A Quisling; Really?

Yesterday it was reported in the Star Tribune that GOP Chair Tony Sutton responded by saying, "There's a special place in hell for these quislings," in his reaction to the news that a dozen former Republican legislators have thrown their support to Independence Party candidate Tom Horner for Governor. So the first thing we all did is run to our dictionaries to find out what the heck is a quisling?

From Dictionary.com:

–noun
a person who betrays his or her own country by aiding an invading enemy, often serving later in a puppet government.

Origin: 1940; after Vidkun Quisling (1887–1945), pro-Nazi Norwegian leader.

So a quisling is essentially a traitor.

Mr. Sutton has been profiled many times in the press since his election to the Chair of the Minnesota Republican Party and the term that keeps being repeated is "no holds barred." I can see why. But it is precisely because of this type of behavior why so many moderate Republicans are distancing themselves from Mr. Sutton and candidate Emmer. While we all expect to have differences with our political opponents, they are not the enemy. And it is this type of thinking that has made the Minnesota Legislature so dysfunctional.

These type of folks see the election as a war to win for their party's benefit. Let me be clear: They are not interested in solving Minnesota's problems. They simply wish to dominate the elected offices for their political benefit and the favor of their benefactors.

What they failed to understand is that Minnesotans are actually a well-educated lot and see past the rants. And it is because of such rants and tactics that Emmer has peaked. It's over for him.

It's no secret that I am a Horner supporter. I think he's the best chance thoughtful Minnesotans have. But what continues to impress me the most, is that while he has taken the negative shots from both the left and the right, he has yet to air a negative response.

Now that's truly Minnesota Nice!