Press "Enter" to skip to content

South Dakota Dems Offer Free Pancakes Thursday!

Go ahead, Tim Rave. Just try shouting "Food for Votes."

I knew Kristi Noem would be good for blogging. She's also handing Democrats easy campaign fodder. In response to the Congresswoman's $500-pic-and-pancake Minnehaha Country Club fundraiser with Speaker John Boehner, as well as Noem's dearth of public events during the long August recess, the South Dakota Democratic Party is hosting a free (free!) public pancake feed.

Ohio Rep. John Boehner | South Dakota Democratic Party legislative director Zach Crago
Which would you pick: $500 for picture with really tan guy from Ohio, or $0 for picture with really cute guy from Sioux Falls?

Come to Sherman Park Thursday, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., near 12th and Kiwanis in Sioux Falls. Democrats will give you pancakes. Democrats will listen to what you think and discuss important state and national political issues. Democrats will not get you a picture with Speaker Boehner or Rep. Noem, but you may be able to snap their pix as they zoom by in their SUV-limos to the country club. Ask nicely, and Democrats may hook you up with a photo op with legislative assistant Zach Crago.

What will Democrats not do Thursday morning? Require you to pay $500 to enjoy a handshake and lip service from your Congresswoman before she has hosted any public events to discuss her votes on Medicare, farm subsidies, Keystone XL, the debt ceiling, or anything else. (Contributions, however, are always welcome!)

It takes no brilliance for us Dems to come up with events and press opportunities like this to highlight Kristi Noem's disengagement from the public. Our Congresswoman writes the script for us. Keep up the good work, Kristi!

And the rest of you (Independents, Tea drinkers, coffee drinkers, folks out for a jog in the park, everybody!), come get free pancakes and conversation at Sherman Park Thursday morning!

Here's the full press release from Dems HQ:

South Dakota Democratic Party Hosts Free Pancake Breakfast at Sherman Park in Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls, SD (August 15, 2011) &ndash The South Dakota Democratic Party invites the public to a free, pancake breakfast this Thursday, August 18, in Sherman Park from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.

South Dakotans deserve the opportunity to discuss federal issues affecting us locally - especially during this Congressional recess, says Ben Nesselhuf, Chairman of the South Dakota Democratic Party. "How Congress votes in Washington makes a difference in our lives back home. We are excited to give voters an opportunity to meet their neighbors over breakfast and discuss the issues of our day," Nesselhuf says.

The free pancake breakfast will be open to the public in Sherman Park at the same time that Congresswoman Noem hosts Speaker John Boehner for an exclusive, invite-only breakfast at the Minnehaha Country Club in Sioux Falls. The public has not been invited to attend Noem's event.

Details for the event are below:

  • Who? South Dakota Democratic Party
  • What? Pancakes in the Park
  • When? 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., Thursday, August 18, 2011
  • Where? Sherman Park, W. 12th St. Sioux Falls, SD

If you have any questions or would like to contribute syrup, spatulas, or sausage, contact SD Dems headquarters!

31 Comments

  1. DR 2011.08.16

    SHS never held major fundraising events. The real problem is both sides in Washington have lost touch with Americans, not just Noem and Boehner.
    If SHS wanted her old job back, 2012 would be a good time to try.....

  2. Mike 2011.08.16

    I couldn't agree with DR more.

    I want free pancakes!

  3. Steve Sibson 2011.08.16

    Fo the record...I was NOTinvited to the Country Club event.

  4. Barry G. Wick 2011.08.16

    Is the really cute guy free, too?

  5. matthew siedschlaw 2011.08.16

    I wish they would all get back to work. Correct my if I am wrong but they still have not a passed a budget for 2012 yet. We have only 45 calendar days until 2011 fiscal budget ends. So, for them that is like 10 working days at the rate they work. So, here we are setting the stage for another Potential Federal Government Shutdown and make the jittery markets even more jittery. Applause for our hardworking Elected officials.

  6. RGoeman 2011.08.16

    Will Senator Tim Johnson be at the pancake breakfast, or perhaps Nancy Pelosi or any other democrat worthy of notable national attention? If this event is just a knee-jerk reaction to Representative Kristi Noem being in town with House Leader, John Boehner, it is a waste of time and news release space. They all host fund raising events from both parties and while most of us don't like it, we're not able to change it. In fact, it is more liberal now than ever on the corporate side of fund raising with the new PACS.

  7. Douglas Wiken 2011.08.16

    Every Democrat is notable enough for attention in South Dakota even if the Republican nonsense makes it just so easy for anybody who thinks in 30 consecutive seconds to vote and support Democrats.

    Long live the rabble. Actually, I hear that Obama may roll in just for the hell of it. Pelosi would be good too. She makes mincemeat of GOP humbug. SHS made a serious blunder by not defending her and in not inviting her here to let the press realize how personable, informed and intelligent she is.

  8. Stace Nelson 2011.08.16

    Tim Rave? Great guy to enjoy a nice cold beverage with. Good guy, tough, savvy, hard working, good father, etc. He has the same fault as many of us that admit to it, he is unable to walk on water. Tough job to take on in an off election year esp. after the landslide that was 2010, while trying to make an actual living on the side for his family.

    Kristi Noem? Same problem with the water. Very sharp woman that I would be very happy for my daughters to grow up to be like.

    Fund raising is the most miserable part of running for office and is a circular problem that brings other ills into our electoral process. As the public has more and more competing for their attention, the problem of trying to reach the voter can only get worse. Expect more and more candidates/elected officials to couch their words, refuse to answer surveys, hide from the public eye unless convenient, and attempt to obscure voting records.

  9. Linda McIntyre 2011.08.16

    "Expect more and more candidates/elected officials to couch their words, refuse to answer surveys, hide from the public eye unless convenient, and attempt to obscure voting records."

    Thank you, Stace, for being the exact opposite of the above!

  10. john 2011.08.16

    Stace my hope for my daughter is to grow up and value education and drive the speed limit.

  11. caheidelberger Post author | 2011.08.16

    Stace, Noem hasn't shown herself very sharp in scheduling events or avoiding messaging missteps. Steve, you are definitely invited to the Dems' pancake feed! Rod, I wish we had time to get Pelosi here! As Doug notes, there aren't many of us local Dems in high office, but I'm sure if you attend, you'll get pancakes and the chance to talk with Democrats who are trying to make a difference.

  12. caheidelberger Post author | 2011.08.16

    And Barry, you'll just have to come to the pancake feed and ask that handsome young man yourself! :-)

  13. RGoeman 2011.08.16

    Cory, it's a one-hour pancake feed. Strictly for the publicity opportunity. If it were real, it would be three or four hours and would have been scheduled enough in advance for some advertising and a crowd. Niether will happen.

  14. caheidelberger Post author | 2011.08.16

    Rod, you have quite accurately described the purpose of Noem's event. And if three to four hours with lors of advance advertising is your criterion for effective public outreach, then Noem fails miserably... and she's the one right now earning her paycheck from the taxpayers.

    And hey: give me one hour over free pancakes and a staffer to take good notes, and I can get a lot of valuable input from constituents, plus make time for follow-ups later.

  15. Stace Nelson 2011.08.16

    "Linda" You know I love you folks? Thank you for your kindness, for being there with your wisdom & friendship.

    Mr "H,"
    You are a brilliant man that South Dakota would be well served if you chucked the party rhetoric and focused that keen wit equally on issues regardless of the letter associated with the person.

    From one who knocked on a lot of doors, Kristi Noem won for one simple reason... She related more to South Dakotans than the brilliant young lawyer from Georgetown. It is the Achilles heal of the Democratic Party that becomes evident the more they are away from SD.

    There is no legislator that knows the people in his district more than Rep. Kloucek. I may disagree with the man on some issues; however, Rep. Kloucek is one of the few legislators that reached across the aisle to advance the issues that are dear to him & his constituents. The final day of session, Rep. Kloucek had the courage to attempt to add an amendment to the final bill returning money to the county Veteran Service Officer budget that was stripped without notice by amendment the day before. I was standing by to second that motion and to speak on the amendment.

    Rep. Kloucek has more leadership in his little pinky than the entire SDDP. I may not always agree with him; however, the man has his priorities right, South Dakotans, others would do well to take note.

  16. Stan Gibilisco 2011.08.17

    Make it a pig roast with corn on the cob, and we'll talk.

  17. caheidelberger Post author | 2011.08.17

    Stan, it's free! Don't be so picky. :-)

    Stace, Noem is doing a pretty bad job of relating to the voters during this recess. She's apparently coasting on image and focusing on fundraising from the elites instead of doing the real work of relating to all voters, like the constant common-man face-to-face work for which you laud Rep. Kloucek. Perhaps Noem took the term "recess" in its grade-school sense and thought she didn't have to do any work this month?

    Noem's dereliction of duty this month is a significant issue worth whatever wit and brilliance I can bring to bear (thanks for the kind words, Stace!).

  18. Charlie Johnson 2011.08.17

    I totally agree with Stace's view on Rep. Frank kloucek. He has a been friend and fellow advocate for SD for many years. He wears his "caring" on his sleeves.

  19. Steve Sibson 2011.08.17

    Stace, You are right on target regarding Noem and Kloucek.

    And Cory, Noem is reaching out as I had a chance to visit with her office for over an hour and I expressed by unhappiness for allowing the federal debt to continue to grow as that money is used to pay off special interests of both parties. In case you have not noticed, SHS is still in DC collecting on her dues from special interests.

  20. caheidelberger Post author | 2011.08.17

    I have noticed, Steve, that SHS is pursuing the same career path following electoral defeat as John Thune. That old news has nothing to do with the fact that our current Congresswoman is not talking with the public this month. Where's Kristi?

  21. Stace Nelson 2011.08.17

    Cory, I call em the way I see em, its what people "love" about me.

    Steve rightly points out that she is reaching out to folks across the state. I have seen her at events and she personally went around and talked with each person there.

    CAH, your stiff upper lip is showing on SHS. I remember some of your previous candid comments...

    Big John Thune never was viewed as not being from SD in the public's eye, as SHS did/does.

    Its like your wife getting angry with you because of spending too much time away from home having a couple beverages with the fellas at your local watering hole and you saying "okay Honey, we will talk about it after I get home from having a beverage with the fellas."

    Don't get me wrong, I am all for the Democrats keeping their wagons hooked up to the SHS team. :-D

  22. caheidelberger Post author | 2011.08.17

    Stiff upper lip? I don't get it. Nothing I've said here reverses any of my criticism of SHS's past votes. But more importantly, SHS isn't in office. She's not a candidate. This isn't 2010.

    Kristi Noem is the issue. Where is she? What fellas besides her major donors is she talking with? Where are her public events?

  23. Steve Sibson 2011.08.17

    Cory,

    Perhaps we will find Kristi where we find Senator Johnson. The entire political machine, of both parties, are not looked upon favorably by the public. And they shouldn't.

  24. LK 2011.08.17

    Rep. Nelson,

    You write, "I have seen her [Kristi Noem] at events and she personally went around and talked with each person there."

    Let me stipulate with all seriousness that Kristi Noem is a better human being than I am, and I'm certain God will reward her with a mansion the size of New Hampshire on judgment day.

    That being said, I don't care if she greets everyone in the room and is a friendly person that everyone likes and wants to attend their backyard barbecues and their children's baptisms and weddings.

    I want four things from my elected officials. First, I want them to be smarter than I am so that they can sort through complicated issues and reach sound conclusions.

    Second, I want them to work hard to educate themselves on both sides of an issue.

    Third, I want them to courageous enough to vote for things that benefit three people who didn't donate to their campaign even if that thing doesn't benefit one person who did.

    Finally, tell me how and why s/he voted without resorting to party-approved, focus-group tested talking points. Citizens of Texas, Missouri, Iowa, and South Dakota should not hear their representatives and senators mouthing the same speeches.

  25. Michael Black 2011.08.17

    Maybe instead of doing fundraising for their next election, we could have our two US Senators and our lone US Representative along with the rest of Congress working on passing a budget before they take a long vacation.

  26. Jana 2011.08.17

    Stace, you're a Glenn Beck 9/12er and an early advocate of having the Tea Party disrupt town hall meetings. Any advice you want to share on how our newest representative should be treated?

  27. Stace Nelson 2011.08.18

    @Jana "an early advocate of having the Tea Party disrupt town hall meetings." REALLY? When & where did I make such statements?

    Congresswomen Noem should be treated with respect, just as Sen. Johnson should be, or Sen. Thune; however, all three work for the voters and should be expected to answer questions posed by voters in the proper venue for such.

  28. Steve Sibson 2011.08.18

    For the record, I am not a "Glenn Beck" 9/12er.

  29. caheidelberger Post author | 2011.08.18

    Steve, does that mean you are no longer a member of the 9/12 movement? Or does it mean you consider yourself a 9/12er independent of Glenn Beck?

  30. Steve Sibson 2011.08.18

    Glenn Beck is out of the picture for me. Have not watched or listened to him for about a year. He is part of the ecumenical movement, where principles does not matter. So how can you follow 9 principles with that?

Comments are closed.