The St. Cloud Times recently covered the crisis facing our nation's economy. The article noted Rep. Michele Bachmann's opposition to government intervention. While Rep. Bachmann falls back on empty talking points with Larry King, she fails to provide the leadership our nation needs. She also seems unable to find the time between talk show appearances and big-name political rallies to visit with residents of the 6th District and address their concerns.

To weather the current financial storm, elected officials will need to make tough decisions. El Tinklenberg, through his years of public service, has shown he has the leadership to work beyond partisan rancor and move the United States forward.

Here are the highlights from the article:

At a campaign rally in her district for John McCain on Friday, U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann hinted she shared his opposition to a proposed financial bailout Bush administration officials say is necessary to stabilize a teetering economy.

The 6th Congressional District Republican did not address the bailout at the rally inside a hangar at the Anoka County Airport Friday, but issued a statement and went on cable television to express skepticism.

... Bachmann’s DFL- and Independence Party-endorsed opponent, Elwyn Tinklenberg, said Bachmann had done nothing to help avoid crisis in her term serving on the committee that oversees the financial industry.

“Bachmann has done little or nothing for Blaine residents during her time in Congress and has failed to engage citizens in order to understand the difficultly they face as our economic crisis deepens,” he said in a statement. “Clearly people here are tired of her political grandstanding and are wondering when she will come down off the rally platform and move away from her extreme agenda so that our Congress can take measures to move the country out of this crisis.”

Tinklenberg also dinged Bachmann for coming to the district for a campaign rally while avoiding debates, including one scheduled in Elk River today.