Clearing The Air

Sunday, October 15, 2006

Clearing the Air cannot support the RINO for Governor...

RINO (Republican in name only)

Clearing the Air pointed out long ago that the Republican Party tends to be more free market friendly than Democrats. Indeed the Minnesota Republican Party even added this language to its 2004 party platform:

S. Opposing any state or local adoption of a smoking ban on privately owned restaurants and bars. (found at bottom of page 7)

However, in the race for Governor here in Minnesota, Clearing the Air will depart from its typically right leaning politics because our current RINO Governor Tim Pawlenty not only supports a statewide smoking ban, but said he would gladly sign it into law.....And Pawlenty has been anything but conservative on a whole host of issues....supporting state subsidized sports stadiums, light rail, an increase in tobacco taxes, etc. While Democratic challenger Mike Hatch has stated, according to one local website:

He said he was bothered by the idea of a smoking ban and wouldn’t support a statewide ban.

Clearing the Air will wait for a confirmation from challenger Mike Hatch on his stance against a smoking ban before giving any endorsement though.

Developing.....stay tuned.