The St. Cloud Times came out with an article today about social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook and described how local leaders are currently using them to stay connected to their constituents. While most of the article is pretty standard stuff about politicians using the sites for varying purposes and to varying degrees, there was also some intra-party fireworks playing out between Representative John Kriesel (R) and Representative Steve Gottwalt (R).
Gottwalt took a shot at Kriesel for his recent twitter exchange with Bernard Berrian:
While Berrian drew the bulk of criticism for the exchange, Gottwalt says Kriesel’s posts are “a cautionary note” for other legislators. Gottwalt told the Times that Kriesel’s posts to Berrian were “not something I would have done.”
“He may want to think about what other people are going to think about him criticizing a Vikings player in a public forum,” Gottwalt said. [emphasis mine]
Really, Representative Gottwalt? You are going to take the side of Bernard Berrian over John Kriesel in this little dustup. Now I’m not one to speculate (forget that, of course I am going to speculate because what good is a blog without some rampant speculation) but could this shot at Kriesel by Gottwalt have anything to do with the fact that Gottwalt is the chief supporter of the anti-gay amendment and Kriesel is vigorously opposing the amendment of his Republican colleague? If not, what else would motivate Gottwalt to single out a fellow Republican?
Anyway, Kriesel responded fairly bluntly:
Kriesel told the Times on Friday that he isn’t preoccupied with how Gottwalt or others judge his Twitter posts.
Gottwalt “can mind his own business,” Kriesel said. “For him to imply that I wasn’t thinking is pretty ridiculous.” [emphasis mine]
But John, that is the problem right there. Steve Gottwalt clearly doesn’t want to mind his own business. He wants to mind the business of every family in the state. He wants to mind their business so closely that he is ready to define who is and is not going to be a family.
With still another year to go before Minnesota votes on the Gottwalt anti-gay amendment one has to wonder how many more battles will erupt between these two Republicans.
