Simple answer would be the best
In a campaign that has become one of the nastiest and most negative in recent memory, it should be no surprise that Sen. Norm Coleman is now facing questions about who buys his suits.
This week Ken Silverstein, a writer with Harpers Magazine, reported this week that two unnamed sources told him that businessman and longtime Coleman support Nasser Kazeminy of Bloomington "has in the past covered the bills for Coleman's lavish clothing purchases at Nieman Marcus in Minneapolis." The sources can't say whether these purchases came before Coleman was elected Senator or after. Coleman has not reported any such gifts since becoming Senator, as ethics rules would require him to do if he had received them.
Coleman and his campaign staff have so far issued non-denial denials when asked about the allegations. The gist of their response is, "All gifts have been reported," but no one has said whether thereis any truth to this story.
By refusing to come out with a straight yes or no, the Coleman campaign is leaving the question open for speculation. Democrats who have felt the sting of the Coleman campaign's "Angry Al the pornographer and tax evader" strategy are more than ready to spin this out as long as it will go.
It was refreshing on Thursday to listen to Coleman, during a campaign stop in New Ulm, talk about the good work that government does and that he has done. It was uplifting, it was positive and it's too bad we can't see more of that instead of more trashing of the opponent.
The tone of the campaign has long since been set, however, and Coleman's best bet to lay this clothing business to rest is to come up with some simple, complete answers.
