Having the Courage not to Pander

I’m sure that over the years in his role as a political strategist and communications professional, Tom Horner has helped dozens of political candidates prepare for a major speech, debate or similar event. Of course, the first rule for such preparation is always the same – know your audience. As a result, political candidates are advised not to talk about cutting Medicare or means-testing Social Security when addressing the AARP; nor are they going to discuss the merits of alternative teacher licensure when giving a speech to the Education Minnesota crowd; and they certainly won’t discuss cutting producer payments when meeting with the members of the Farm Bureau. Some may view such strategy as smartly tailoring their message, but often it’s no more than pandering. In other words, just tell the crowd what they want to hear.

So why was Tom Horner the only candidate to go into the tent at Farm Fest last week and tell the crowd that he believes that it is time to end the subsidy payments to ethanol producers? Political suicide; or is Tom Horner what we used to call a “straight shooter?” You know what I mean, the kind of guy who will give you the same answer to your face as he would behind your back. Well … I really can’t tell you what Mr. Horner was thinking, but I can tell you that it takes a lot of courage not to pander when facing 1,000 farmers deep in the heart of Minnesota’s First District.

But if you think about it, it fits perfectly with the straight talk we have heard from Mr. Horner to date. He’s the only candidate who has outlined a plan for tackling our looming budget mess; or reforming our taxes; or financing a Vikings Stadium; need I go on? Maybe it’s that Horner has nothing to lose; or maybe he realizes that we are in such a deep budget mess that Minnesotans can’t afford anything less than straight talk? I don’t know; but I can tell you that if you watch the political ads from the other candidates you would never know that our state is facing a $6 billion deficit. All they want to do is tell you that they will invest more in K-12 education or alternative energy jobs. With what money … WE’RE BROKE! Heck even Candidate Emmer, who never saw a state budget line item that he wouldn’t cut, couldn’t look the farmers at Farm Fest in the eye and tell them that we can’t afford the ethanol subsidies anymore.

I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of being pandered to. All I want is a candidate that will give me a straight answer to a straight question – and then try their best to follow through if they are elected. From what I can see, Tom Horner is the only candidate that passes that test.