Gutknecht impersonating a conservative

From the Mankato Free Press
August 4

The press reported recently that Congressman Gil Gutknecht collected $190,000 last quarter in campaign contributions. I think he should give it all back on grounds he collected it under false pretences: impersonating a conservative.

Remember when there were real conservatives? They advocated balanced budgets, limited government, checks and balances, prudent use of force, individual freedoms and separation of church and state. They would have opposed the current tax-cut-and-spend policies that have resulted in some of the largest deficits in our history, opposed the all-powerful executive that rejects any checks on its power and claims the right to violate any law or invade any country using whatever pretext it chooses, and rejected the corrupt practice of trading earmarks and special favors for corporate payoffs to the DeLay/Abramoff mafia.

They would have ridiculed the bizarre spectacle of a “conservative” president trumpeting a $300 billion deficit as evidence his economic polices are working. Real conservatives, above all, were fiscally responsible.

According to an opinion piece in the London Daily Telegraph about research by Boston University Professor Laurence Kotlikoff for the Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis, the United States is headed for bankruptcy.

Gutknecht has supported Bush’s raid on the Treasury at every turn, along with the rest of his agenda, including pandering to zealots who want to use the government to impose their religious views while employing gay-bashing and flag-waving as a diversion.

So how can Gutknecht run for re-election based on a record of “fiscal responsibility?” He’s hoping people have short memories.

Barry Goldwater would have disowned the entire bunch, Gutknecht included — as imposters and extremists.

Tom Maertens