I do not vote in MN 5, but if I did it would be a no brainer to send Omar back to confront a "team" that seems too tone deaf to the desires of the people, poll after poll, which somehow translate wrongly to leadership of both parties, to - the people want tax cuts for the super wealthy.
That tone deafness is accompanied with the team's "its Manchin, it's Sinema" posturing, when it is THE REPUBLICANS, aided and abetted, that give even greater cover for universal two-party inaction on key, actual goals.
What we have is a failure of communication. But Omar tries.
The motivation for this "endorsement" of the woman who will not quit trying for what is best for people who have been consistently answering polls as they have, is the immediacy of the primary, and Strib content.
Four days ago, this. Reporting today, slanted in line with that earlier item, as to what is written early in this post vs buried nearer the end.
Quoting that second item, showing editorial sequencing by paralleling it:
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, other west metro mayors endorse Don Samuels over Rep. Ilhan Omar
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey on Thursday endorsed Democrat Don Samuels' primary election bid to unseat U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, backing the congresswoman's challenger after she supported his mayoral opponents last year.
Samuels, a former member of the Minneapolis city council and school board, is seeking to defeat Omar in Tuesday's DFL primary election in Minnesota's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Minneapolis and eastern Hennepin County. Omar beat her last well-funded Democratic primary challenger by about 20 percentage points two years ago.
"As our city and nation navigate great challenges, we need partners across all levels of government who prioritize teamwork, collaboration, and a seriousness of approach to match the seriousness of the issues we face," Frey said in a statement about his choice of Samuels. "This is an endorsement for someone who's shown an ability to do just that."
Omar endorsed two of Frey's mayoral challengers last year and encouraged Minneapolis voters not to rank him on their ballots. The Democratic congresswoman also supported a ballot measure to replace the Minneapolis Police Department with a new Department of Public Safety, which Frey opposed. Minneapolis voters rejected the proposal 56-44%.
[...] In addition to Frey, Samuels' campaign announced endorsements from the mayors of St. Louis Park, Golden Valley, Edina and New Hope on Thursday. Other Samuels endorsers include former Minnesota Secretary of State Joan Growe and five former state DFL Party chairs.
"I am honored by the endorsements of such distinguished leaders in the Fifth District," Samuels said in a statement about the mayors backing him. "The mayors' endorsements today come from leaders who know the importance of all levels of government working in tandem to get things done."
[italics added] Frey likes those who don't rock establishment boats, whether his, or the yachts of the 1%. And that's in featured opening paragraph emphasis. Continuing, in parallel still:
The first Somali American elected to Congress, Omar is seeking her third term representing the reliably Democratic Fifth District. Her outspoken approach, echoed by other members of the progressive "Squad" she is part of, often conflicts with her more moderate colleagues and draws scrutiny from Republicans.
[italics added] Damn. Doing it again. "More moderated" is a euphemism for "conservative" but they will not call it what it is. Conservatives in line with the mentioned Republicans are against progress - against what polls disclose the people want.
Should our aim be for Bipartisan conservative neoliberalism serving Wall Street interests and tghe interests of those able to put substantial money into hedge funds as sophisticated investors seeking higher yields?
Continuing:
[...]
Omar has been endorsed by the Minnesota DFL Party, Attorney General Keith Ellison, nearly two dozen state lawmakers, several Minneapolis City Council members and the mayors of Robbinsdale, Brooklyn Center and Columbia Heights.
"I believe in co-governance, and together we will continue to fight for progress for everyone in the 5th District, regardless of ZIP code," Omar said.
Ellison praised Omar as an advocate for women's rights "at a moment when the Supreme Court is trying to take them away." He also commended her for supporting the ballot measure to replace the Minneapolis Police Department with a Department of Public Safety.
"I want us to have a truly trusting relationship between police and community, and that requires a reform-minded person," Ellison said in an interview. "And that's what Ilhan is."
[italics added] And that is where it ends. Focus = Samuels, opening paragraphs; Frey headlined; quoted early. Statewide office holder Ellison not quoted until the final paragraph - A man who prior to Omar was repeatedly reelected to the very seat Omar and Samuels are contesting - that not worth Strib's mention or attention?
Focus = Omar, at the end. Buried, as if inconsequential, the party caucused and wants Omar, not Samuels. That is not inconsequential. Omar is the party endorsed incumbent. Having seniority built up via election and reelections.
"Team player" upfront. "Reform-minded," last paragraph. If you live in the district and believe things are dandy, reform unneeded, all you'd like to see already exists, then vote with Frey. If you wonder why the Democrats in the White House and in the drivers seat in both houses of Congress have not Built Back Better - go figure.
Manchin/Sinema as lightning rod figures notwithstanding, who's actually pushing for what polls say people want government to do? Progressives are.
Strib's item does not get into the money. Whose is behind Omar, Whose is behind Samuels? Which candidate has more individual donor money than PAC money, relative to the other?
Inconsequential? Money? Go figure that.
UPDATE: With one media outlet using the slogan, "All the news that's fit to print," that leaves open the slogan, "All the news that's fit to slant." Have a nice weekend.
FURTHER: Having raised "money," OpenSecrets has some info. You can download a spreadsheet that shows Omar and Republican Cicely Davis dwarf the other candidates on all the fundraising columns, including PAC money. Another difference on the linked page:
The "outside" spending is not beyond six-figures total, but most is spent opposing Omar, next most, boosting Samuels. "Outside" presumably means out of district, not out of state - and the numbers differ with PAC numbers in the spreadsheet. While the meanings are unclear -Two thoughts: nobody is pumping great amounts to defeat Omar in her primary, but what does come from "outside" is clearly biased against her. The Crabgrass guess: Strib/Frey notwithstanding, Ilhin Omar vs Cicily Davis will be the general election choice; Omar winning that decisively; 4th term. Sorry, she's only been reelected once - (big money spent against her then, not like what appears now); hence, 3rd term.
FURTHER: In an earlier Strib item noting Samuels had filed to challenge Omar, where it made sense to focus on Samuels in that context; in final paragraphs:
Omar, a nationally known progressive, heads into her latest race with the advantage of having won the seat twice. The 39-year-old's campaign closed out last year with around $438,000 in cash, according to federal election records.
[After service on the Minneapolis City Council as noted earlier in the item,] Samuels lost a run for mayor in 2013 and later served one term on the Minneapolis school board. In 2020, Samuels endorsed DFL challenger Antone Melton-Meaux in a primary run against Omar, who won by nearly 20 percentage points.
That's about all mention in that item of Omar, from Strib, while Samuels' criticism of her was quoted earlier in the post. Again, that item reasonably focused on Samuels. This latest one? You decide.
FURTHER: From https://www.cicelydavis.com/
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