Tinklenberg, Anderson go after missing candidate in "Almanac" debate
A 6th Congressional District debate on TPT’s “Almanac” Halloween night had Democrat Elwyn Tinklenberg and Independence Party candidate Bob Anderson directing fire at a missing opponent — Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, R-Stillwater.
Bachmann missed the debate, reportedly the congresswoman saying she was too busy to attend.
District voters, said Tinklenberg, are disappointed that there hasn’t been more discussions about the issues.
“And I think that’s been one of the really disappointing things,” he said.
“Bob and I have been at a lot of different events together. And she’s (Bachmann) just has refused to participate and engage in a discussion,” said Tinklenberg.
“Congresswoman Bachmann just has not been accessible,” Anderson agreed.
Anderson, asked about overlooked issues, pointed to himself.
“The biggest issue that nobody knows about is me,” he said.
“I think the financial crisis that we’re in is really the big issue we have to talk about,” said Anderson, who has been polled at about five percent.
“It’s really effecting everybody,” he said.
“I would have voted against the bill,” said Anderson, referring to the financial services rescue or bail out bill recently passed by Congress.
Anderson said he just thought the bill had been pushed forward too fast.
Tinklenberg, who would have voted to approve the latter versions of the bill, lampooned Bachmann’s refusal to support the legislation.
“She must have been one of two people in the whole country who believes there was too much (federal) regulation,” said Tinklenberg.
Tinklenberg also criticized Bachmann for blaming minorities for the financial services industry meltdown and for missing the impending crisis though serving on the House Financial Services Committee.
Although criticizing Bachmann, Anderson agreed with her on some issues.
“I don’t agree with Congresswoman Bachmann on a lot of issues, but on this one I do believe we need to use all the resources available,” he said of the combating the energy crunch with an aggressive approach.
“I think we have to have ‘All of the Above,’” he said of drilling, use of alternative energy — all forms of energy development.
Asked if Bachmann actually has opposed Bush Administration policies — Bachmann points to her stance on the bail out bill and No Child Left Behind as examples — both Tinklenberg and Anderson belittled the notion.
“The idea that she bucks the president is just part of this kind of alternative reality that she talks about,” said Tinklenberg.
“She believes if she says stuff often enough somehow somebody will be believe it and think that it’s true,” he said.
Anderson answered likewise.
“And I do have to agree with El; I think Congresswoman Bachmann has been a rubber stamp for President Bush,” said Anderson.
Anderson expressed delight over the idea of going to Congress as an Independence Party candidate.
“I would love the opportunity,” he said.
“Because I could finally break the stalemate between the Democrats and Republicans,” he said.
“I’m entirely free to go in and represent my constituents —not a party line,” said Anderson.
“I’m the only candidate that doesn’t take any money from anybody. Because I want to go in with no strings attached,” he said.
Bachmann and Tinklenberg, though not Anderson, appeared on a Minnesota Public Radio forum this week.
