Take Five: Rep. Tom Emmer

By Megan Evans

Posted June 2, 2015 at 5:00am

emmer004_061413 It’s time again for Take Five, when HOH talks with a member of Congress about topics relatively unrelated to legislative work.

This week, Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., sat down to talk about the cold and all things Minnesotan. But alas, no hotdish . Q. What is the best piece of advice you have ever gotten? A. You only have to look at one face in the mirror every morning; you’d better like what you see looking back at you.

Q. What is your favorite type of ice cream? A. I was warned that this might be a question, I was told, “Don’t say something,” but I was like, “Well, that is my favorite!”

Vanilla is my favorite, but … I was told that was so Minnesotan. I love the homemade stuff with the rock salt and the — no Mikayla [Hall, deputy communications director], I’m not going to be pretentious and say “vanilla bean.”

You know, there is nothing like it. On a Fourth of July day, when it’s hot, there’s nothing like good, homemade vanilla ice cream. [Communications Director Becky Alery’s] rolling her eyes at me. That’s like the rest of my family. They’d all tell you chocolate.

Q. If you had to choose one place to live (outside of the United States) for the rest of your life, where would you go? A. [Laughs.] Well, I’d probably go to Canada [continues laughing]. Look, I’m not built for the heat, as they will tell you around here. I like it cool and dry.

I just came back from Asia. I will describe it as we were in the mouth of a dog for a week.

Q. Do you have a favorite book or author? A. Well, nowadays we don’t get to read fun stuff. Well, I shouldn’t say that. I just read a biography on Benjamin Franklin which was interesting. I think from years past, when it was more casual-type stuff, I loved, when I was younger, “The Once and Future King” by T.H. White. When I did more casual reading stuff it was probably [John] Grisham stuff. And every children’s book I ever read to the kids. “That’s Not My Dingo” is one of my favorites. [Laughing.]

Q. Do you have a favorite pastime? A. Anything with the family. … Personally, I love to get on the rink, especially with the kids. Love to fish, love to hunt, just about anything with the kids.