Chaney Disinvited

From the Associated Press

WASHINGTON - The family of Sen. Paul Wellstone asked Vice President Dick Cheney to stay away, so Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson and the White House's chief congressional liaison were leading an administration delegation to Tuesday night's memorial service.

White House press secretary Ari Fleischer said Cheney offered to attend the service for Wellstone, his wife, two daughters and three campaign aides — all killed in a plane crash Friday. "The family was appreciative of the offer by the vice president to attend." But he added that it would be inappropriate to characterize the private conversations that ultimately led to the decision that Cheney would not go.

Another White House official said privately that with the memorial service expected to draw thousands, the Wellstone family told the White House they did not want mourners subjected to the kind of security screenings that Cheney's attendance would have required. This official also said White House advisers worried that the memorial service, with unions bringing supporters by the busload, would double as a Democrat get-out-the-vote rally and be awkward for Cheney.

There was never any thought of President Bush attending Wellstone's memorial, said the official, who discussed the matter only on grounds of anonymity.

But at a signing ceremony Tuesday for legislation overhauling the election system, Bush paid tribute to Wellstone as a man of deep conviction who "will be missed" and led his audience in observing a moment of silence for the late senator.

Bush, who campaigned in Minnesota for Wellstone's Republican opponent, Norm Coleman, just one week before the plane crash, will go ahead with plans to appear in Minnesota once more for Coleman on Sunday.

Former Vice President Walter Mondale, a Democrat, is expected to take Wellstone's place on the ballot in this final week before Election Day. With control of the Senate hinging on the swing of just one seat, senior Republicans said an early internal poll showed a Coleman-Mondale race would be very tight.

 

He wasn't disinvited. Bush decided not to go and offered to send Cheney instead. The family said they didn't think that would be appropriate. I don't think that's extraordinary. Wellstone was an unapologetic liberal who spent his career in the Senate fighting against basically everything Cheney's for. From all accounts Wellstone didn't hate anyone, but he believed passionately in the causes he fought for and Cheney represents passionate opposition to those causes. What's so surprising about the family politely declining what was at best a polite offer. The Bush line as to why he's not attending is that they didn't have a personal relationship. Neither did Wellstone and Cheney.

 

I hadn't read Mrs. JB's article. Not that it's that different, but here's the one I was referring to:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32942-2002Oct28.html

Bush's Absence Draws Scrutiny


President Bush does not plan to attend tonight's memorial service for Sen. Paul D. Wellstone (D-Minn.), and some Democratic officials are asking why. The matter seemed straightforward when White House press secretary Ari Fleischer told reporters Sunday that the administration would send "an appropriate official," but not the president.

"If you take a look at the historical record of when a sitting senator dies in office, the president will not go," Fleischer said. "This has not been the past pattern." Democratic officials asserted yesterday that, in fact, the record is mixed. In 1999, President Bill Clinton attended the funeral of Sen. John H. Chafee (R-R.I.).

The officials said they were making an issue of Bush's planned absence because they saw a political motive. The expected substitution of Walter F. Mondale for Wellstone on the ballot could hurt GOP challenger Norm Coleman, although White House officials say a poll shows the race would be within the margin of error. A loss by Coleman could cost the GOP control of the Senate.

"If Bush is saying what a great and principled man Paul Wellstone was," a Democratic official said, "that could hurt Norm Coleman and turn out more Democrats in Minnesota and in other states. There has been an organic surge in Democratic interest in the election because of Wellstone."

White House officials point out that presidents did not attend the funerals of Sens. John Heinz (R-Pa.) or Paul Coverdell (R-Ga.). They also point out that Bush did not have a personal relationship with Wellstone.

"Democrats are doing what they're accusing the president of, which is politicizing Paul Wellstone's death," an administration official said. "I cannot believe that is their intention."

A Republican official said the White House "reached out to the Wellstone family" and offered to have Vice President Cheney come. The official said family representatives replied that they "were flattered but didn't think it would be appropriate."

Although a visit has not been announced, White House officials said Bush still may go through with a planned campaign stop for Coleman before the election.

 

So, it's "Why isn't Bush coming", backed with:

"...the Wellstone family told the White House they did not want mourners subjected to the kind of security screenings that Cheney's attendance would have required. "

So they don't want Cheney because of his security detail, but they also want to make noise about Bush not coming? Seems hypocritical.

If security hassling the guests is the issue, it seems neither Bush nor Cheney would be welcome. Yet some Democrats are complaining Bush wasn't coming.

It seems inconsistent.

 

I don't think they're upset about Bush not coming, just about the perceived reason he decided not to attend.

Much ado about nothing, IMO.

 

Ditto to RM95. The family was apparently concerned about security. Dems outside the family questioned the Bush decision. No contradiction there.

 

Cheney has such a warm, open heart, ... an expressive, emotive countenance. He will be missed at the funeral of the antiCheney.

 

The criticism is inconsistent with the family's wishes.

The family didn't want Cheney there because of the security hassle. It stands to reason that they wouldn't have wanted Bush there either for that same reason, so Bush's decision not to go is keeping with the family's wishes.

He shouldn't be criticized for it.

 

They could send Darrell Hammond instead if they're worried about security.

 

"I just want to tell the family how sincerely sorry I am. Now where's the cake?"

 

If either side tries to get political milage out of this that is sad.

Whomever said the following should be pulled (fired) from the Wellstone/Mondale campaign if he is involved in it and take heat otherwise:
"If Bush is saying what a great and principled man Paul Wellstone was," a Democratic official said, "that could hurt Norm Coleman and turn out more Democrats in Minnesota and in other states.

Although this isn't exactly an attempt to remain out of the fray.
"Democrats are doing what they're accusing the president of, which is politicizing Paul Wellstone's death," an administration official said. "I cannot believe that is their intention."

The bad cop (usually a campaign advisor or low level admin lap dog), good cop, routine is really tired.

 

The latest from the NY Times:

At Request of Wellstones, Cheney Will Not Attend Memorial
By JODI WILGOREN


MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 29 — Complying with a request from the sons of Senator Paul Wellstone, Vice President Dick Cheney will not attend tonight's memorial service for the senator, his wife and his daughter, who were killed in a plane crash on Friday, the White House said.

Instead, Tommy Thompson, the secretary of Health and Human Services, will represent the White House.

A Democrat involved with planning the service at the University of Minnesota's Williams Arena here said the family did not want the event overwhelmed by the additional security, logistical challenges and potential protesters that would accompany the vice president. But the family was also uncomfortable at the prospect of attendance by Mr. Cheney, who helped to push Norm Coleman into the race against Mr. Wellstone and to guide the Republican's aggressive campaign before Friday's fatal plane crash.

The decision that President Bush would not attend the memorial was based on previous practice, his spokesman said. "If you take a look at the historical record of when a sitting senator dies in office, no the president will not go," said Ari Fleischer, the White House press secretary. "This has not been the past pattern. We will send an appropriate official."

But the president did lead a moment of silence for the plane crash victims before signing the Voting Rights Act today. "I would like to pause and remember a devoted public servant who was taken from us last Friday, along with his wife and his daughter and several other Americans," Mr. Bush said. "Paul Wellstone was a deeply principled and a good-hearted man. He'll be missed by all who knew him and by all who had the privilege of serving with him."

President Clinton, who gave the eulogy at a similar memorial in Missouri two years ago after Gov. Mel Carnahan died in a fatal plane crash, is planning to attend, along with former Vice President Al Gore and at least half the United States Senate. Organizers said they remained unsure even this morning of who would eulogize the three Wellstones and three campaign aides who died in Friday's fiery crash, though Senator Tom Harkin, the Iowa Democrat who was Mr. Wellstone's closest colleague in ideology, geography and spirit, will be among the speakers.

As many as 20,000 people are expected to crowd into two sports stadiums for what may be the first memorial service with a slogan: "Stand Up, Keep Fighting." That slogan is the title of a song written by J. D. Steele and Larry Long, local musicians, on behalf of the Wellstone campaign. The refrain, "Vote for Paul Wellstone," will be edited to, "Remember Paul Wellstone," in tonight's service.

Allison Dobson, a spokeswoman, said the two-hour service would include live musical performances, multimedia eulogies and a number of speakers to honor all six Democrats, including Tom Lapic, Mary McEvoy and Will McLaughlin, who died in the fiery crash in northern Minnesota. The two pilots will have separate services. Private funeral services and burials were held yesterday for Mr. Wellstone and his wife, Sheila, both 58, and their daughter, Marcia Markuson, 33.

Tonight's service, which begins at 6:30 p.m. central time, will be presented in the round, Ms. Dobson said, with four podiums on a stage, encircled by seats for family members of the deceased. The event will be chronicled by at least 110 newspapers, from The Asian-American Press to The London Daily Telegraph; 70 radio stations; 34 still photographers and 22 television crews. It is being broadcast live on local television. A Webcast will be carried at http://shows.implex.tv/Wellstone/.

Outside in the parking lot, the broken-down green bus that Mr. Wellstone used to traverse the state in each of his three campaigns, will be the depository for flowers, signs and other memorial gifts.

After a nominating convention Wednesday night makes his candidacy official, former Vice President Walter F. Mondale, 74, is expected to ride the bus on the campaign trail, perhaps as early as Thursday.

President Bush is expected to visit Minnesota over the weekend to pump up Mr. Coleman, the former mayor of St. Paul, in the truncated campaign.

 

Didn't Dubya's dad call Wellstone a 'chickensh!t'?

 

lmao!!!!!!!

 

Shame on you giddyup for shaming on them in the context of Paul Wellstone. Those potential protesters are his legacy. They'd be right at home at his memorial service and welcomed. Cheney would not. I'm not even making the argument here that Cheney or Wellstone is wrong or right in general (you know my opinion), but shame on you for thinking that Paul Wellstone's memorial service should be an equal opportunity sounding ground for both parties. Wellstone would have been proud if people protested Cheney's presence at his service. He was a man of deep principles, he encouraged protest when those principles were challenged and he was a proud liberal. Screw all the pussyfooting. Cheney's presence would have been an insult to Wellstone's memory. If he'd gone and if I'd been able to get to Minnesota, I'd have protested. That's how I would have honored the only contemporary politician I can call a hero.

 

You know what? **** off. You don't get to say what is and what isn't appropriate when it comes to Paul Wellstone's memorial service. And you've got a lot of damn nerve talking about liberals needing to get real on this night. You want to have a political fight? See me in a couple days. I'll be happy to join you. This isn't about politics, you're right. So why should Paul Wellstone's friends and family have to abide a person that they and he found morally repugnant -- at his ****ing funeral -- in order to stand on ceremony? He didn't sign up for that. The reason that liberals and conservatives alike took his death so hard is that Wellstone was never about politics. But he was always about protest.

Wellstone was unique in politics because every single thing he argued for was absolutely real to him. It was never ceremony. His service was no different. And, regardless of what the family or the party said, that's why he was "disinvited" (a weird word considering he was never "invited" in the first place). All I really meant to say in my prior post was that (a) it was weird that you would call out the family or the party on somehow violating ceremony as it usually goes, and (b) the "shame on" any potential protesters was beyond the pale considering that Wellstone spent his life encouraging protest. You seemed to imply that protest would somehow denigrate his service when it would, in fact, be a tribute. Peace out and all, but I'm not particularly interested in listening to a conservative's take on what's appropriate when it comes to Paul Wellstone's funeral. I am actually, sincerely, in mourning. And your takes on what is or what is not appropriate, in the face of Paul Wellstone's death, offend me. And the "shame on the potential protesters" is the wrongest thing you could say. Want to talk appropriate? Paul Wellstone's dead. Stay on your side of the fence for a few days. Moralize later.