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Dayton and Coleman: No more Minnesota nice
by Mark Zdechlik, Minnesota Public Radio
May 22, 2004

At the DFL convention, Sen. Mark Dayton set out first criticizing President Bush for his handling of the war against Iraq and the economy. Then, departing from the usual unwritten rules of Senate courtesy, Dayton went after Sen. Coleman, a Republican, publicly criticizing him for the first time. (MPR Photo/Mark Zdechlik)

The cordial relationship between Minnesota's two U.S. senators has disappeared. DFL Sen. Mark Dayton used a speech at the state DFL convention on Saturday to sharply criticize Republican Sen. Norm Coleman. That's after Coleman was critical of Dayton's position on U.S. involvement in the Iraq war.

Dayton called Coleman an apologist for failed Bush administration policies, and he accused Coleman of spending too much time raising campaign money for Republicans around the country at the expense of representing Minnesotans in the Senate.

Duluth, Minn. — Dayton took the podium at the DFL convention immediately following a fiery speech by Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., who is frequently mentioned as a possible running mate for John Kerry.

Dayton set out first criticizing President Bush for his handling of the war against Iraq and the economy. Then, departing from the usual unwritten rules of Senate courtesy, Dayton went after Sen. Coleman, a Republican, publicly criticizing him for the first time.

	Not backing away

"Up until now I've held my tongue about Norm Coleman, because we have to work together for the people of Minnesota," Dayton said. "But I won't hold my tongue when he attacks me."

Dayton was outraged over a statement Coleman gave the Star Tribune newspaper, following Dayton's call on the Senate floor Friday for beginning to phase U.S. troops out of Iraq in the coming months -- not years. The newspaper quotes Coleman as saying Dayton's plan for troop withdrawal is "a good example of why we leave fighting wars to generals, not politicians."

Dayton is on the Senate Armed Services Committee and he's traveled to Iraq and Afghanistan. Dayton suggested it's Coleman's who's less informed.

"I know what I'm talking about. I've spent hundreds of hours talking with and listening to generals, colonels, majors, lieutenants and privates in the United States military. This week a private conversation with General Richard Myers, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff," Dayton said. "Six hours listening to generals in charge of the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters, including one hour of a top-secret briefing for senators, to which Norm Coleman arrived late and left early. I know. I know what I'm talking about."

In addition to accusing Coleman of missing parts of important meetings regarding the war on terrorism, Dayton ripped Coleman for spending so much time campaigning for President Bush, and raising money for Bush and other GOP candidates throughout the nation.

"Senator Coleman has been President Bush's No. 1 cheerleader and defender and apologist," said Dayton. "He hasn't been to Iraq. He's been too busy flying around this country, trying to become the No. 1 bagman for the Republican Senate Campaign Committee."

Senator Coleman has been President Bush's No. 1 cheerleader and defender and apologist. He hasn't been to Iraq. He's been too busy flying around this country, trying to become the No. 1 bagman for the Republican Senate Campaign Committee. - DFL Sen. Mark Dayton

Dayton was referring to reports that Sen. Coleman is hoping to gain a key fundraising leadership post for Republican senators.

Dayton told delegates the Bush administration plans to keep large numbers of U.S. troops in Iraq for years. Dayton says peacekeeping responsibilities should be turned over to newly-trained Iraqi security forces as soon as possible. Done properly, he says this approach could keep Iraq free and safe, all the while sparing U.S. troops from further attacks.

"Senator Coleman went on the Senate floor yesterday and reported that it will be Memorial Day soon, and then he read the names of the Minnesotans that were killed in Iraq. That's leadership. You want to support our troops? Bring them home alive!" Dayton said.

Sen. Coleman was traveling and unavailable for comment.

After the convention speech, Dayton told reporters he was very offended by Coleman's remarks, and he did not back away from his criticisms of Coleman.

"I'm not going to have him pretending that he knows what he's talking about, when he's flying around this country to become the No. 1 bagman for the Republican Senate Campaign Committee, instead of doing his job as a United States senator," Dayton said.

Until now, Dayton and Coleman appeared to have had a good relationship, considering the fact that on many issues -- from tax policy to foreign relations -- the Democrat and Republican strongly disagree.

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