It feels like the GOP have the democrats outgunned when it comes to PR. Do you feel like the GOP has played the game of politics better? I think the democratic voters would like to see the blame for our broken government placed loudly and more squarely on the leaders of the GOP. For example, the GOP led congress has voted more than 30 times to repeal Obamacare but not ONCE for a jobs bill? How is that not front page news for the Dems?

I just do not understand the mindset of Michelle Bachmann and Her Choir. She makes unfounded statements, no facts, no substance and totally thoughtless. Yet She still bamboozles Her rabid constituants into voting for this completely idiiotic tripe. Maybe we should ask about Her Brand of Tea ?.

Both candidates:
Do you feel that you..
1) own yourself, and
2) it's morally wrong to initiate force against another individual acting peacefully?
If either one of you answers yes to these questions, how could you support the Federal Reserve system in co-operation with the IRS putting people in a cage if they do not use the FRN's as currency in their right to exchange goods and services, as they currently do? (Bernard Von Nothause w/Liberty Dollar, etc)

Congressman Ellison and Candidate Fields: As you know, the Minneapolis Urban League should be a flagship organization in Minnesota. Two weeks ago, the MUL shutdown the south Minneapolis office. Last year they closed the group home and elementary school. To Keith: The DFL political plantation has strangled new leadership in the 5th CD with it's "prominent Negro" position versus doing the work. What will be your (Keith) advise to the Minneapolis Urban League? To Chris: The Minnesota GOP is a racist, antiquated and just plan "back-assward" political organization in Minnesota. If you beat Keith, what will you do different to develop and peaceful middle-ground between emotional liberals and uninformed Republicans?

To Keith Ellison. Why don't you support HR 459, Audit the Fed bill? The Fed is a private bank with public privileges and a creature of congress. Congress is responsible for keeping the Fed in check. The lower/moderate income citizens of Mpls are among those who are hurt the worst by inflation and the Fed's monetary policies. The elderly of Mpls are unable to grow their money safely in savings because rates are so low. Only the wealthiest corporations are able to borrow money from the Fed at 0% while the middle class gets the shaft. How do you plan to represent the middle class and promote sound money?

Both:
Is it truly the job of the Federal Government to "create jobs" across the country? If so, how can they do it without taking money that would be spent (aka 'stimulus' to the economy) in the private sector and pushing that same money through the public sector? If no, then what decisions can Congress make that would allow job growth in the private sector?

There are some who are concerned with the continual growth in the powers claimed by the executive branch of the United States, expansions of authority not isolated to the current administration.

This question is for both candidates.

What, if anything, are some things that the executive branch under the U.S. Constitution should never be allowed to do?

To both! It's no wonder sanctions don't stop Iran from being shielded from Russia and China. How or what would you do, if given the op to make this president or the UN answer?

Do you know what certain incomes of persons and activities that have been imposed upon in the tax code?
What is the privilege to be excised in private sector domestic wages?
Do you know the deception we are subjected to from the government when asked on forms, Are you a U.S. citizen?

To Keith- Why did you lie about being on the Foreign Affairs Committee when you were on Al McFarlane's radio show in May?

To both candidates - Minneapolis has the highest racial unemployment gap in the country. Is that because of individual's choices or the governments?

Keith, will you give an accounting of your relationships with various Islamic groups and tell us why you think Rep. Bachman is wrong in her allegations against you?

This is for Congressman Ellison: Please tell us; what were your reasons for voting 'no' on the NDAA?

For both Congressman Ellison and Mr. Fields: Would you work to repeal it? If so, how, and when?

For reference: On December 31, 2011, President Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), codifying indefinite military detention without charge or trial into law for the first time in American history. The NDAA’s detention provisions would authorize the president — and all future presidents — to order the military to pick up and indefinitely imprison people captured anywhere in the world, far from any battlefield.

Habeas corpus is a writ (legal action) which requires a person under arrest to be brought before a judge or into court. This ensures that a prisoner can be released from unlawful detention, in other words, detention lacking sufficient cause or evidence. It has historically been an important legal instrument safeguarding individual freedom against arbitrary state action. The U.S. Constitution specifically includes the habeas corpus procedure in the Suspension Clause (Clause 2), located in Article One, Section 9. This states that "The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion, the public safety may require it." Former Presidents Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses Grant, and George W. Bush have all signed the suspension of Habeas Corpus.

Keith & Chris, Whoever wins this race will be my representative during the 100th anniversary of the American income tax. Do you believe the government should take more or less of my earnings?

To both candidates: It is obvious to almost everyone that the faltering economy is hurting Minnesota families. Predatory lending and criminal fraudclosures by banks have forced people from their homes, and often the current bankruptcy laws prevent people from moving forward. Do you have any plans to remove the restrictions implemented by the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 2005 and also to allow student loans to once again be dischargeable in a bankruptcy?

To both candidates -

The last several years have witnessed a gradual erosion of religious freedom. Firstly, many religiously motivates charities are losing contracts to provide all kinds of services to the poor because their religious beliefs conflict with government dogma. Secondly, the Obama administration unlaterally decided that it did not like the Defence of Marriage Act passed under Bill Clinton, and will therefore pretend that this law does not exist. Thirdly, a Christian man in Massachusets was arrested forprotesting the teaching of homosexuality to his kindergarten son in public school without parental consent or permission. What will you do to protect our first ammendment right to religion and religious expression.

TO Congressman Ellison:
Do you or do you not support the integration of Sharia Law into the laws of the United States?

To Keith Ellison:
Why did you vote "nay" on HR 459, "Audit the Fed" - especially given that other recent efforts at mandatory disclosure with regard to the Federal Reserve Bank resulted in the exposure of trillions of dollars of bailouts to foreign banks that US citizens would otherwise have known nothing about.

To Chris:
How would you have voted on Audit the Fed, and why?

OHKAAAY! My comment is strictly for the Congressman. His answer would determine my vote. I spent 20 years of my life defending the First Amendment and all the rest of them. You are entitled to your opinions and your precedence as am I. There is more to Sharia than just health care which,by the way, is not a Right.

This question is for Keith Ellison.
When you were a candidate for Congressman, it came out in the media that you had Numerous Unpaid Parking tickets. Have they ever been paid? At the time you said that your manager would take care of that. I understand that your wife was your manager at that time.
Gwen Nawrocki

What specific choices would you make (who would you raise taxes on, what programs would you cut) in order to balance the budget?

to Keith Ellison Explain your recent vote of no on the Audit the Fed Bill. Many of us from all political leanings would like to know what deals have been made by the Federal Reserve.

Do you know what HR25 'The Fair Tax' is? And do you support it?

One of the most defining issues of our day is our growing national debt. Under President Obama and the Democratic legislature from 2009-2010, the US was running deficits significantly higher than $1 trillion, or 1/15 of our economy.

As a 17-year-old moderate, I would like to know what your plan (both Keith and Chris) is to reduce deficits and put America on a path to paying down our unsustainable debt. I don't want to have to pay for baby boomers' retirements, when the 65-year retirement age was coined in the 1800s when people often didn't live that long. Would you support cutting spending, raising revenue, or a combination? If so, what programs would you cut and/or which taxes would you raise?

Question For Ellison: Since Muslims call for the destruction of the United States and replacement of the Constitution with sharia law, how have you been doing your part as a Muslim to accomplish these goals?

For both candidates: Congress recently voted to keep the interest rates of federal subsidized Stafford loans frozen at 3.4% for the next year--at which point rates will return to their original 6.8% unless further action is taken. Congressman Ellison, you've frequently emphasized the importance of making higher education more affordable. What is your next step? Mr. Fields, given your professed interest in "improving the quality of education at all levels," (as your website states) and in narrowing the achievement gap, how would you propose to make higher education more accessible to middle- and lower-class students?

To Both: Do you plan to vote yes or no on the voter ID amendment? Why or why not? How do you feel about the fact that 70% of students at the U of M Twin Cities alone would be impacted by this amendment?

To both - is it ever appropriate to characterize your opponent or those that disagree with you as "anti-american" ?

To both: What are your thoughts on the approaching "fiscal cliff" in January, when current temporary tax cuts are set to expire? Would you support a bill that would allow tax breaks for the wealthiest 2% of Americans (those making $250,000 a year or more) to expire while preserving tax cuts for the middle class?

I deleted a comment by "chrisf" that was also signed "Chris Fields" Under Patch's Terms of Use (http://fridley.patch.com/terms), Patch encourages but does not require that the user name you provide be your real name. Still, users agree not to post content that "is inaccurate, false or misleading in any way." Don't post under someone else's name.

This question is for both Chris Fields and Congressman Keith Ellison. We are voting on two important Constitutional amendments, can you tell us how you plan to vote and why you are voting that way on the issue of the Marriage and the Voter ID Amendments?

The congressional budget office announced not to long ago the affordable care act actually cuts the deficit, and repeal would be costly and contribute to the deficit, what is Mr. Fields response to these findings? Why don't we strengthen the act rather then just wipe it way, it is at less a start, correct?

A question for both candidates: what are your feelings about the budget proposed by Congressman Paul Ryan?

To Rep. Fields,

It has been reported that after the Colorado shooting, you may propose that a limit be put on ammunition purchased over the internest, as well as that protective (AKA Kevlar) style clothing should only be in possesion of Law enforcement or military. My question is, why do you believe defensive style body armor should not be held by anyone other than those parties, and why now and not months ago?

I apologize, the above question was for Rep. Ellison and not for Mr. Fields.

Question for both: what can we do to help the participants in the Arab Spring protests?

Chris Fields you mentioned on your WCCO interview that if elected to Congress you would support any good idea regardless from what party introduced it or supported it. Do you see yourself as a follower who only supports others's ideas or do you see yourself as a leader who creates the ideas and other follows? Assuming you choose the latter, then I would like to hear your idea(s) and how you would get support from either party.

Congressmen Keith Ellison how did you respond to Chris Fields' request to join him for a sandwich, during Ramadan, at Chick-Fil-A?

Eric (plain Eric, not Eric Ferguson): You lost me at "like all Muslims." In Jan. 2011, the Pew Research Center estimated there were 1.6 billion Muslims worldwide. A glance at the news suggests they don't all agree on who to support.

To Rep. Ellison: Why have you not helped organize an anti-war march in Minneapolis? Your supporters say that there is little you can get done legislatively as a rookie, but it seems to me that you have not made very good use of your Bully Pulpit. Please don't bring up some little items to prove me wrong. Please show us how you have shouted from the Capital dome day after day that war is wrong.

Mr. Ellison,
How can you truly believe and look in the face of the Minnesota people and tell them that the last 4 years have been great for the middle class? By raising taxes of the rich, you are not going to add any thing for the middle class...You are just curbing their progress. This is not a zero-sum game here !!!