Jim Graves

October 25, 2012

Hello Reddit! Jim Graves here. I am running for Congress [MN, District 6], and yes, my opponent is Michele Bachmann. AMA.

Greetings Redditors,

My name is Jim Graves, and I am running for Congress.

I want to replace Rep. Michele Bachmann because she is part of the inflexible extreme. While her freewheeling comments have made her a national media phenomenon, they have not added one new job to the 6th District of Minnesota.

I started AmericInn Hotels with my wife Julie in 1979 with only $2,000 in the bank. Since then, I have created thousands of jobs and balanced as many budgets.

I have never run for office before, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to give back and serve the community that has given me so much. I look forward to providing the people of the 6th District the representation they truly deserve and so desperately need.

We have three debates coming up next week that we are very excited about. We wanted to schedule seven, but it seemed as if she wanted to have as few as possible! The debates are as follows:

• 10/30 in St Cloud @ the Rivers Edge Convention Center from 12:30-1:30. Public is welcome!
• 11/1 on MPR
• 11/4 on KSTP-TV Twin Cities

To find out more about me, please find me on Twitter: @Graves4Congress, Facebook, on my Website and also on You Tube. To help me defeat Bachmann, please donate: http://jimgraves.com/donate.

Let's go Reddit, ask me anything and let's have some fun.

Edit: I need to head out to a meeting! I'll be back to follow up soon. Thank you so much for your great questions!

Edit: I answered a bunch more of your questions! I'll be back later. Thank you!

Jim,

Thank you for doing this AMA. I live in the 6th District, and I have a few questions for you:

1. I work for a small consulting firm in Coon Rapids that employs about 100 people. We specialize in acquiring land rights for energy companies so pipelines, wind turbines, and other energy-related things can be built on private land. Would you vote in favor of the Keystone XL Pipeline? Why or why not? In your opinion, how important is it to the economy for America to become energy independent?

2. Do you think Michele Bachmann has ‘McCarthy-like’ qualities? Why do you think people in our district vote for a candidate that runs on a platform of anti-intellectualism and fear?

3. During your debates with Bachmann, will you bring up the fact that she believes God told her to run for President?

4. If you defeat Bachmann, can we have an awesome party at the Graves 601 Hotel?

5. If you are elected, will you give me your endorsement when I run for Mayor of Lexington, MN? I really think I could bring some positive change to the community. For example, it is currently illegal to take a left turn from Woodland Road onto Lake Drive. That’s how you get to the interstate(!) and it needs to change immediately. I look forward to your endorsement and getting together so we can build strong policies for a strong Lexington.

6. What hair product do you use? This style is nothing short of fabulous.

What would you say you most admire about your opponent?

I read it as respectful in the sense that 5 children is a ton of work no matter what your politics are - so credit where credit is due. Also a burn because he isn't mentioning anything about her political work, implying that there's nothing in that realm she has done that he admires.

What is your opinion on abortion and why?

You've kind of, you know, skirted the actual question. Not that I blame you; the world today is a volatile place for any politician.

While I agree with you on trying to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies through things like sex education, and have better aid for those who do get pregnant through better pay, maternity leave, and better health care. Do you still believe abortion should be a legal option for all?

Also, what are your thoughts on the recent comments about rape and abortion by those like Todd Akin and Richard Mourdock?

I seriously doubt you will ever see this, but I just want to say good job framing that response perfectly. I wish you the best of luck sir, and your answers here are how I wish any progressive would respond to questions like that.

I wish more people would quote Clinton on abortion (paraphrased) "I believe abortions should be rare and legal."

What's the greatest challenge you've overcome?

That's it? Not the death of someone close to you, a divorce or a personal trauma... that?

EDIT: Apologies to anyone who bristled/downvoted this comment. My intent was to draw something personal out of Mr. Graves and the way I did it was the wrong way to go about it.

[deleted]

Hi Jim, thanks for the AMA.

• What steps are you taking to reach out to would-be Bachmann voters in hopes of getting them on board with your message?
• If you could get a straight answer from Mrs. Bachmann on one question, what would that question be?

What have you learned through your business ventures that you plan to use while in office?

What do you think your chances are?

I don't live in your state but I make it point to donate $50 to anyone that opposes her. Best of luck to you sir, may you send that dingbat packing.

I'll match that.

times are super tight for me, so I only donated $5, but that $5 to help get the crazy out!

I voted for you 2 weeks ago via absentee ballot. Here's hoping!

Just donated $100, please whoop that crazy!

Are you going to be debating her, and if so is that available online?

Reddit would probably explode from the lulz

I'LL SEPTUPLE IT

I live in Oregon, but I kicked in. Good luck!

College student here. Gave you $5!

I'm a relatively broke college student (political science degree. Ha!) with a newborn. But accept my well intentions and 25.00.

Good luck.

Where can I donate?

I donated 10 bucks. Good luck!!

[deleted]

What is your position on nuclear energy?

Which browser do you use?

Have you ever changed a long-standing personal opinion or belief? What made you do it?

What about civil unions for all? Do you think it would help if, as far as the government were concerned, all marriages--gay or straight--were, officially, "civil unions?"

I wish I could vote for you.

you rock

Mr. Graves, I truly hope you win your seat in congress. It completely baffles my mind how Bachmann gets any votes.

Not being from Minnesota, I am curious, what exactly has Bachmann done in your area to deserve votes and what is your strategy to overtake her seat? Again, please for all that is right in this world crush her in this election!

As minneapolis resident, how can I get my hands on a I Dig Graves pin? They are not available on your website! While I can't vote for you, I would love to rock one while walking around campus.

What are your views on both the voter ID amendment, and the marriage amendment that are on the ballot in MN this year?

Edit: I see your stance on the marriage amendment below, so skip that. BUT I'm still curious about the voter ID one!

Typical politician, avoiding the hard hitting questions. WHERE ARE OUR PINS, MR. GRAVES?

Is it within walking distance of the campus? If it is, I'll come grab a few!

What's your view on internet retailers and the loophole the government affords them to avoid sales tax?

• A fellow St. Cloud State Husky!

Is there a proposed law or change that a Republican in Congress has put forward that you would back or help push through? After the past 2 years, I'd love to see bipartisanship.

Hello Mr. Graves

I'm not as well-versed on your positions on the issues facing this country as I'd like to be. I wish I had a better question for you than this.

But Mr. Graves, we need you to win. Not "we" as in your district, not just Minnesota, not just Washington... the United States of America needs you to win, sir.

If we as reasonable Americans cannot stand up against fringe figures like Rep. Bachmann, who try and often succeed in shoehorning bits of discrimination and religious fundamentalism into our laws, then we have failed. And grave consequences from that failure may await us.

We have to stand up. We have to stand up and we have to beat them. We have to beat them so bad, they crawl back into the holes they came out of. Irrational, unreasonable and scary elected officials like Rep. Bachmann wield far too much power. It's made me genuinely afraid and I don't want to be afraid anymore. I don't want to fear my government anymore. I need you to save me, save us.

It doesn't matter who elected her, why she was elected in the first place, what she's done previously or what the difficult circumstances are in defeating her now.

So my question to you, Mr. Graves, is: How are you going to win? How are you going to close the relatively small gap in polls that I've seen between you and Rep. Bachmann? A gravely important task is in front of you, sir. I would argue that a piece of this country's very morale or soul is at risk in this race.

TL;DR: How are you going to win?

And grave consequences from that failure may await us.

Heh.

What reforms (if any) would you like to see regarding our electoral and campaign finance systems?

Jim, given your background in education as a teacher, what are your ideas for improving math and science scores in America that have seen a dramatic decline relative to other developed nations in recent years?

I just found out that I can edit my comments to something completely different and all the replies to my original comment stay the same. I shall now go about wreaking havoc.

How do people so under qualified get such important roles in government?

Just want to say thanks for running.

No real question just want to say good luck, I really cannot stand Bachmann and her fear based platform.

Last year, I read a truly awful article about how suicides by gay high school students have skyrocketed in Bachmann's district, as a sort of trickle-down effect of her anti-gay rhetoric on the national stage (EDIT: found it here)

There are plenty of reasons to oppose her, but I sincerely hope you win this for the kids who killed themselves because they had no voice and felt they had no other choice.

I'm related to Bachmann and I'm still voting for you!

If you had to choose one non-politician to lead the nation, who would you pick?

Here on Reddit, the correct answer is Neil deGrasse Tyson.

How would you address mounting student loan debt if elected?

What are your thoughts on suburban farming collectives for lower income families that need access to fresh inexpensive organic fruits and veggies?

Would you support something like this?

Being from Minnesota, I think it's great to have anyone else representing the state in anyway. Can you tell me a little bit about what helps you connect to people individually as well as on a macro level? I know politicians get blasted for being "out of touch" often, but the level of disregard we've seen for intelligent discourse and social integrity has been staggering. Just curious what makes you real and why would we like you if you we were having dinner with you?

What is your stance on manned space exploration? Do you support Newt Gingrich's proposal of a lunar base?

Wow, best answer.

/thread

I would like to be first to recommend Jim Graves for president 2016

But seriously, a lot of Redditors are staunch supporters of space exploration (manned or otherwise). Do you support the Penny4NASA movement? http://www.penny4nasa.org/[1]

Best...AMA...Evar!

You're going to fit right in reddit, sir.

How do you feel about there now being male models on The Price Is Right?

if you were on the price is right would you rather play plinko or cliffhangers?

Do you have any opinion on electoral reform? Perhaps something that isn't exclusively first past the post to allow 3rd parties a voice in Congress?

It seems to me that much of the Washington gridlock is being driven by partisanship that seems impossible to overcome in the current system.

Do you think there's ever going to be a chance of any electoral reform actually happening given the current system favors the two large parties and incumbents?

Thank you for answering. I know this isn't a typical question and can be a doozy to answer but its become a big issue for me over the last few years both to address the gridlock and the lack of choice on important issues (i.e. a fiscal conservative not being able to vote on those lines because they find it immoral for a human being to treat gays as second class citizens).

Wishing you the best. I consider Bachmann to be one of the very worst things ever to happen to American politics.

Is the st cloud debate televised? And can you win being outspent? saw ads on Real clear politics

[deleted]

Hey Jim, not a question per se, but as I live in your district, I thought it'd be nice to say thanks for all the hard work you're putting in and hopefully we can repay you! Too long have we been ashamed of our representative, and win or lose, your running for this position is a very meaningful thing to a great many people, so don't forget it!

What's your least favorite thing about Michele Bachmann?

*Edit Michele with one L

What did you have/are going to have for lunch?
Who do you follow the most? Twins, Vikings, Wild or Timberwolves?
Favourite band/singer?
Do you pluck your eyebrows?

Mr.Graves, How do you feel about term limits for all 535 members of the house and senate. Making the positions more of a civil service then a long term career.

Michele Bachmann has a "D" rating by the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America 2010 Congressional Report Card. How do you feel about supporting the Veteran's?

I love what you just said. Please stick with it.

That wasn't how you felt. That was how you feel your opponent did.

You didn't really answer the question, how do YOU feel about it not how do you feel about her feelings.

QWhat do you consider to be a fully balanced breakfast? And did you eat a good breakfast today?

What is the craziest thing that the Bachmann campaign has tried to smear you with so far? And what is your plan for bringing together the electorate should you win in November? Will you work across the aisle, regardless of the consequences? And now, a softball question. What do you think about the Minnesota Wild's acquisition of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter during the offseason?

Thank-you for reaching out to our community! I believe that the most pressing issue facing the middle class is the unfair total federal tax code that taxes inheritance, capital gains, and income at different rates, and with somewhat arbitrary abilities to set up trusts and take deductions that unfairly benefit certain groups in ways that allow the wealthy to pay far less taxes than those who work for a living. Since Reagan, taxes have been restructured to the point that we now have an entrenched aristocracy.

Would you introduce a tax reform bill to tax all sources of acquired money (inheritance, cap gains, income) under income tax brackets, extend the payroll tax to every dollar instead of just the first $110,000, and add at least 3 more brackets to the top of the income tax schedule?

Also, would you support or oppose a VAT style tax or a national sales tax?

This is an incredibly intricate and informed answer.

I know of no one outside of C-level financial services people who even know what the hedge fund carried interest tax loophole is. (0_o)

(*edit - Alan Viard has a take on it that explains that while it seems it reverses liability and makes it a flat trade-off, it results in a net gain for those investors. The converse being: If you close the loophole, you open up a whole new avenue of taxation that doesn't affect most Americans and in some small measure increases the tax base through a extremely small but capable subset of the populace that can afford it without destroying their retirement. You can read it here.)

Seriously... WOW.

Please go forth and win, sir.

I feel like I am speaking for most Americans when I say, Thank You for running against Bachmann... She scares the hell out of us.. oh and what are your thoughts on Global Warming?

Music to my ears.. Thank you for your response. Follow up question, How do you feel about these Congressmen that are saying Rape is Gods will, sitting on the House Committee for Science and Technology? How does this happen?

Say no more. Also, I have donated multiple times via ActBlue, since I can't vote for you.

How in the world could your district ever elect someone like Michelle Bachmann???

Please bring some sanity back to the House. My question is: what is your advice to a young entrepreneur like me?

Thank you!

Does her weird stare thing that everyone focuses on when parodying her on TV (SNL) actually come across in real life?

what kind of compensation do you provide your employees? what is your average hourly and salary wages? what benefits do you offer? how many are full or part time?

im not interested in a job, but considering your great fortune in life, i think how you treat your employees is probably the largest mark of your character.

What is the biggest mistake your opponent has made? What is the biggest mistake you have made?

As a Minnesotan who has done a lot of work in the 6th district, I can say in all seriousness that this probably was a huge mistake, beyond any gaffe or policy position.

Where is your debate in st cloud? i would love to attend!

Also, what are your thoughts on the idea that our politicians are bought and controlled by big money? and What business' have you accepted money from?

Just wanted to say good luck, we're all counting on you.

Hi Jim,

Thank you very much for taking the time to do this. My question is this: How do you plan to debate an opponent who is severly ideological in her positions? Do you think your constituents want to hear your ideologies compared to hers, or your detailed policies?

Thanks again, we're rooting for you in Minneapolis!

Our constituents truth and common sense. I'm going to stick to the issues and the policy.

Good lord, you answered more questions than most people do with an AMA, thanks!

How do you feel about the recent performance of the twins?

What slander has she sent out about you?

From a Minnesotan, thank you for working so hard to put Bachmann out. You have my vote sir!

Why are you running for office? Apart from giving back and all the good stuff. It's always struck me as a crazy thing to do.

What is the hardest challenge that you've faced in your political career, as in trying to convince people that something is the right option?

Reading through this AMA I sat here wondering why everything you said resonated so well with me. At first I thought it was just because I hate Bachmann and want her out, but this last reply really confirms it for me. You actually represent my ideals. "If it were easy, I wouldn't be doing it." I'm a 24 year old voter and this is the first time in my life that I've felt a real connection to ANY politician at any level.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. I wish I lived in your district so I could vote for you, but at least I can link to this AMA on Facebook and make sure all my friends that DO live there go out and vote!

Please keep being a voice for sanity and reason in this country. It'll be hard, but I think you would have it no other way.

You have my vote!

I'm in MN-3, but I have lots of extended family in MN-6, specifically rural Carver County. When they ask who they should vote for, what would your 15-second pitch be for why they should vote for you?

Conversely, in less than 15 seconds, why should they not vote for Michele Bachmann?

Hi Jim,

As an LGBT person from the St. Cloud area Michelle's platform and positions on LGBT issues is offensive, dehumanizing, and damaging to LGBT people, youth especially. As a youth, seeing one persons who views you as a second class citizen is bad enough, but having her views backed by so many supporters where I lived was humiliating, demoralizing, and incredibly hard to experience.

I just wanted to say thank you for bringing the respect you have for the LGBT community through your positions.

I will be relaying your message to friends/family still in the area in hopes we can see a positive change for the LGBT youth in the area!

Why have an AMA for a whole bunch of people who probably aren't your constituents rather than spend that time campaigning locally? (I think I know the answer already)

I live in your district. Why should I vote for you? Bachman bashing aside

This is a class answer. I like it. Early in the year I stated I'd vote for anyone running against Bachmann. After reading all these answers I can say I'm voting Graves because I support him and believe he's the right person for the job.

My political science teacher was just talking about your race earlier today. I live on the ND side of the ND/MN border, but we talk about Minnesota politics a lot, especially since a lot of our student population hails from the Twin Cities.

Anyway, my professor was talking about how he looked up the campaign numbers for Bachmann's race and she's raised something like 19 million dollars and has spent 17 million of it, compared to your rather modest spendings. What do you think of her fundraising numbers? Do you think that they will have a measurable impact on your chances to win? What can you do to compensate, to compete on the same level as her without using such exorbitant amounts of money?

Mr. Graves, Is there anything that separates you from most of the other "tote-line" politicians? Or are you simply going to be another free vote for Obama?

Mr. Graves, I'm a student at the University of Maryland and I'm doing a case study on your race for a course on congressional elections.

1. From the voters you've spoken to, do you think they like Bachmann's extreme ideology, or do they vote her in because she is the incumbent and can outspend anyone?

2. Most of your positions seem very moderate; do you think you can win over enough voters who consider themselves to be conservative to win the election?

3. What do you think is the most effective way to get your name and message out? TV? Face to face? Calls to voters?

Thank you for doing an AMA!

Did you lie about serving on the board of directors for The United Way as Bachman claims?

I knew it! Yet she continues to run those b.s. commercials night and day. Thank you!

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I will be there the 30th. Can't wait.

as a Minnesotan in this district I support you

What is the one thing, besides $$, that we can do to help you win this election?

Edit, per the answer: http://jimgraves.com/

how do you deal with the frustration of losing?

Do you have gay people and woman on your staff? Do they occupy relevant positions within your group? Sorry if this sounds rude or too straightforward, it's really a curiosity for me.

This is a fantastic AMA. Interesting, informative, straightforward, genuine. Wish I'd gotten here earlier so I could ask about your folk music career.

I just wanted to say that, as a resident of Andover in the MN 6th, I sincerely hope that you can unseat Bachmann, Mr. Graves. During her years in congress, she has done nothing for the district except embarrass it.

Hi Jim.

I don't have a question, but I want to offer my support and say that you are doing an amazing job regardless of the outcome of the election. Your campaign has been run on the platform of what you aim to do for the district, not on one of fear and xenophobia. It's a breath of fresh air in a political landscape dominated by fearmongering and playing to people's darker sides and I really, really appreciate it.

You have my vote sir, good luck!

I'm a libertarian in your district. Convince me. :-)

Mr. Graves,

Honestly, I haven't been keeping up with the Minnesotan (ian?) elections, but in doing some quick Googling, one of the things that has a prominent space on your wikipedia page is about a claim made in your biography about serving on the board of the United Way of Western Minnesota. What was your response to being asked about that?

My dads name just so happens to be Jim Graves. I got very confused when I first read the title.

[deleted]

I am a 19 year old Minnesota resident. How can you convince me to vote for you?

No questions here, but just wanted to wish you the best! It's inspiring to see a political newcomer make the choice to run in one of the toughest campaigns in the country, and I can't tell you how much I and so many others respect you for your efforts.

Best of Luck!

Have you ever been to an Atmosphere concert?

I voted for you!

Mr. Graves,

I'm a gay Minnesotan, and you sure as hell have my vote. I'd vote for you 10 times if I could. It is so nice to have someone who is so outspoken about equal rights!

It is beyond me how that horrible excuse for a human, Michele Bachmann, has ever gotten any votes. Ever.

GRAVES 2012!!

What is your opinion on gay marriage?

What area do you think you can make the biggest impact?

i'm from Eagan, MN and we support Jim Graves! (In said district 6) :D

Mr. Graves, you sound like exactly the kind of person we need in Congress. Since I live in Florida, I unfortunately can't vote for you, but I'll try to round up some extra money to donate to your campaign. Thank you for being awesome!

Where is the debate in St. Cloud being held? Best of luck to you Mr. Graves! Please vote everybody!

Mr. Graves, thank you so much for doing this AMA.

I wish I had a question, but I don't. I just want to thank you for running as clean and honest a campaign as can be reasonably hoped for these days, and for doing it in a district that should otherwise have been a lock for Rep. Bachmann. The fact that you've pushed to within 2% of victory, and at a 2-1 deficit in spending, is a true testament to the quality of your message and your skills as a leader for Minnesota.

I gave your campaign $25 a few weeks ago because I believe Rep. Bachmann needs to be out of Congress at all costs, but I'm glad that I've been able to learn since then that you're a compelling and respectable candidate in your own right. Hell, I'm not even a Minnesotan, but this is too important. If I had it to spare, I'd donate twice over.

Make this happen, Mr. Graves. Bring some decency back to the Congress, for all our sakes.

Went to donate, it wants an email, I don't want spam, so no money for you. Fix that and I'll donate, I suspect you are losing piles and piles of donations with the email / phone requirement.

This interview was transcribed from an "ask me anything" question and answer session with Jim Graves conducted on Reddit on 2012-10-25. The Reddit AMA can be found here.