Gutknecht says Wellstone will be missed

Staff

Published Wednesday, October 30, 2002

On his way to a memorial service for late Sen. Paul Wellstone, Congressman Gil Gutknecht made a stop at Albert Lea High School Wednesday. Gutknecht gave his tribute to his fiery political opponent.

"It's a sad day for Washington, a very sad day for Minnesota." Gutknecht said in front of students in Todd Brist's government class. "It's a sad day for all of us in politics, because whether we agreed or disagreed with Sen. Wellstone, most of us really liked him."

Gutknecht, saying he was dressed up nicer than his usual school visit for the memorial service, praised the American democracy where different opinions and disagreements can exist without creating a personal grudge, referring to what he has seen in the House floor.

"You can have two people who are arguing with each other with red faces and pointing their hands, very excited about their position on a particular amendment or bill. And then, the speaker will announce the next bill. And the two people, who made the argument on the last bill, cosponsor the next bill," Gutknecht said. "This is the miracle of our democracy. You can disagree without becoming disagreeable."

"I think that was one of the great things about Sen. Wellstone. He could argue very aggressively for his position, and still be an incredibly likable person," he said.

Gutknecht remembers Wellstone as a person with charm. In the Senate, where formality has been surviving in a stricter way than the House, members avoid calling each other by their first name. "But Paul was an exception," he said.

The unexpected loss of the incumbent senator has brought a great deal of uncertainty for the election. Gutknecht, who hosted President Bush in Rochester just a week before Wellstone's death, is also unsure about how the tragedy would influence on the voting.

"How it will affect the outcome of the election is anybody's guess," he said."

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