Conservative Minnesota

Calling Eric Hoplin Out

Eric Hoplin

This Saturday, the Minnesota Republican Party is holding their State Central Committee in downtown Minneapolis, where delegates will be electing party leadership. The race for Party Chair is well known, but the race for Deputy Chair has not received much, if any, attention.

Eric Hoplin is one of the people running for Deputy Chair and his embarrassing history has been publicized in a letter sent to delegates last weekend. Written by Glen Menze, who ran for the 7th Congressional District in 2000, the letter calls into question the electability of Hoplin after his suspicious fundraising techniques while Chair of the College Republican National Committee.

The letter attaches two newspaper clippings; one from the Minneapolis Star Tribune dated November 12, 2004 and one from the Washington Post dated December 26, 2004. Both stories tell of the College Republican's shady fundraising techniques.

The College Republican National Committee is under fire for using front organizations to collect millions of dollars in contributions, including money from elderly people with dementia.

During the 2004 campaign, the group sent out direct-mail solicitations under such letterheads as "Republican Headquarters 2004" and "Republican Election Committee."

One four-page letter asked prospects to send $1,000 together with an American flag pin for President Bush to wear to "Republican Headquarters" to ensure that Bush knows "there are millions who are giving him the shield of God to protect him in the difficult days ahead."

In small print at the bottom of one page, the letter notes: "A project of and paid for by College Republican National Committee."

Washington Post, December 26, 2004

I don't care what party you're in, that's just a bad idea. The article go on to tell of old folks who where sending dozens of checks worth thousands of dollars.

Carmen Bakken, 88, of Cambridge, Minn., proved her party loyalty this year when she got a stream of fundraising letters from the National College Republicans.

She sent 91 checks totaling $42,985.

Told of the extent of her donations, she said, "Oh, my goodness! I don't think I gave so much. I don't remember the name College Republicans. I thought what I gave to was a national Republican company."

Minneapolis Star Tribune, November 12, 2004

The reason this letter piqued my interest is that I haven't heard anyone talking about this before Saturday's vote. Not talk radio, not TV news, not newspapers.

One of my delegate friends had the opportunity to ask one of the Party Chair challengers if he was going to mention Hoplin's fundraising kerfuffle while campaigning. He said that he wasn't going to bring it up.

Why are Ron Carey and Bill Pulkrabeck shying away? Well, Hoplin is a young guy, and if he wins, he'll be in the state party for a long time, and so will his enemies list.

Even if Eric Hoplin wins in spite of this letter, it's good to see someone seriously questioning the viability of state party candidates. This would be a great transition into the problems with Ron Eibensteiner, but that column will be coming up later in the week.

Excerpts from Glen Menze's letter coming soon!

posted at 12:29 PM