Editorial: The speech / Straying from memorial to rally
GOP demands equal time; Wellstone aide apologizes; Ventura upset
Norm Coleman had one message to convey, and he delivered it again and...
LAURA BILLINGS: Partisanship at memorial came as no surprise
The memorial service for Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone was supposed to be a loosely-organized, speak-from-the-heart sort of remembrance. I don't think anyone expected to go to a memorial service only to see a political rally break out.
I didn't see any of the observance, nor was I able to see any news reports (some of us have jobs...), but from all indications it was a bit over the top. Even so, I can't help but think that Paul Wellstone would have been smiling at the passion and the exuberance that emanated from Williams Arena in Minneapolis on Tuesday afternoon. For those of you who were offended...well, that's really too bad. Wellstone's supporters and family had every right to remember him and his wife and daughter in the way they felt most appropriate. If that offends sensibilities, you could have changed the channel.
I, for one, am glad that the memorial was a celebration. To me, it's an indication of the impact that Paul Wellstone had on so many Minnesotans. It's not every day that a state is blessed with a representative as passionate and committed as Wellstone. We should all be thankful for his example. The Senate would be a much more lively and interesting place with a few more senators like Wellstone.
