Politics on Front Burner for Senator Dave Hansen
October 30th, 2007
Dear friends:
The past few months have been a trying time for my family as we mourn the loss of our little angel. We appreciate the kind words we have received from people across the state. From the friends and family who were with us in those first days to the thousands who have called and written to offer their support, we were touched by all. And in a sign that the human experience transcends the sometimes bitter partisanship in this country, my family and I have received condolences and prayers from the Republican Party and many Republican legislators-and we greatly appreciate their kindness.Since that time many people have asked me if I intend to continue in my role as state Senator. And that is my reason for writing today. The loss we have experienced has caused a great deal of soul searching. I have been thinking hard lately about my life and public service. After much thought and contemplation and discussion with my family I feel stronger than ever that God has blessed me with the chance to serve the people for a reason.
There is still much work to be done. I want to continue working to make sure that every child in my district and in Wisconsin has the opportunity to pursue their American Dream.
My family and I have decided that now, more than ever, the best way to say thank you to a state and community which has given us so much is to continue the efforts we started. When I first ran I wanted to help make Wisconsin an even better place for everyone to live and raise a family.
I’ve rededicated myself to the re-election campaign for State Senate. Certainly family comes first. But I am also staying busy knocking on doors, talking to constituents and yes, raising money, toward the election next fall.
Before entering politics, I worked as a football coach, teacher and truck driver. I never thought I would be where I am today. I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to bring the values of the average Wisconsin resident into the capital. I’m not fancy. I still live in the same small home that my wife and I raised our family in and bought when we were first married. I know what it’s like to punch a clock and to struggle to provide healthcare and security for our families. Every single day I walk into the State Capitol as a Senator, I vow to never forget where I came from.
For someone like me who was raised to be self-reliant, running for office is a strange process. I’ve never been particularly fond of asking people for money. But raising money is necessary and I have been very fortunate to have the support of thousands of people across Wisconsin. From lifelong friends in Green Bay to complete strangers in Milwaukee who know how important it is to keep the Senate in good hands, I have appreciated it all.
I am writing today to tell you that I have every intention of running for re-election and I am committed to winning. But I will need your help. Please consider making a contribution today via credit card HERE or by sending a check to “Friends of Dave Hansen” at 920 Coppens Road Green Bay, WI 54303. $100, $60, $35 or whatever you can afford will help us build the campaign needed to win.
Thank you all for your kindness and generosity.
State Senator Dave Hansen
This apparently was an email fund raising solicitation from the campaign, complete with links to this story.
I’m no wide-eyed naive Mr. Smith Goes to Washington type, but … wow.
October 30th, 2007 at 7:59 pm
Sick old man trying to profit from others’ sympathies for a death in his family. Worse yet, a death HE caused. Albeit accidentally. But this letter was purposeful. Disgusting.
October 31st, 2007 at 6:59 am
I don’t know Dave Hansen, but I have a granddaughter and can empathize. But I’d rather see his opponents use some “compassion” and withhold criticism. Oh, wait. He’s a Dem. All bets are off.
October 31st, 2007 at 9:06 am
No, Jack. All bets are not off. If you can crawl out of your self-loathing “I used to consider my self a Republican but now the party is terrible” hole for a second, you would see that the GOP and the conservative bloggers were compassionate to Senator Hansen and his family since the incident.
But when he uses this tragedy, he is not immune from criticism simply because he was involved in the tragedy.
Gee, Jack, he used it to raise evil campaign cash. You know evil private contributions to a public officials…right up your alley.
October 31st, 2007 at 10:05 am
Excuse if this is a duplicate post, but I responded to Brian and it did not get saved to the Blog. Or maybe it did and mysteriously disappeared. Who knows.
But Brian, you are letting your right-wing wacko traits show through. No, I don’t like corruption on either side of the isle, and Hansen is no more excused that is the GOP trash. They all have to go, and I’m somewhat perplexed that the “righteous right” condones the corruption. (Except in Hansen’s case, obviously.)
And for the record, I am a McCain supporter. He didn’t lose his principles when the rest of the party did. Sorry to disappoint you.
October 31st, 2007 at 11:40 am
“You decide?”
Brian, that’s a cowardly way of trying to raise this as a political issue. If you disappove, have the guts to say it. But don’t hide behind Bader’s post as though your partian blog is a news source and you’re presenting the facts for the huddled masses to make their own determinations regarding.
The right wing pulls this bullshit all of the time. Talk radio or the blogosphere says something horrendous (Kerry had an affair; Vince Foster was murdered). From there a couple lunatic newspapers or editorial pages pick up the mantra (NY Post, Wall Street Journal, Green Bay Press Gazette) and the mainstream press then “tsk-tsks” the raising of a non-issue, but in the process repeats the charge.
You’re doing the same thing and you oughtta have the guts to admit it.
October 31st, 2007 at 11:46 am
Scot, you’re one to talk, seeing how half my comments on the OWN blog are never posted. If you read my post, you can see that I wrote that I was shocked at the depravity of using this tragedy for political gain.
Get off your high horse, watch your language and stick to the facts. I’ve never been one of the Vince Foster, Clinton Murder, Inc. conspiracy believers and you know it.
Now, back to Senator Hansen. What’s your take on the subject at hand, Scot?
October 31st, 2007 at 11:51 am
Hansen has the right to use the poor little “angels” death to further his political career.
The fact the libs can’t see him using the poor little “angel” isn’t surprising.
Libs moral standards change with the wind. To libs anything is ok as long as it serves the party.
October 31st, 2007 at 12:28 pm
Brian — I have no idea why your comments wouldn’t be posted and no one has contacted us with a similar complaint. From now on, let me know immediately if you try and post something that doesn’t appear.
Sen. Hansen is a good and decent man and no decent human being would accuse him of exploiting this situation in any way, shape or form. Simple as that.
October 31st, 2007 at 2:18 pm
Senator Hansen has a deep connection with that community. When he writes that letter, he views it being written to the same friends and family that have been there for him throughout.
To suggest that he’s playing off of the tragedy for personal gain is a completely misguided and offensive suggestion.
Hansen could raise the same amount of money from the letter whether he mentions it or not. But like in many local races, candidates feel a connection to their donors, and it would be more callous to NOT mention it or ignore it.
October 31st, 2007 at 3:00 pm
If you think for am inute that Hansen wouldn’t trade every democrat in the nation, including himself losing in 2008 to have one second with his granddaughter again you are nuts. To not have mentioned this tragedy in this letter, his first since the tragedy, would have been wierd. He would have been flooded with emails asking how he is doing. Instead he answered the question ahead of time. He even thanked Republicans for their kind words. Come on people. His donors are his friends and this was a letter to friends.
October 31st, 2007 at 3:01 pm
Here’s the thing. If the GOP sent out a letter tomorrow saying something like this, how would it be received by the Dems:
“We were saddened by the tragic accident that befell Senator Hansen and the loss of his grand-daughter. And because of that tradegy, we do not believe Senator Hansen is in the best frame of mind to continue to serve as your State Senator. Please send your contribution to the Wisconsin Republican Party…blah blah blah”
Would that be appropriate? Is that fair now that he has opened the door?
October 31st, 2007 at 3:11 pm
Bos,
And his including an html link to the story regarding the accident was not meant to tug at the sympathies of potential donors, but it merely was meant to what…keep in touch with family and friends who may not have heard about it?
You, of course, are free to believe that.
I do not.
October 31st, 2007 at 5:20 pm
I don’t usually get involved in these blogs, but perhaps the link was from the person who placed the letter on this blog. I do not think Dave would link something like that.
October 31st, 2007 at 5:26 pm
Poor taste yes. And fair game to criticize since it’s in the political arena. I’m sure you’ll get knocked for being insensitive, when in reality you’ve shown more sensitivity toward this situation that Hansen’s political team who convinced him that he should sign on to a letter like that.
The tragedy with him and his grand daughter does not leave me thinking less of Senator Hansen. This letter, however, was no accident and, therefore, does.
October 31st, 2007 at 5:55 pm
Adam,
I copied the post from Bader verbatim. That link is a techno-gobblygook that’s found on standard mass emailing programs like Kintera and others. It leads you to the article Brian posted.
See for yourself here: http://badgerblogalliance.blogspot.com/2007/10/this-better-be-one-time-thing-senator.html
It came from the email. Sorry, but neither of us put it in.