Minnis File - Update
First, here's the television spot that is running in East Multnomah County.
Second, some blog round-up on the Minnis cover-up story:
The disturbing facts of a sexual abuse case that Oregon Speaker of the House Karen Minnis paid $20k to try and cover up and ignore. Time after time, the scandals of Karen Minnis are brushed under the rug. This is too much. When will the voters of East County see her for what she is?It is clear that even in Karen Minnis' private life, she has no regard for protecting women from sexual predators, and in this case, protecting women from her own brother-in-law.
Loaded Orygun first had a reaction:
This is an ugly, disgusting story made worse by the fact a police officer and state legislator (and the potential Oregon House Speaker) didn't report their dirtbag relative to the police. This is a complete and total violation of the public trust.
And then, Loaded Orygun dug into the hypocrisy. Quoting Karen Minnis:
Ladies and gentlemen I think we need to send a message that it doesn't matter who you are or what you do. That if you do something like this against one of the children of this state, there will be a price to pay. There will be a price to pay. Just because a clock runs out doesn't mean that you're not going to be held accountable.
There's also conversation happening over at DailyKos.com.
Of course, this Minnis story is sordid and ugly. If you're looking for something positive and uplifting to do, join the Bus Project in making phone calls getting out the vote for Rob Brading.
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connect with blueoregon
Oct 27, '06
I'll be there Monday night... and in the spirit of vicious competition, I challenge anybody out there to a game of Phonebank Bingo.
Oct 27, '06
OK, I tried googling around and couldn't find it: Please tell me the rules to "Phonebank Bingo", I'd love to hear about it.
7:52 p.m.
Oct 27, '06
Hats off to the kidz that put this little piece of nastiness together. It's about time we dug in and got comfortable in the mud.
Our opponents live there, and the whole "measuring for new drapes" thing need to be preceded by familiarizing ourselves with the environment.
The '08 campaign starts on November 8th, 2006. Be there or be square.....
Oct 27, '06
Wow.
Did anyone get the abuse on video?
Maybe kids will be able to watch it on the internet in libraries.
The voters in this district deserve somebody better than either of these candidates.
The Measure 45 campaign should thank each candidate for (unintentionally) making the best pro-term limits ads anyone could hope for.
9:11 p.m.
Oct 27, '06
The voters in this district deserve somebody better than either of these candidates.
What the hell are you talking about? Rob Brading is a great candidate and will be a great legislator. Exactly the kind of person we should have in the legislature: good values, works hard, accomplished and experienced.
Other than the absurd allegation that he had something to do with the library policy (oh, and the latest one - being straight while running a gay rights group), he's not done anything wrong. Certainly, not anything akin to this allegation of covering up a sexual assault.
Oct 27, '06
For someone who has been making the protection of minors an issue, this is a legitimate subject to bring up. Given the present role of John Minnis in Corrections, his failure to report this, as a police officer and mandatory reporter should be brought to light. Has the media picked up the story yet?
Oct 27, '06
As a Brading contributor, I'm somewhat nonplussed that something like this had to be run. I sure hope all the allegations were vetted.
Oct 27, '06
As a Brading contributor, I'm somewhat nonplussed that something like this had to be run.
You know, this is the reason Democrats have been getting their butts kicked for the past few elections. It is about time we grew a pair and hit back.
Democrats should begin to hit, and hit hard. Politics is a contact sport, and it is easy to see who is running who over. Every time I hear about someone calling into a campaign to complain about a hit piece, it really pisses me off.
You can sit back and play nice, then watch the bad guys run things. Or, you can fight back and get into office. It is an unfortunate reality, but such is politics.
Kudos for the Braiding camp. I hope he gets it done.
Oct 27, '06
Debi Farr says Karen Minnis is her mentor and role model. Nice role model, Debi.
Oct 27, '06
Come on, Gil. Seriously? Nonplussed? At a complete loss that something like this was run? You don't think we should call Minnis on her corruption and hypocrisy? These are facts. She goes after Brading with every sleazy innuendo possible. Minnis is the one who would have us believe Brading is driving carpool vans to the Castle Superstore.
And concerned about proper vetting?? Did you see the list of legal documents they've cited? Give me a break. We have to stop going easy on the Neys, Delays, Weldons, Sherwoods, Doolittles, Foleys,and Minnises of the world.
10:41 p.m.
Oct 27, '06
I posted this comment on an earlier piece about this story here today
I find it beneath contempt that you 'blue' folks would hold the actions of Speaker Minnis' brother in law against her. Where in God's name did you come up with these sleazy tactics--have you no shame??
I was trying to be funny/sarcastic--thought the 'sleazy tactics-no shame' line would give it away.
Anyhooo--in a race against Karen Minnis, knowing something about the people and money behind her, I find nothing inappropriate with the new Brading ad. Simple as that.
Oct 27, '06
Is there a difference between an ad making a deal about a few second long wrong number dial that reached a sex line and an ad that points out that a Speaker of the House abetted abuse? I think there might be. One is gutter politics, using known false information, the other is straight reporting of legal facts - and a violation of the law, not to mention the aspects of decency in regard to the treatment of another human being.
Saxtonville might get near the edge if it were in the absence of the hypocrisy it points out. As is, it directly addresses the issues brought forth by the candidate it lampoons. I make no appology for beating that drum, more than once. I speak for no one other than myself, but if you don't want me in your face, play straight.
Oct 28, '06
You can excuse and justify all you want ruining a families life with these kinds of last minute lies just because you don't agree with their politics. It will soon become clear that the new Brading spot is distortions and lies. You will all either make yourselves believe that it is true or you will say that the end justifies the means or you will just be glad the Minnises are gone. However you choose to deceive yourselves it won't change the truth. You all have become just like what you say you hate. Your pitiful!
Oct 28, '06
You all are smoking way too much pot if you think the Minnis ad is true. You are all in for a very rude awakening.
Oct 28, '06
You are all in for a very rude awakening.
Yeah...a fist full of Brading kicking Minnis' ass!
...Ok...that was cheesy, but who cares...
Go back where you came from, dirty trolls! Rack up two more donations to put your sleeze out of power! Thanks for the support!
Oct 28, '06
JD -- the court filings, staring with Vega, Guardian v. Little John's Pizza Co., Tuck Minnis, and John Minnis, Washington County Circuit Court Case C951033CV, are here: link.
I guess JD thinks that simply because Minnis has an "R" after her name she should be allowed to get away with this.
Oct 28, '06
"You can excuse and justify all you want ruining a families life with these kinds of last minute lies just because you don't agree with their politics."
Yep, just like Minnis ruined a lot of people's lives by denying a hearing on SB 1000. A lot of queer folks living in committed, loving relationships could TODAY have the same rights as straight couples if she weren't such a bigoted, rule-bending asshole. Just like Queen Minnis ruined a lot of the lives of those without prescription drug coverage by listening to the pharmaceutical industry, who would be forced to sell their snake oil for less if more Oregonians could bargain in pools to get bulk discounts. Just like a she hurt a lot of working families by refusing to reform the payday loan industry's usurious rates until it became politically feasible for her to flip-flop in the special session.
Let's not forget why we want this bitch GONE.
"Your pitiful!"
Your grammar is challenged! That particular construction requires an apostrophe and the verbal suffix...oh wait, I forgot trolls don't understand English grammar.
8:30 a.m.
Oct 28, '06
I'm with Chuck on the whole "negative campaigning" issue. We should not resort to the lying and distorting that Karl Rove is so fond of and Karen Minnis has adopted. If there's any of that in the Brading ad then shame on us.
I see nothing wrong with exposing the honest truth, however, even if that turns out to be negative--particularly when a candidate has made an issue of the subject first. That appears to me to be what the Brading ad is doing.
It makes no sense to argue that the sleazier a candidate has behaved the less we should talk about it because that "ruins families". It's the sleaze that is bad for families, not the public exposure of it.
8:34 a.m.
Oct 28, '06
JackieFenton and JDHolm:
If you have evidence that anything in the Brading ad is a lie, pony it up. We're amenable to fact-based persuasion around here.
So far all you have given us is content-free complaining.
Oct 28, '06
Oh come on, this is silly. She was 17 and could have filed a police report herself.
9:45 a.m.
Oct 28, '06
She was 17 and could have filed a police report herself.
1)That in no way abrogates anyone else's legal responsibility to do so. Don't change the subject.
2)How many 17-year-old girls have you known? She was probably embarrassed and likely intimidated and scared. It appears she was being put under heavy pressure not to make waves by adults who had authority over her. There are some 17-year-old girls who could get past all that but plenty who probably couldn't.
10:19 a.m.
Oct 28, '06
Just read the story in today's Oregonian.
"To link me to something when I wasn't named in it . . . is outrageous," she said. "It's a new low."
That's Karen's defense? If she wasn't named in the lawsuit none of it has anything to do with her?
She might have said "I didn't know about the allegations" or even "I didn't believe the allegations" but no, what she said was "I wasn't named in it". Wow.
Oct 28, '06
The Republitrolls are all up in arms because we're hitting back.
You started it, Queen Minnis, with your Christofascist ads about Brading being on the library board and not censoring the Internet. We'll finish it. Fair is fair.
11:58 a.m.
Oct 28, '06
Doretta raises a strong point, but in any case she IS involved, because as part owner of Little John's Pizza, she is essentially a party to the lawsuit and partly accountable for the settlement paid out of the company's funds. She also would bear ultimate responsibility if the claims of retaliation at work afterwards were substantiated.
12:31 p.m.
Oct 28, '06
We Democrats need to pull together for Rob Brading's campaign. Finally, facts are out that the Big "O" again failed to report a story all Oregon citizens needed to know about. I want facts from all party political ads and so far the Minnis ad looks factual to me. The link to Mark Foley seems to be a stretch...over the top. If the pizza parlor is still owned by John and Karen Minnis I won't be buying any of their pie, that's for certain.
Full disclosure: We donated twice to the Brading campaign.
Oct 28, '06
Yah! Hit Minnis hard on this one!
And because the Democrats aren't hypocrites like Karen Minnis... I'm sure they're also going to run equally strong ads against Congressman Wu?
Oct 28, '06
She could have but wasn't she given 20,000 reasons not to file the report?
12:58 p.m.
Oct 28, '06
You run ads to win elections not to lose them.
It would be hypocritical if Democrats argued that it's wrong to bring out the truth in one case but not another. However, no one's doing that.
Oct 28, '06
Thanks for the clarification, Doretta.
Here, I thought the anger over Minnis' actions was genuine - thanks for explaining that it's partisan, and that we should stay quiet when it's one of our own. (Hey... that sounds like Karen Minnis' reasoning!)
Oct 28, '06
Parents of other children and young women who could come into contact with Tuck Minnis had a goddamn right to know that he was violent and dangerous. The Minnis' made sure that information did not come out.
They put others at risk and justified it to themselves that it was ok because the truth would hurt them politically! They put politics and their personal desire for power above the safety of other members of the community. That is an example of supremely bad, reckless and dangerous judgment. Voters have every right to know that and to take it into consideration.
And then to turn around and condemn gays - each and every gay person without exception - as deviant and immoral, to villify and dehumanize them because they found it a convient tool to win elections - it's sick. Sick.
My one question for Karen Minnis: Yes or no, is sexual assualt of a minor deviant and immoral behavior?
11:54 p.m.
Oct 28, '06
Hey, ?, apparently you've learned to type without learning to read. Quite a trick, you should join the circus.
The anger is quite genuine--for this and all the other sleazy things Minnis has done.
Your suggestion that Democrats are hypocrites if they don't do something absurd is, well, absurd.
12:30 a.m.
Oct 29, '06
And because the Democrats aren't hypocrites like Karen Minnis... I'm sure they're also going to run equally strong ads against Congressman Wu?
Hey -- there's no such thing as "the Democrats". The Minnis stuff was revealed by the political committee of the Oregon House Democrats (FuturePAC). They're not involved in congressional races in any way. So it's a little absurd to suggest that they should be.
Oct 29, '06
Hey, ?, apparently you've learned to type without learning to read. Quite a trick, you should join the circus.
Umm... actually it's quite easy. You just scroll right to the bottom and start typing. Like this.
And this.
In fact, I would go so far as to say that it's easier to type without reading!
Kari -- the very ad at the top of the post did a pretty good job of linking Minnis to a (former) Congressman... we're not allowed to draw a similar parallel in the comments?
5:27 a.m.
Oct 29, '06
Kari -- the very ad at the top of the post did a pretty good job of linking Minnis to a (former) Congressman... we're not allowed to draw a similar parallel in the comments?
He didn't say it wasn't allowed. He said the posted attempt fell flat.
The difference is doing a good job of linking vs. a bad one.
Oct 29, '06
I'm sorry I didn't do a good job of linking. I guess that releases us all from any ethical obligations.
You're right, Doretta: If a Democrat is accused of sexual abuse, other Democratic organizations have no ethical responsibility to report that because, based on my bad job of linking, it's somebody else's problem.
<h2>You've convinced me. No need to argue any more.</h2>