It was at the Freeborn County Fair booth where we observed their shrine to Donald Trump. At least half the booth was covered with large written messages and a lifesize Trump, plus Trump photos.

We had a short talk with a Republican manning this Trump booth. A congenial and polite man —  that is until he switched on the Trump brand of vile and disgusting language about Hillary Clinton. We left.

This is your Freeborn County GOP.

I’ll venture to guess Peggy Bennett is on board with the GOP county Trump shrine, plus the vile and disgusting language about Hillary Clinton.

This guess seems correct if you recall Bennett’s verbalizing to her rank and file that the Democrats support for same-sex marriage means she should actually be allowed to marry her dog. This is how she sees her gay and lesbian constituents, which clearly she does not represent or respect. This vile and disgusting talk coming from a former elementary school teacher? How is that possible?

What the heck has happened to the local GOP? No longer any Arne Carlson GOP folks? Trump adoration has absolutely killed the local GOP conservative label, this conservative corpse replaced by the Trump brand; a brand enmeshed in demonizing just about all of us, including teachers who unionize so they can bargain collectively for tenure — a protection that serves people well into their later working years; African-Americans who want systemic racism resolution on the table now; Latinos from all countries to our south are demonized as being rapists, drug mules and criminals when in truth, immigrants have been coming to America for the very same reason my grandparents came here from Germany — to have a fair and just chance at successful farming or other professions; and then the Trump brand of vicious misogyny in all its forms, including bragging about grabbing a woman between her legs.

A voter for Bennett is not for a conservative but for the Trump brand.

I am a Bernie Sanders advocate, who was very proud of Hillary Clinton when she valiantly stood up to the Trump brand on a national stage. She endured the wrath of Trump who proclaimed on a national stage that, like all dictators, he will imprison his political rivals should he be elected.

Gary Schindler is the clear conservative/moderate choice for state representative, as can be demonstrated by his school administrator record, his family life history, his public appearance at your door, his public speaking demeanor and the fact that Gary fits well under the big tent DFL, which is full of conservatives, moderates and progressives.

Please vote all the way down the DFL ticket for Gary Schindler, Dan Sparks, Tim Walz and Hillary Clinton now by absentee ballot or on Nov. 8.

Ted Hinnenkamp

Albert Lea