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Chris Kumpula has waged a month-long vendetta on behalf of Mark Olson. During that time, he's used every tool at his avail. Where I have a problem with Mr. Kumpula is when he makes unsubstantiated accusations. Here's one of his emails to Alison Krueger:
Alison,
You are as manipulative as your dishonest in your whining that Mark Olson did not keep his "pledge." What you are referring to (supposedly a pledge) is actually a candidate questionnaire which all candidates seeking endorsement were given the opportunity to fill-out. Candidates indicated their level of support for platform planks and commented on their rankings. You, unlike Mark, decided not to fill-out this document to let folks know your positions on the issues that citizens care about. This document was NON-BINDING. It was NOT a pledge, and you know that full well. At least he had the guts and courtesy to fill it out.
You broke your pledge this weekend when your campaign- I repeat YOUR CAMPAIGN- sent out flyers for Alison Krueger for SD16 (paid for by you). What happened to not running? What about not openly campaigning?" Alsion, I don't think there are many people left in our district who would trust you to tell them the earth is round.
I especially appreciated this flyer since it painted you as a candidate with "integrity" who is "accessible." You don't answer calls, emails, mail, or even certified mail. Twice, TWICE, you, "Miss Accessible," rejected official mail form the HD16B MNGOP. Why wouldn't you even read it? Why complain in the papers about being barraged by attacks when you won't even receive them? Mark is at least accessible- too accessible. My word, he publishes his phone number too much- too much access with mark and zero access with you!
I have been continually stunned by your actions and those who support you. The illogical logic of Herwig, the disastrous decisions of Wergin, the endorsement of the meddling Senate Caucus, the flip-flopping sentiments of Senjem, the ignorant statements of Coleman, and the incompetent, weak response of Carey have been stunning to the core. There has been even more than that. I have never seen such an array of political blunders, deception, and malice as I have this last month. Your actions and theirs have been shameful.
I did not know you well at all when you started this campaign, but I have a very clear picture of who you are today. It has been my greatest displeasure to associate with you and deal with the mess you and others have made. I would trust Al Franken more than you if he said he was going to cut taxes, secure the borders, fight against abortion, or work for 2nd amendment rights- and we all know what a statement THAT is. I am thrilled I will no longer have a need to deal with your lies and the mess they have created after Tuesday.
Thanks for breaking your signed pledge.
Mr. Kumpula says that Mark Olson's support for question D isn't a pledge. He's suggesting that it's just his answer to something on a questionnaire. Here's what question D is:
D. Adopting codes of conduct for all Minnesota elected officials that require resignation and loss of pension and benefits upon conviction of felony or any crime involving dishonesty or moral terpitude.
Mark Olson signified that he strongly agreed with that principle. The problem for him is that he's a convicted criminal who phyically threatened his wife.
That isn't opinion. That's the court's finding of fact. The debate ends there.
While Mark Olson didn't sign a document saying that he'd abide by that principle, it isn't a stretch to think that one should live out their strongly held beliefs. Not following through on that says that that person isn't trustworthy. If Mr. Kumpula wants to stake his hat on the head of that pin, he's welcome to do so.
Then Mr. Kumpula says this:
You, unlike Mark, decided not to fill-out this document to let folks know your positions on the issues that citizens care about.
I'll reject that accusation until I see documented proof that that's what happened.
I'd further suggest that filling the questionnaire out, then doing the opposite of his answer, isn't a plus for Mr. Olson.
Here's another Kumpala accusation:
You broke your pledge this weekend when your campaign- I repeat YOUR CAMPAIGN- sent out flyers for Alison Krueger for SD16 (paid for by you).
Has Mr. Kumpula checked Mr. Krueger's campaign documents? Did Ms. Krueger's campaign documents show an expenditure for either printing these alleged lit pieces or the mailing of these alleged lit pieces? If he's got proof of that, then it's important that he show us this proof.
Twice, TWICE, you, "Miss Accessible," rejected official mail form the HD16B MNGOP.
Imagine that. Ms. Krueger doesn't want to respond to a group of Olson cronies. I'm shocked, shocked to the core.
Let's show everyone what Mr. Kumpula's role has been the past month. This email says everything that needs be said:
Ok folks,
First, I would like someone to forward this to other SD16 leadership as usual. We have had a very successful few days in getting the issue of Mark Olson's Endorsement out into the open to talk about. Jason Lewis spent time on his show yesterday and today to help attack the Senate Caucus Republicans. We have successfully taken a page 7 blurb and turned it into front page news. We need to keep the pressure on and keep getting word out to folks in our district. We have about 3 weeks before a Sept. 9th primary. Until we receive official written confirmation from Alison Krueger that she will not run for the SD16 seat and also receive a written public endorsement from her for Mark Olson, we must assume that Krueger is still attempting to run in the primary. We need to keep pressure on her to do so and add pressure to the Republican State Senate Caucus and Norm Coleman to withdraw support for Krueger. I have drafted three letters attached in a single word file. They are addressed to Alison Krueger, the Senate Caucus Republicans, and Norm Coleman. I would like to see these signed by the persons listed. How we get these signatures is the thing I do not understand. Perhaps letters should be sent individually to signers to send to the appropriate recipients? Have Ron Carey, Mark Swanson, etc sign and fax them to us to deliver to Alison Krueger?
I want to use the authority of the entire GOP leadership to bat down the senate caucus and Norm Coleman. It would also help keep pressure on Alison to do what she needs to do. These letters, if signed by the appropriate persons, will have great weight. We would have the signatures of House, Senate, Congressional, and Statewide GOP authorities signing.
Mark Swanson said we in the GOP couldn't do anymore about Krueger and the Senate Caucus on Jason Lewis' show. Well, this is one more thing we can do. It's just very important we get out to the folks of SD16 to get them out there to vote for Mark. This letter may give us a big stick to help our candidates. We need to get these signatures.
-Chris
This proves that Mr. Kumpula is nothing more than a Mark Olson apologist who thinks that Mark Olson can do no wrong because he votes the 'right way'. Mr. Kumpula hasn't realized that people demand that their elected officials be people of integrity. Mark Olson was covicted of a serious crime. Mark Olson told the BPOU that he strongly agreed that "elected officials" should resign immediately and lose their pension and benefits.
Instead of resigning, he chose to run for the SD-16 Senate seat in a special election.
That isn't what a man of integrity does. That's what a self-centered man who doesn't care about integrity does. If Mark Olson won't do the right thing by himself and retire, then I hope the voters of SD-16 throw him an involuntary retirement party this fall.
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