Heidepreim responds to the GOP Criticism… First by not responding. Then, by complaining in front of the country club.
In the Heidepreim “Phoniest man in SD” kerfluffle that arose yesterday, two of the local TV stations got Heidepreim’s reactions on the press release issued by Lucas Lentsch. First, from KELO:
“This is somebody who used to be Republican, or at least we thought he was, and then he switched and became a Democrat and you know the reality is these are great questions for him. Why does he think he can play for one team, switch to the other,” South Dakota Republican Party Executive Director Lucas Lentsch said.
“I’m not going to respond to the Republicans’ attack except to say this isn’t what the people of South Dakota look for in terms of their leaders and their candidates,” Heidepriem said.
Read that here. But a short time later, KDLT ran Heidepreim down at the country club for a response
Lentsch says Scott Heidepriem has a plan to look like a man of the people.
Lentsch says, “He’s decided to step away from his elite country club membership, sell his BMW and put his mansion up for sale.”
But Heidepriem says with his youngest son college bound he might decide to sell his McKennan Park home, and he hasn’t driven a BMW for years. And we caught up with Heidepriem attending a fundraiser at the Minnehaha Country Club where he tells us he’s still a member.
Heidepriem says, “The whole list is bogus, but it shows really how desperate the republicans are.
Heidepreim also took the time to respond to Bill Fleming over at the Decorum Forum, where the answer is a little different, but still evolving…
“The GOP attack tells you more about them than me. In the first place, it is fiction: I do not own a BMW, my house is not listed, and I am still a member of the same country club. So what is the point? That I am successful in my chosen field? I accept the criticism. It is desperate and sad, but also revealing about the state of the GOP.”
I go back and forth on this issue a little. Coming off of our last Director at the SDGOP, this press release left no doubt that there are more that simple signs of life at the party. I remarked to one person that I hadn’t heard this kind of fire out of that office for nearly 20 years. But , it’s much tougher rhetoric than people are used to out of Republicans since the election of Governor Rounds.
As we moved towards the 2008 campaign it was ok for Democrats such as Steve Jarding to go after people (including stalking their homes) who weren’t in a race, and despite many in the GOP howling, including myself, Democrats themselves informally validated the tactics.
Just for discussion , based on 2008, should Dems be shocked that the GOP is not using kid gloves against Scott Heidepreim?
Was this a momentary misstep from the GOP? Or did the 2008 election set the stage for what will shape up to be a donnybrook of a contest in 2010?
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
So Heidepriem first denied everything to KELO. Then he admitted all the statements were true to KDLT. Isn’t this kind of weird?
Thank you to the “new” Gop leadership for putting Heide on the defense. It is time to take the kid gloves off and educate the public BEFORE they vote!
Which TV station has it right? Maybe SCott is moving back to Miller for those of you that didn;t know that’s where he is from. yep a small town!
Laker – “So Heidepriem first denied everything to KELO. Then he admitted all the statements were true to KDLT. Isn’t this kind of weird?”
No, what’s “kind of weird” is your inability to grasp what was said to KELO & KDLT.
When KELO first asked him to comment, he declined to do so. Nothing was “denied”, he just didn’t make a comment.
When KDLT asked him, he probably figured the issue wasn’t going to go away, so he went point by point & explained how the SDGOP claims were “bogus”. In case you weren’t aware, being “bogus” is the exact opposite of being “true”.
Read Scott Heidepriems comments again, but this time, try COMPREHENDING what he actually said.
“should Dems be shocked that the GOP is not using kid gloves against Scott Heidepreim?”
Heck No! Not when the leader of our Republican Party is Rush Limbaugh. Everything goes and sometimes we even thrown in a little bit of the truth to make it go down….or is it come up….easier!
When your Bible is FoxNews…well…there is just no way you can go wrong!
Voter – “Thank you to the “new” Gop leadership for putting Heide on the defense”
I must agree with Voter… thanks SDGOP for making a bunch of baseless claims about Scott Heidepriem.
They COULD have congratulated him for entering the race. Hell, they could have even been a little snarky about waiting for Rep Herseth-Sandlin to make a decision. They could have made a comment about how they looked forward to engaging in a robust debate about the future of South Dakota.
But no, that’s just not how the SDGOP rolls. They’d rather accuse him of playing less golf. selling his American-made family-sedan, and selling his house, all of which are FACTUALLY INCORRECT.
Are the GOPer’s forgetting how Marion was lifted to loftier heights? We have nothing to offer so lets pound them? I hope Munsterman stays far from the GOP mainstream if that is all we have to offer SD. I can understand switching parties, I have done so before and if this is any indication of the future GOP in SD am looking at a move to the IND party.
GO SCOTT GO! You got my vote…if you continue to take them head-on, you’ll have the majority. South Dakotans love an underdog and they hate Goliaths.
Tommy: i still don’t understand. why are you saying what the GOP said is “FACTUALLY INCORRECT” when in fact Heidepriem has now admitted they are true?
While I understand a little bit of the complaints about the release, the truth is that the state GOP just pulled off a major coup. On Heidepriem’s opening day, he’s stumbling and bumbling around answering questions about his mansions and country club. This is real genius if you know what you’re looking for. And the Jardings of the world know it was genius.
Very important issues raised here by the SDGOP. I expect to see many South Dakota voters thoroughly intrigued and perhaps disgusted by the status of Heidepriem’s country club membership, as well as the whereabtouts of his alleged BMW.
Lucas Lentsch, you’re a toolbox.
What’s that Tommy, no snappy come back. I for one just don’t care for any type of class warfare politics but the dems here are being how do I say, inconsistent. Staking a claim out in front of a non-declared candidates house taking photo’s is far more careless/reckless then this. I just think we have much more to offer then being Democrat light and attacking this way. Were better then this.
So you think the GOP just pulled off a major coup”
The only “coup” the GOP pulled off is what chickens live in….and you know what that “coup” is full of!
For goodness sakes, if we Republicans would of just ignored Heidepriem’s announcement the majority of the people wouldn’t even know he announced!
But every Republican wants to please and act like Rush Limbaugh. And that does raise a lot of money from the NRA and the base. So I guess it’s OK.
Yes, I know what a coup (koo) is….but I was just trying to figure out how to tie it in with my chicken crap story…and I didn’t do a very good job of it! Sorry about that!
Acting like Limbaugh = losing elections (remember, Limbaugh tactics win a loyal fragment of the media market but not a winning majority).
[Iwrb-fishing: coup/coop... I actually appreciate the linguistic effort! Good try! 
]
Let’s give Lentsch a pass. It is early and I’m glad he had this misstep now rather than a month before the election.
The dems know that this is a plus for them and there candidate just got huge name ID out of this.
Heidepreim is the BIG winner!!!
The harsh thing for me to read was Schoenbeck taking Lentsch to the woodshed.
Comment by Lee Schoenbeck on July 28, 2009 @ 8:27 am
I am late to see this, but would like to echo Scott Odenbach’s comments and add a few. This attack is wrong on so many levels:
1- class warfare – I hope every South Dakotan encourages their kids to be succesful, like my “grease monkey” (his words) father of mine encouraged me and I encourage my kids.
2- party switching – that would be like the thousands of Catholics in South Dakota that left their family’s traditional home in the Democrat party to be Republcians, like most of my wife and my family have done (not all – but most).
3 – trial lawyer – that would be like GOP former Speaker of the House Rex Hagg, or myself, or the trial lawyers that put the Second Amendment case (Heller) together to establish a personal right under the Second Amendment, or the attorneys that wrote the Constitution like John Adams (a trial lawyer)
The problem with these types of attacks is that they LOWER the level of the debate, and they distract voters from talking about issues like controlling spending, increasing personal freedom, educating our kids, and reducing the level of government. Let’s get back on track here.
It also shows Lentsch, Ohleen & Company are new to the gig and don’t know jack! Barnett vs Kirby = Rounds. Knock it off!!!
I added the last part forgot the quotes. Below not Schoenbecks writing
It also shows Lentsch, Ohleen & Company are new to the gig and don’t know jack! Barnett vs Kirby = Rounds. Knock it off!!!
I think Lentsch will do well! as ED of the GOP and agree this is an issue only because the dems want to make it one.
Lucas you are doing fantastic!
Braden, That ain’t textbook and I like it! I would guess Lucas can’t take all the credit.
I work with a lot of monied GOP types who contribute to the party. The reaction was mixed, but about 70% were pretty upset by the tone of the GOP release.
It looks like an intern is calling the shots in the pressroom and if this is indicative of the State chair’s leadership or the ED’s professionalism, it will shape up to be a tough cycle for the party.
They are obviously worried about losing the Gov’s chair for the first time in a long time.
And, PP’s man crush on Heidepriem continues.
I like you better when you are busy cracking Daugaard and Knudson on your so-called neutral GOP blog.
I wonder how soon the Denny and David camps will start crying foul if they already haven’t.
I will give you this PP, there is no way Daugaard can beat Heidepriem.
Munsterman, the typical chiropractor Right Wing zealot, might be the candidate needed to keep the seat reliably, safely and loyall GOP.
I totally remember Heidepriem running as Ronald Reagan’s brother in 1986 and being a conservative talking head on KELO for 20 years. Believe me, phony is a nice way to describe him
This is the greatest and most ballsy and most productive thing the state party has done since about 1983. GREAT WORK GOP. the only ones complaining here are Dems who know how much this punch hurt
i think it’s creepy that that news, whether it’s accurate or not, got out. if my car, house, and club memberships were press release fodder, i’d be pretty freaked out … and ticked. (who’s following me?)
how did lucas find out that stuff, anyway? and why would he believe it? did he have a detective look into the claims to ensure their accuracy, before he sent out the press release?
it’s kinda like when jarding’s goons were stalking kirby and his family. it’s just enough, already.
Fisherman and Corey. Maybe the “Koo” tie-in comes when you understand what the word pronounced that way means in Brazilian (Portugese).
I would care about these complaints if Jarding wasn’t smearing and attacking and stalking GOP candidates. But he was. And none of the whiners here cared about it and egged him on, including Senator Tim Johnson himself. The GOP went to the heart of the matter — Heidepriem is phony. He’s a big fancy rich Sioux Falls guy (nothing wrong with that) but he was planning to run a Jarding-like man-of-the-people aw-shucks just-folks NASCAR-man campaign. He should run as what he is: a basically snobby liberal who lives in MacKennan Park.
I expect each and every one of who who are warm and runny over the ad hominem screed of LL and the College Republican yahoos to NEVER, EVER aspire to 1)a nice house, 2)a bank acccount, 3)a profession, 4) a nice car.
Guess the American Dream is not something we are supposed to aspire to in the twisted world of the boy wonder ED of the South Dakota Republican Party-which is evidently headquartered in a van down by the river.
And how does that screed play with the bootstrap businessmen who you expect to back YOUR boy with big money?
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
PP- your headline should read “Heidepriem Caught in Lie” or “Heidepriem Admits SDGOP’s Claims”. KELO and KDLT are reporting that SDGOP was right. Heidepriem can’t even keep up with his own spin. Maybe we should call him Heidespin.
Boy, guys, this political smear backfired very badly. The Party of Lincoln really looked cheap and stupid, making accusations that were poorly timed and inaccurate … and don’t argue those points unless you want to appear even more like a moron.
I don’t have a dog in the fight. I’m just an observer with credible experience in marketing, politics and messaging. This really cheapened and marginalized all four GOP candidates and instantly wrecked the credibility of Mr. Lentsch.
Scott Heidepriem, a phony because he switched parties, has more money than God, is an attorney, belongs to a country club and lives in a pricy home. Hmmm, what does that make the Republican Senate Leader Dave Knudson, Mr. Lentsch, who was a Democrat, is very rich, lives in a pricy home, etc.?
The Phoniest Man in South Dakota?
Don’t you wish you slept on this one before proving you are a total fool? I think it’s time to fire you, bud. Get someone with some talent and common sense for a change.
“Thank you to the “new” Gop leadership for putting Heide on the defense. It is time to take the kid gloves off and educate the public BEFORE they vote!”
Oh, I wouldn’t say the kid gloves came off. But I do hope LL and SDGOP keep churning out short-sighted and childish press releases so they can educate the public that they are shameless amateurs.
Anon at 6:24 p.m., check out KELO’s most recent story: http://www.keloland.com/NewsDetail6162.cfm?Id=87864
It appears your “nuff said” is a bit premature. And why has Lentsch and the SDGOP refused to provide documentation for their accusations? Talk about phony! lol!
yo 8:28- why do you need documentation when Heidepriem has admitted the claims? 9:03- good point. How many homes does Heidepriem own? I heard he goes to Nantuket a lot…does he have a home there too?
How much money do Republicans Steve Kirby, Dave Knudson, and Mike Rounds have?
Shame on Lucas Lentsch. His hateful, personal attack on Heidepriem is an embarrassment to South Dakota.
don’t fool yourselves. all these whiners pretending to be outraged Republicans are just Democrats spinning because they realize that Captain Lentsch successfully launched a missile up Heidepriem’s arse.
for all you clowns pretending to be outraged – nobody said don’t be rich. they said don’t be a rich snob and pretend to be a ‘man of the people’ during your campaign, which is exactly what Heidepriem was trying.
9:12 p.m.: why would you ask me why i need documentation? KELO asked the GOP for it; i didn’t ask for it. you heard Heidepreim goes to Nantucket alot. That’s funny because I heard you’re very dumb. It’s good the media asked for documentation to back up the GOPs claims because without it, Lentsch appears to think South Dakotans are stupid and will believe anything he writes. Examples: Clipper, Jake, Anon @ 9:12, etc.
10:09- KELO asked for documentation before Heidepriem fessed up. Now that he has admitted the claims there is no need for documentation. Stupid is as stupid does.
Bring back Jason Glodt. This amateur crap is going to bring to kill the SDGOP. Thanks to the new GOP brain trust, Heidepreim has gotten three days of free press and the GOP lost credibility because we don’t have the facts to back up our claims. I am all for going after Heidepreim but let’s do it in a smart way. This was just dumb!
BBV – “Tommy: i still don’t understand. why are you saying what the GOP said is “FACTUALLY INCORRECT” when in fact Heidepriem has now admitted they are true?”
The SDGOP was correct that Scott Heidepriem is an attorney & switched parties. Other then that, he DIDN’T quit the country club, he HASN’T owned a BMW in many years, and his house ISN’T on the market.
Anon 4:21 – “While I understand a little bit of the complaints about the release, the truth is that the state GOP just pulled off a major coup”
By being FACTUALLY INCORRECT about SIXTY PERCENT of the claims they make??
If that release was given a grade, it’d be an “F-”, and that’s a “major coup”? Please…
ymous 4:36 – “I for one just don’t care for any type of class warfare politics”
Feel free to tell PP to knock it off, you won’t get any objections from me.
“but the dems here are being how do I say, inconsistent. Staking a claim out in front of a non-declared candidates house taking photo’s is far more careless/reckless then this.”
Squibble squabble, that has nothing to do with Scott Heidepriem running for office.
Bingobanker – “I have seen no mention of his cabin in the Black Hills, did he sell that too, or what?”
Yeah man!!
And what about that lawnmower he was trying to sell on Craigslist? Did anyone think to track THAT down!?!
10:43 p.m. I’ve not seen any story where Heidepriem ‘fessed up.’ You might interpret something he said as ‘fessing up’ but that doesn’t mean it’s true. 
So, by the SD GOP standard, Ronald Reagan could not be trusted because he switched parties? He was a Democrat and switched to being a Republican because, as his pathetic film career faded, his rich daddy-in-law, said, “become a Republican and I will support you.”
What a bogus charge by the SD GOP.
Tommy said: “And what about that lawnmower he was trying to sell on Craigslist? Did anyone think to track THAT down!?!”
Thanks for proving the point. Heidepriem is trying to pass himself off as the “common South Dakotan”, which he clearly is not. The common SD’an might sell a lawnmower on craigslist, Heidepriem would never stoop so low. The common SD’an does not own a mansion, a lake home in Iowa and a cabin in the Black Hills. Rich successful trial lawyers, on the other hand, do. He has spent a lifetime as backstabbing, phony, wishy-washy, slime ball and cleary is continuing down that path with this “common man” claim.
I love successful rich people, I detest successful rich people that lie about it. The SD voter is way too smart to be fooled by this joker.
Tommy-
I will slow down. You can’t complain about heavy handed tactics (which I’m against) when your own house elevates the discourse to non-declared candidates and their families to intimidate them to not run. If a republican party sub-contractor, contracted by anybody from my side did this, my money and voice would be heard loud and clear. Your side played it off as politics as usual. Just admit it, it was in poor taste at the very least.
Hopefully, this will nip in the bud Heidepreim running his campaign by pretending he is one of the commonfolk. I hope the future campaign against him will take the higher ground.
Whenever I see Scott on TV, I can’t help but think of that other smarmy lawyer named Scott whose ads on TV about gag me.
from kelo-tv: After KELOLAND News asked the Republicans to prove their claims, they backed off some of the comments and responded to their inaccuracies. Instead of saying he’s selling his house and his car and cancelling his country club membership, in an e-mail to KELOLAND News they said, “It is common knowledge that Heidepriem is a member of an elite country club, drives a fancy car and lives in a mansion.”
This sounds like we need to drive into the west end of McLaughlin, find the most boarded up housing, and run em for gov? Give me a break. Acts like a poor prick? What about acts like a rich prick? That would be men without balls, just pricks.
Bingobanker – “Thanks for proving the point.”
*forehead slap*
“Heidepriem is trying to pass himself off as the “common South Dakotan”, which he clearly is not. The common SD’an might sell a lawnmower on craigslist, Heidepriem would never stoop so low.”
Have you ever, ya know, MET the man?
“The SD voter is way too smart to be fooled by this joker.”
So you prefer the SDGOP just flat-out LIE about Scott Heidepriem??
ymous – “You can’t complain about heavy handed tactics (which I’m against) when your own house elevates the discourse to non-declared candidates and their families to intimidate them to not run.”
That was the JOHNSON CAMPAIGN for US SENATE in 2008.
My house? I had to hold my nose when voting for Johnson. Never picked up a phone to call a supporter, didn’t have a Johnson sign in my yard, and the only Johnson lit I dropped was when I was volunteering for the Obama campaign.
“Your side played it off as politics as usual. Just admit it, it was in poor taste at the very least”
Taking the story at face value, the Johnson campaign played it a little slimey. Yes, every (potential) candidate for Senate has had their own personal Opposition Research Stalker (ask Dick Wadams about “Macaca”), and it sadly should have been expected.
But yes, it was a little creepy.
As creepy as this website’s obsession about what kind of briefcase Scott Heidepriem carries, or what kind of car he drove a few years ago? Eh…
“Just admit it, it was in poor taste at the very least”
Now that I admited that a different candidate running for a different office in a different election cycle was a little creepy, I think it’s your turn to admit that not only was the SDGOP’s press release sour-grapes, but it was 75% factually WRONG.
Let’s see what the Republican’s list adds up to…
1 – They accuse Scott Heidepriem of quitting a Country Club, which is factually incorrect, and even if it was, so what? What is that ad supposed to look like?! “Scott Heiepriem is cutting back on his golf game… how long before he cuts back on __________”
2 – They accuse him of selling his American-made family sedan to run for Governor, when in fact he hasn’t owned it for several years.
3 – He switched parties. 20 years ago he ran as a moderate Republican. Today, he’s running as a moderate Democrat. If the parties had been reversed, the SDGOP would be applauding him for his bi-partisanship & level-headedness. But no, he left the GOP, so he’s “phony”.
4 – They accuse him of selling his mansion, which isn’t even on the market. His youngest son just went off to college, they have too much house for the people that live there, and last time I checked, RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR IS EXPENSIVE.
If it were true –and it’s not– what does that say? Scott Heiepriem is so committed to the concept of government service that he’s willing to sell his own house. Ohhhh noooo!!!
I’m an admitted newcomer to the DWC, but I’m *STILL* waiting for a disagreement with Scott Heidepriem on a substantive issue…