Former George W. Bush ethics lawyer chooses to run for U.S. Senate as a Democrat

[tenderfoot]

Former George W. Bush ethics lawyer ditches GOP, to seek U.S. Senate in Minn. as Democrat



Richard Painter, a longtime Republican who was chief ethics lawyer for George W. Bush's White House, intends to run for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota this year as a Democrat, according to a filing he made recently with federal elections officials.

<snip>

Painter, 56, a University of Minnesota professor of corporate law who is seeking elected office for the first time, lives in Mendota Heights with his wife, Karen, an associate professor of music history at the U. They moved to Minnesota in 2007 and have children.

He announced last month that he was forming an exploratory committee. At that time, he said he was unsure whether he would run as a Republican, Democrat or independent.

"I need to think about whether there's a place for me" in the GOP, he said at the time. "I'm going to be considering any and all options." He described himself as "a centrist in many ways — right up the middle." He said he has supported Democrats.

<snip>

Painter has said that if he runs, he would not accept donations from political action committees, super PACs or what he called "dark money" groups.


http://www.startribune.com/former-george-w-bush-ethics-lawyer-to-run-for-u-s-senate-as-a-democrat/481182291/

[50 Shades Of Blue]

1. Whoa!

[manor321]

2. So we're gonna lose Al Franken's seat to a former Republican

Good job everyone.

From one of the best liberal fighters in the history of the Senate to a former Republican. Sad.

[mopinko]

4. better get used to that. the handful of good ones will be switching.

if the parties are gonna have a big realignment, there will be more. shutting them out wont help us.

[spanone]

11. Mr. Painter detests the menace in the white house.

'former' republican

[WhiskeyGrinder]

19. He has to get past Tina Smith, the current senator, first.

[fescuerescue]

27. Republicans becoming Democrats

Would would that be a bad thing?

I know it sure would suck if our Dems starting becoming Repubicans.

[sharedvalues]

3. I'd vote for painter as a Dem

I like Painter. If he had run as GOP I wouldn’t have voted for him. But as a Dem he gets my vote, despite having some old non-modern-GOP conservative views.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

5. Over Tina Smith? Why?

[sharedvalues]

7. Ok, deserves some study of positions

But Painter has shown great moral clarity in these dark times.

I’d prefer to vote for Franken.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

13. What's his great moral clarity?

[sharedvalues]

16. This is representative. He called Cit U legalized bribery. He's putting country before party.

Link to tweet

Meet the senate’s No. 1 bag man. He loves Citizens United (Constitutionally protected bribery), wouldn’t give Judge Garland a hearing, and was one of the worst senate majority leaders in history before Trump ever showed up. He and Trump both need to go.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

17. So he's anti-Trump, okay.

Anti-Trump former Republicans aren't my first pick for DFL senate candidates. Or even second.

[sharedvalues]

20. And anti-Cit U. And anti-McConnell. And pro-Garland.

Maybe that's not enough to get a Dem vote, and I'd rather have Franken.

But I give Painter a little extra credit for taking those positions from out of the GOP. He does have principles.

The other never-trumpers, like Frum and Rick Wilson, can't stand to point their fingers at the real problem - the GOP and its propaganda machine that created Trump. At least Painter criticizes McConnell and Cit U.

That said, I'm withdrawing my statement about voting. Too soon.

[Cha]

24. Al Franken endorses Tina

Smith F YI

[Leghorn21]

6. The first time I saw Mr. Painter on msnbc - so long ago!! - he was shaking with anger about

Flynn, and was almost spitting with rage as he said, “If this was George Bush’s White House, that SOB would be out the door in one skinny minute, at the very least!!!!!”

I think these ethics people, repub or dem, have a level of integrity in them that has cranked their
sense of indignation and disgust to RED ALERT (think Walter Shaub!!) and I hope tons of them get more and more involved...cause lord knows, WE NEED EM!!!

Thanks for posting, foot!

[S.E. TN Liberal]

8. Is he; pro-choice? Pro-Union? Supportive of Social Security and Medicare? Pro-public option?

Or is he just another conservative DINO, (Democrat In Name Only)?

[pnwmom]

21. I think we should limit our purity demands in swing states. I want the most electable

candidate with a D after his or her name. We need 51 votes to control the Senate and all its committees.

[S.E. TN Liberal]

33. I have more faith in the DFL,...

... party than to think they will vote for a DINO.

BTW, for those from other States who do not know what "DFL" means; it is Democratic-Farm Labor.

Years ago, Minnesota had a strong Farm-Labor Party who merged with the Democratic Party and the group is still named; The Democratic-Farm Labor Party.

They have a very good record of getting Progressive Democrats elected in their State.

I think many other States would benefit if they a Farm-Labor side to their Democratic Party.

[jalan48]

9. Bush's ethics? That doesn't sound good.

[BannonsLiver]

10. I like Richard's personality

But I’d like to know more about his positions on some of the issues raised in this thread. I wouldn’t reflexively be opposed to it, however. That just doesn’t seem very smart.

[Ferrets are Cool]

12. Isn't "ethics" lawyer for Monkeyboy a oxymoron? nt

[salin]

14. I welcome him to the race. I have enjoyed his public discussions about ethics in Govt on tv. But,

he will have to lay out his positions on a myriad of issues which are not consistent with serving in the W whitehouse. Voters then have to voice. He has a mountain to climb.

[wonkwest]

15. We'll need to see his positions first

I'd be interested to hear from Democratic Minnesotans about this one.

While Painter seems thoroughly decent in the age of Trump, disdain of the President shouldn't be enough to earn a liberal Democratic vote.

It will be interesting to see what his platform is. Not just economically, but on issues of social justice. Just how far has he evolved?

I don't want to see someone just leave the Republican Party. I want to see someone fully embrace ours.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

18. This DFLer isn't interested in a primary, especially from a recent former Republican whose only

selling point seems to be he used to be a Republican but he doesn't like Trump. The current senator, Tina Smith, is doing fine for me.

[Tatiana]

22. Great job, Democratic leadership. We're handing Franken's seat over to a Republican!

Yeah, he may run as a Democrat, but we are still replacing a liberal Democrat with a moderate Republican.

I don't think Tina Smith has the name recognition or popularity to beat him if he decides to run as a Democrat.

We really shot ourselves in the foot. Thanks for nothing, Chuck Shumer.

[lillypaddle]

23. Wait. What???

I think he may very well be a viable option. He would sure give 'em hell, and I like that.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

30. Give whom hell, the DFLer currently holding the seat?

[lillypaddle]

32. I said MAY be a viable option

Sorry, I like the dude. It's early yet, and as someone else here said, let's see what he espouses down the road. I know nothing about his Dem opponent, so there's that - definitely need to learn more.

[sprinkleeninow]

25. Shut the front door! 😄

We see first what he's really made of and if it can be believed.

But this is not a bad sign.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

26. I need to know more about where he stands on other progressive issues.

Being intensely opposed to Trump is a good start, but I need more information. I do think either he or Tina Smith can easily beat the only declared GOPer, Karin Housley, real estate agent and rich suburban twit. https://www.housleyforsenate.com

[MurrayDelph]

28. Now, don't get me wrong

I think Richard Painter is a decent human being, and if he gets the Democratic nomination I'd root for him over whoever the Republicans put up.

But it rather not have a candidate who as recently as last month still believed that the old-school Republicans would rise up and retake the past away from the crazies from within.If he wants to bring back the mythical "Center Right" I don't want him doing it I our party.

[leftstreet]

29. "I need to think about whether there's a place for me"

I thought our elected officials were supposed to think about what's best for us

[Vinca]

31. I like the guy. We probably don't agree 100%, but he's not afraid to tell the truth.

And it's not a bad thing he's a Republican defector.

[disillusioned73]

34. Makes perfect sense..