True North

This afternoon, Sen. Norm Coleman issued a statement on the Senate Republican Caucus' decision not to support disgraced state Rep. Mark Olson:

"I stand firmly with the members of the Senate Republican Caucus who today announced that they will not support Mark Olson for the open Senate seat of Betsy Wergin. His endorsement by the party is a matter that is of great concern to me. In particular, given the circumstances behind Mr. Olson's decision to not seek re-election to the Minnesota House of Representatives, a decision that I believe was the right decision, I believe the fact that he is our party's endorsed candidate for Senate District 16 is simply unacceptable and unsupportable.

"The Senate Republican Caucus has made the appropriate decision in rejecting the candidacy of Mark Olson. I understand there are other candidates who may remain eligible to run in the September Primary, and I would hope that they continue their efforts to become our party's standard bearer.

"In the unfortunate event that Mr. Olson succeeds in the September Primary, I would ask that our party refuse to offer any type of assistance to his campaign. While the loss of a State Senate seat is unfortunate, I join Senators Senjem, Fischbach, Gimse, Hann, Koch and Michel in the strong belief that we must maintain and uphold our beliefs that violence of any kind, whether it is in word or in deed, should not be rewarded with our party's support, or the support of voters in Senate District 16."

I appreciate Sen. Coleman's statement. After what I wrote last week, I obviously and wholeheartedly concur with him.

As I've written before, I've met Alison Krueger ans was impressed by her. Her energy, her steadfast belief in conservative principles and her intellectual heft more than qualify her to be an outstanding state senator. I will do everything possible to get Ms. Krueger elected. Similarly, I'd do everything in my power to get Mark Olson defeated. I'd prefer that that happen in the primary. If it doesn't happen there, then it'll have to be in the general election.

The Minnesota GOP must be a big tent party. That doesn't mean we let anybody in. That certainly doesn't mean we let physically abusive people be part of our party.

I applaud Sen. Coleman for this unprecedented response. It isn't the routine thing to do. It's just the right thing to do. Let's hope that Sen. Coleman finds time to campaign with Ms. Krueger. Let's hope the rank-and-file get this message.

Comments welcome at LFR.