GOP gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer has taken heat for votes he took in the Legislature. Now an independent political group is criticizing him for votes he didn't take.
Alliance for a Better Minnesota is launching a statewide television ad targeting Emmer and the more than 140 votes the group says he missed in 2010. That's about 20 percent of the votes taken this year. To drive home the point, the ad includes Minnesotans who talk about what would happen if they missed one day a week, or 20 percent of their work week. "We need a governor who will show up and work on behalf of Minnesotans," Denise Cardinal, executive director of Alliance for a Better Minnesota Action Fund, said in a statement. "Tom Emmer missed 20 percent of votes taken in 2010 -- most of us would get fired if we missed that much work." The group, which has already aired three television ads during this election season, paid more than $500,000 to run the new ad for the next two weeks. The group also created a website which details the votes Emmer missed. It also allows visitors to write in about what would happen if they missed that much work. Here's the script: NARRATOR: What would happen if you missed one out of every five days of work for a year? Woman on Street Interview: I wouldn't have a job. Man on Street Interview: You can bet I'd get fired Woman on Street Interview: My boss would kill me Man on Street Interview: I'd be booted from my job. Woman on Street Interview: I'm sure I'd be fired. Farmer: I'd lose my farm Man on Street Interview: I would lose my job. Small Business Man on Street: I'd go out of business. NARRATOR: Tom Emmer missed one out of every 5 votes in the State Legislature. 142 missed votes in 2010 alone. Votes on education, veterans affairs, and jobs. NARRATOR: Now Tom Emmer wants to be Governor? Woman on Street: Really I think we need a Governor who will at least show up for work.
