capitol Reporter)
Capitol Roundup
ECM Publishers, Inc.
4095 Coon Rapids Blvd.
Coon Rapids, MN 55433
