The Principled Rep. Kennedy

Rep. Mark Kennedy (no relation to troubled Patrick, son of Sen. Teddy) made news last week when he announced he’d give up his congressional pay on days when he couldn’t make it to Washington to vote because of obligations for his U.S. Senate campaign.

Kennedy (R.) is locked in a close race to fill Minnesota’s Senate seat being vacated by Mark Dayton (D.). Kennedy’s opponent, Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar, would appear to be the favorite for a state that has leaned liberal for years but has recently titled more to the right.

Here’s how Kennedy explained his decision to the AP:

“I think it is only appropriate that if I’m not in Washington for a vote due to a campaign commitment, I will not accept pay for that day.”

Klobuchar called Kennedy’s decision a public-relations ploy, but regardless of why Kennedy did it, he’s the one who is going to live by it. Klobuchar is so clueless that her campaign insulted Kennedy and disrespected taxpayers in the process.

This is what the AP reported when it posed the question to Klobuchar’s campaign:

Klobuchar’s campaign manager, Ben Goldfarb, criticized Kennedy’s move as a “phony gimmick,” and said the campaign wouldn’t respond further. He did say Klobuchar continues to draw her full salary.

So let me get this straight: Klobuchar thinks it’s OK to waste taxpayers’ money when she’s on the campaign trail NOT doing her job? If Minnesota voters are looking for a senator who will be responsible with their money, Mark Kennedy is their guy.