Gronstal to Iowa Voters – F*ck You!
Gronstal Earns a Mouth Scrubbing at Capitol Wednesday!
By swords&ploughshares
It's official, Iowa Democrats who turned out in record numbers this year to deliver the historic control of the Iowa House, Senate and Governorship to Democrats for the first time in over 30 years, can now rest safe that their leadership has abandoned them.
At today's VOICE Rally at the Capitol in Des Moines, Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal stunned Iowa citizens advocating Clean Elections with his arrogance and use of obscenities.
A group of women and elderly men had gathered in the Rotunda after a peaceful rally calling for an end to the use of big money in Iowa's political campaigns, when Gronstal, who has been called "the most powerful man in Iowa politics," came strolling by.
Seizing upon the chance to speak with "the powerful one," members of the group caught his attention and began asking him where he stood on the issue.
When told of the citizen's concerns about how corporate money was impacting elections, Gronstal told them that's the way things work. When asked about the chance of Clean Election legislation reaching the floor he flatly said, "Not a chance."
Gronstal then went on a rant about how "naïve" these Iowans were, thinking that big money could be removed from Iowa elections, warning that "Republicans could just outspend us (Democrats) with a 527."
When someone in the crowd asked Gronstal about the half a million dollars that he raised during the last election cycle and doled out to Democratic candidates, he scoffed at the figure, saying, "I raised twice that much!"
Eventually some 20 citizens gathered around Gronstal, eager to hear the bill's fate during the final days of the 2007 session. What many of them heard was not only disheartening, but ultimately insulting.
Rather than listen to their reasonable concerns about the influence of money in politics, Gronstal arrogantly claimed that the votes for Clean Elections "weren't there." When a woman challenged this claim, Gronstal launched into her. "I make the decisions of what bills come to the floor…I'm the best vote counter in this building. I got 25 years of experience."
At some point, an older gentleman interrupted the Senate Majority Leader, saying, "You're nothing but a Republican in Democrat clothing."
Like a petty tyrant who has finally been called on his bad behavior the Senate Majority Leader lost it. Gronstal squared off with the older gentleman and said, "That's the lowest blow that anyone's ever dealt me. You can kiss my ass!"
Visibly shaken, Gronstal stormed off. He walked a short distance away from the group and then lifted his head up to the top of the Capitol and SHOUTED "F*ck You!" A large group of elementary school children were touring the Rotunda while this was happening.
Inappropriate behavior at the Capitol is not unusual, but somebody with the title of Senate Majority Leader should not be allowed to speak to Iowa voters in such a vulgar manner especially while young children are nearby. The office and the Senate of Iowa deserve better.
If you're appalled at Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal's behavior, contact the Iowa Senate and demand that Gronstal issue a public apology.
E-mail: michael.gronstal@legis.state.ia.us
Home Telephone: 712-328-2808
SENATE SWITCHBOARD: (515) 281-3371
HOUSE SWITCHBOARD: (515) 281-3221
Find Your Legislator and their email address by visiting www.legis.state.ia.us/FindLeg
Demand a public apology. Iowans expect more from their leaders.
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Thursday, April 19
Gronstal to Iowa Voters – F*ck You!
by
Caroline Vernon
on Thu 19 Apr 2007 09:01 AM CDT
Tuesday, April 10
Attend the ICAN Conference in Des Moines on April 21
by
Sam Garchik
on Tue 10 Apr 2007 08:53 AM CDT
Attend the ICAN Conference in Des Moines
on April 21 By Betty Ahrens, Executive Director I am pleased to invite you to attend ICAN’s Annual Leadership Training Conference set for Saturday, April 21 – from 12:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. – at the Foxboro Conference Center in Johnston (6163 86th Street). This year our keynote speaker is Barack Obama, U.S. Senator and best-selling author of The Audacity of Hope. In addition, we will offer a workshop on using Our Common Values to build progressive power and unite our voices around a shared progressive voice. Due to limited seating (and the popularity of our keynote speaker), pre-registration is required. There is a $35 registration fee per person ($40 if paid at the door) for the Conference, which includes lunch, awards ceremony, workshop and keynote speaker. I hope you will attend and bring other members of your organization to spend the afternoon and evening with ICAN. We are going to have a great Conference and want you to be a part of this exciting day. We are intent on “Using Our Common Values to Build Progressive Power,” but we can’t do it without you! The Our Common Values training session will provide an interactive small-group experience that will stretch your ways of thinking and doing – and have practical application in our shared work. These small group sessions will be fun and high-energy as well as thought provoking. This is a great opportunity to develop new leaders or to give established leaders a fresh perspective on their work. Participants in this workshop will find themselves more savvy and effective advocates when they apply the lessons learned in this session to their on-going work. We are delighted to have a group of experienced, skilled facilitators joining us to lead the workshops: Alexa Bradley and Dave Mann, of the Grass Roots Policy Project, Carolyn Castore of the Midwest States Center, Phillip Cryan of ICAN and Matt Russell, of the Iowa Network for Community Agriculture. In the U.S. Senate, keynote speaker Senator Barack Obama – who began his career as a community organizer in Chicago – has focused on tackling the challenges of a globalized, 21st century world with fresh thinking and a politics that no longer settles for the lowest common denominator. Amid the partisanship and bickering of today's public debate, he still believes in the ability to unite people around a politics of purpose - a politics that puts solving the challenges of everyday Americans ahead of partisan calculation and political gain. Whether it's the poverty exposed by Katrina, the genocide in Darfur, or the role of faith in our politics, Barack Obama continues to speak out on the issues that will define America in the 21st Century. This makes him the ideal speaker to include in our day-long exercise of using Our Common Values to build progressive power. Seating is limited, and as a result we are unable to provide entrance to the keynote speech to individuals or groups who have not attended the entire Leadership Training Conference. Seating is very limited for the Conference. Please register no more than 1 individual(s). Pre-registration is required. Enclosed you will find a Leadership Conference Registration Form. Please complete the form and return it to us in the enclosed envelope along with your $35 per person registration fee. Your pre-registration must be received by April 9. Registration for the workshop and keynote speaker is on a first come first serve basis. The Conference will be well worth your registration costs! We have reserved a limited number of special-rate rooms at the nearby Stoney Creek Inn if you require overnight accommodations on April 21. Rooms will be available on Saturday night at a rate of $79 plus taxes; to make room reservations call 800-659-2220. To secure the special rate, mention Iowa Citizen Action Network’s name. Reservations must be made on or before April 9 to receive the special rate. We are grateful for the support of your organization, and look forward to working with you in the future. If you have any questions, please call Gayle Warner at 319/354-8116 or e-mail gwarner@iowacan.org. I look forward to seeing you on April 21! In Solidarity, Betty Ahrens, Executive Director |
Iowa Sites Child & Family Policy Center - Iowa Genetic Engineering Action Network Iowa Citizen Action Network - ICAN Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO Iowa Physicians for Social Responsibility Iowa Public Interest Research Group Midwest Environmental Justice Advocates Progressive Action for the Common Good Progressive Coalition of Central Iowa QCAD (Quad-Citians Affirming Diversity - GLBT) Iowa Blogs The Deprogrammer (Quad Cities) Iowa True Blue (Gordon Fischer's Blog) Iowa Voters for Open and Transparent Elections Political FalloutFight Iowa Rapid Response Network - Iowa
Iowans for Better Local TV
Air America
The Counterpoint
National FAIR: Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting
Media Matters for America
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