EDITOR'S NOTE: In June 2004 I began a new venture as managing editor of both Northfield News and Faribault Daily News. This column originally appeared in the Northfield News on Nov. 8, 2005.
The machinations of politics always have fascinated me; maybe that's why I do what I do. Often peculiar facts about political news stories pique my interest when they probably slide right by the average reader. (I know, right now you're thinking: "Whew, this guy must be a blast at a cocktail party.) But take for instance last week's announcement that U.S. Rep. John Kline's bill to rename the Dennison post office after former Minnesota Gov. Al Quie passed the House on a 391-1 vote. I never had heard anything of a disparaging nature said about the former governor and so I wondered: Could it be possible the governor had an old enemy remaining in the U.S. House from when he served there in the 50s, 60s and 70s? Was there a deep, dark mystery awaiting to be found? Who was this lone voice in the wilderness crying out in opposition of a simple post office being named after a dedicated public servant? Turns out, it was U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, a Democratic representative from Hawaii. Finding this out, of course, only piqued my curiosity further. What possibly could a representative from a tropical island have against our dear former governor? Had Abercrombie ever even visited Minnesota? Did he know where little Dennison was and that the former governor grew up quite near there? What could possibly be offensive about renaming a little post office in rural Minnesota after a local boy who'd done good? So, I called the congressman. First I called the congressman's home office in Honolulu. Mostly because it was late afternoon here and I assumed that I would never reach anyone in Abercrombie's D.C. office. And, secondly, how often do I legitimately get to call Honolulu for a story? "Aloha," a cheerful woman with a Hawaiian accent said. "This is Congressman Abercrombie's office. How may I help you." I explained who I was, explained why I was calling and asked if I could talk to the congressman and find out what Al Quie had ever done to him. After a short silence on the other end of the line, thousands of miles away, the woman laughed and said, "That's a good question; I would like to know myself. But you'll have to call our D.C. office to find out. Mike Slackman handles all of our legislative affairs." Gauging by her laughter, I assume she doesn't receive many phone calls asking about the congressman's personal feelings about former Minnesota governors. However, I pressed on. By this time, I was convinced there was something sinister that needed uncovering. The next day I called Abercrombie's D.C. office. Again I was greeted with a Hawaiian-sounding voice asking how she could help me. I repeated my story. Another silence and another chuckle later, I was promptly passed along to Mr. Slackman. It seems she too found my curiosity amusing. Slackman and I played phone tag for a day ... literally. It took us a combined eight calls to connect. But finally I had my man. I repeated my story and added, "Any chance I can speak to the congressman?" You guessed it ... another silence and another chuckle. And no the congressman wasn't going to have time to discuss this issue with me. So that was it; it was up to Mr. Slackman to unravel the mystery for me. Let me explain, Mr. Slackman began in his authentic, but all too friendly I-want-to-help-you tone. "It has nothing to do with Mr. Kline. It has nothing to do with the community. It has nothing do with Minnesota. And it has nothing to do with your former governor," he said. "It doesn't reflect anything about his feelings for the community, Mr. Kline, or the former governor in question." It seems that Rep. Abercrombie lately has taken to voting against all Republican-introduced measures that would rename a federal public building in honor of a local hero. You see, several weeks ago, a Democratic congresswoman from California had introduced a similar measure to rename a post office in Berkeley, Calif., after 94-year-old Maudelle Shirek, a longtime city councilor and civil rights pioneer. (As an aside, Google her; you'll find quite a story.) A couple of cantankerous Republicans decided that because at times Shirek had been labeled a communist during her activist days that she was unfit to receive the honor of having a post office named after her. And they blocked a vote on the measure. Well, according to Mr. Slackman, even in Washington this just isn't done. When it comes to local representatives suggesting whose name should adorn their local post offices, it's the practice of members of congress to give it their blessing. But evidently not in this instance; these God-fearin', flag-wavin' Republicans decided it would be an affront to the American people if a post office in Berkeley were named after Shirek, who is believed to be the state's oldest serving elected official. "(Congressman Abercrombie) found blocking that bill so offensive that he is registering his protest by voting no to all similar ones. Never before has anybody objected to these honors given to community leaders on a routine matter," Mr. Slackman said. "Your post office is not the only one he has been on the short end of the vote." I must say my feelings at hearing the news were a bit ambivalent. I was disappointed there was no juicy story about past political brouhahas involving Gov. Quie. But I also was relieved: Thankfully, there's dedicated elected representatives in Washington ensuring that no undeserving communist is going to get a post office named after them. That was some consolation. Anyway, I asked Mr. Slackman how the congressman's protest vote was faring, was anyone noticing? And as a matter of fact, he said that I was the second local newspaperman to call in two weeks. Some reporter from Pennsylvania also wanted to know what their local hero had done to Abercrombie. So I asked if the congressman was beginning to feel a bit lonely on the end of all those lopsided votes. "He's not the kind of guy who necessarily feels lonely," Mr. Slackman said. "He feels he has a point to make and if he's the only one that's going to be making it, so be it." Interesting, a congressman of conviction, I thought. So how long would he keep up his protest vote? "I wouldn't want to make any predictions on that," Mr. Slackman concluded. Ultimately, I didn't uncover any savory political gossip from our governor's past, but I do know now that I no longer have to fear that a U.S. post office will be named after a no good rotten commie. -- Devlyn Brooks is managing editor of the Northfield News.
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