Independent Party gubernatorial candidate Peter Hutchinson claims that the political process is broken. Nonsense. Republicans and Democrats clash over very different beliefs. The divisions are real.
So let us put that broken process nonsense to rest. If you support higher property taxes, discrimination against gays, denial of women's rights, punitive transportation policies, environmental degradation, corporate hegemony, xenophobia, you are a Republican and Pawlenty supporter. You can either vote for Pawlenty, or cast your vote for Hutchinson. Either way, Pawlenty gets your vote. Independent candidate Ralph Nader facilitated the GOP hijacking of the 2000 and 2004 elections; ditto Hutchinson. Like Nader, Hutchinson's campaign will be financed by Republicans.
Hutchinson is truly an ego-enigma, just like Nader. While his major positions match the DFL's, he claims a cloak of independence. Let us be honest, he should be listed as Pawlenty's assistant lieutenant governor candidate. Hutchinson is an unwitting Republican puppet. He just does not realize it.
Paul Bartlett
Eagan, Minn.
