LETTER: Sen. Norm Coleman: Republican in name only

From Diane Robinson
Hutchinson
I have found myself becoming increasingly upset as the recount for the Coleman/Franken Senate election continues. The results of this recount could not only affect Minnesotans but the whole country, for if Franken wins he could be the 60th vote for the Democrats giving them a filibuster-proof Senate. I have heard it said more than once that if this comes to pass the Republicans might as well go home. They will have no influence in the Senate. I think this recount could have been avoided if Coleman would have consistently voted as a true Republican over the past six years and not as a Democrat.

Here is a quick review of a few of Norm’s most egregious votes/issue positions during his last term:

Norm supports the Dream Act, which would give fast-track citizenship to millions of illegals in the United States and access to federal money for student loans.

Norm supports the Hate Crimes Bill, which will authorize punishments for crimes committed against homosexuals or transgender people, essentially giving them preferential treatment. If this bill passes, an employer who refuses to hire a homosexual could be committing a hate crime.

Norm voted for the SCHIP bill which would have given $35 billion toward children’s health care, moving our country toward socialized health care. If the SCHIP bill had passed, it would have included paying the insurance premiums for the children of parents making $84,000 per year.

Norm voted for the Transportation Bill giving $65 million toward the Northstar Corridor Rail project and another $35 million for the Central Corridor. He voted to spend millions on a rail system that is sure to lose millions more!

Norm is a big supporter of the global warming theory and the use of cap and trade, which will devastate our jobs. Why would a Republican support this theory and detrimental “solution”? I’m sure the environmental people did not vote for Norm but for the real deal, Franken.

Norm had been opposed to off-shore drilling and has changed his mind on this but never answered the question as to how high a gallon of gas had to go before he would change his mind on drilling in ANWR.

Norm voted for the bailout bill giving control of 850 billion taxpayer dollars to one person: presidential appointee, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, former CEO of Goldman Sachs.

Statewide, Independence Party candidate Dean Barkley received 437,404 votes and Constitution Party candidate James Niemackl received 8,905 votes. I know of staunch Republicans who voted for Barkley or Niemackl because they were disgusted with Coleman’s voting record/issue positions, particularly Norm’s vote for the bailout bill. I propose that had Coleman legislated as a party platform Republican instead of spending his time reaching across the aisle to the Democrats we would not be having this recount. He would have safely won this election.

Norm, this election result is a reflection of the fact that you did not make a clear distinction between Republican and Democratic principles. If you do lose this election, you have no one to blame for it but yourself. I feel that you had six years to prove that you were indeed a true Republican but yet you have consistently chosen to be a moderate, a RINO (Republican In Name Only).