‘Eric Mortensen is the village idiot’: Right and far right battle over Walz’s emergency powers

This was ripped from Daily Reformer, our email newsletter about Minnesota politics and policy. Sign up here.

Sen. Dave Osmek, who occupies the farthest right of the Senate Republican caucus, has a habit of being very blunt in his communications, be they in email or the floor of the Senate. He let loose on someone who wrote to him and accused him of being soft on Gov. Tim Walz’s emergency powers. His target is Rep. Erik Mortensen, R-Shakopee, who is so far right he’s now his own caucus in the House. Mortensen got a hold of the email and blasted it out to his supporters. Here’s Osmek: 

“Erik Mortenson (sic) is the village idiot.” 

He goes on to explain that the Senate has repeatedly voted to repeal Walz’s emergency powers and a bill he authored to change the emergency powers statute going forward. His conclusion: 

“You are apparently part of the Mortenson Ignorance Brigade, who believe that only Saint Eric is doing something in St. Paul. Do yourself a favor and stop displaying your own ignorance.”

Here’s Mort’s response to his supporters:

“Ignorance Brigade”?  He sounds like Hillary Clinton when she called Trump Supporters a “Basket of Deplorables.”