Grumpier Old Man: Former GOP Chair Dwight Adams trashes John Thune because he's on the opposite end of an issue
You could have picked my jaw up off of the floor when I read this story by Kate Turnbow of the Pierre Capitol Journal this past Friday. In this story, former State Republican Party Chairman Dwight Adams did a total hatchet job on Republican U.S. Senator John Thune because Thune supports the DM&E Rail expansion and Dwight opposes it because the rail line runs near his house.
In the article titled "outrage over forum abounds" Dwight went out of his way to take a partisan swipe at John Thune who had served as Executive Director for the South Dakota Republican Party during his time as chairman.
I would point out that "Executive Director" is a much different connotation than "Executive Assistant." And Dwight is taking credit for Thune having sought public office? I'd have to wait for John to weigh in on that.
But, regardless of the personal relationship they once shared, now they're on the opposite side of an issue, Dwight's opinion of John "has now changed?" This is just sad on Dwight's part.
I worked under them both for one election cycle, and John was a confidant to Dwight. They worked very closely on GOP matters. And to see Dwight make this so personal is really pathetic.
I'd point out that this is an all too similar pattern to how Dwight conducted himself when Walter Dale Miller ran for Governor and found himself on the opposite side of the political fence with Dwight who had sided with Bill Janklow in the primary.
I don't have any internet linked articles to illustrate my points, but suffice it to say that some of the debate between the two became kind of nasty and "personal." It wasn't just on Dwight's part, but with this latest incident, it starts to make one wonder.
The key here, is that certainly on an issue of this magnitude, debate is not only expected, it's argueably mandatory. This is a major upgrade in our rail system and it's going to impact a lot of people. Some will be impacted positively, and some who live along the tracks like Adams, St. Mary's Hospital in Pierre, and others are going to be impacted negatively.
But to frame the debate in terms of implying character flaws? That seems beneath someone who led the state GOP and who once people looked up to.
Because now, the same people who looked up to him can now watch him as he swims in the gutter.
In the article titled "outrage over forum abounds" Dwight went out of his way to take a partisan swipe at John Thune who had served as Executive Director for the South Dakota Republican Party during his time as chairman.
I would point out that "Executive Director" is a much different connotation than "Executive Assistant." And Dwight is taking credit for Thune having sought public office? I'd have to wait for John to weigh in on that.But, regardless of the personal relationship they once shared, now they're on the opposite side of an issue, Dwight's opinion of John "has now changed?" This is just sad on Dwight's part.
I worked under them both for one election cycle, and John was a confidant to Dwight. They worked very closely on GOP matters. And to see Dwight make this so personal is really pathetic.
I'd point out that this is an all too similar pattern to how Dwight conducted himself when Walter Dale Miller ran for Governor and found himself on the opposite side of the political fence with Dwight who had sided with Bill Janklow in the primary.
I don't have any internet linked articles to illustrate my points, but suffice it to say that some of the debate between the two became kind of nasty and "personal." It wasn't just on Dwight's part, but with this latest incident, it starts to make one wonder.
The key here, is that certainly on an issue of this magnitude, debate is not only expected, it's argueably mandatory. This is a major upgrade in our rail system and it's going to impact a lot of people. Some will be impacted positively, and some who live along the tracks like Adams, St. Mary's Hospital in Pierre, and others are going to be impacted negatively.
But to frame the debate in terms of implying character flaws? That seems beneath someone who led the state GOP and who once people looked up to.
Because now, the same people who looked up to him can now watch him as he swims in the gutter.
Comments
The charge of course was untrue, but an out-of-state interest paid for it, etc. etc.
Now John has flip-flopped on the abortion bill as well as he sees the sea of change that has occured on that issue.
This state is slowing wake up to the fact that real family values are education and health care, not God, guns and gays.
Maybe John will be an Independent by '08 and a fully registered Democrat by 2010.