Tom Huntley is the latest of a list of politicians that have grievously disappointed the editorial Board of the Dululth News Tribune. The include Kerry Gauthier and, if I recall correctly, County Commissioner Keith Nelson. (I don’t recall what Keith’s infraction was – probably racial insensitivity.
Huntley’s might appear to be for drinking and driving but if you read the editorial it really is for not stripping himself naked and baring his soul to the Trib the minute he got his ticket. The last half of the editorial today is egregious shaming:
But anyone not feeling so generous could question why it took Huntley a full week before going public. And they could also have pointed out, and with only a hint of suspicion or cynicism, that he waited to call a news reporter until late in the day at the end of a week when the newspaper would be left scrambling to get together a complete story. They could point out further that the news story would enjoy a smaller-audience weekend news cycle.
But a more accurate explanation for the Trib’s self righteousness follows immediately:
This fall, because there weren’t better options, the News Tribune endorsed Huntley for re-election.
“But start demanding more,” we urged after Huntley acknowledged biding his time and skating along in the background as a DFLer the year before in a Republican-controlled Legislature.
“I just basically kept my mouth shut and tried to make a joke once in a while,” Huntley told members of the News Tribune editorial board.
Whether that was meant as a joke or not, Huntley’s constituents deserve better than flip answers to serious questions, as we wrote then. They deserve thoughtful responses, honest assessments and assurances that the people they elect to represent them work hard, always, and remain effective no matter which party is in control.
I ran against Huntley in 2002. I can appreciate the comment about Huntley’s being flip. He had told me a short time before I ran against him how he and a DFL buddy flew a toy black helicopter around a bunch of Republican legislators to annoy them. (black helicopters being a symbol of paranoia) This was at a time when total paranoia had not yet overtaken the GOP so I thought his stunt was not very helpful. On the other hand, Huntley is the go-to guy in the DFL for serious health care legislation. That’s more than a joke in a day and age when the State of Minnesota will have to craft serious medicaid policy.
I might be a little more generous with the Editorial Board if they showed the same circumspection and humility that they demand of others.
