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The humor-impaired state of Minnesota is in full bloom with this weekend's release of ads for 

, featuring the iconic Paul Bunyan and Babe characters.

Bunyan, who can clear-cut forests and create 10,000 lakes, is quite the klutz, it turns out 

The ad campaign is intended to convince people -- especially the healthy ones -- to sign up for health insurance. But there's one affliction for which there is no coverage: Minnesota's chronic seriousness.

“I think they’re offensive, some of them, and I think they’re inappropriate,” Bemidji Mayor Rita Albrecht tells the 

. “And I would prefer some of them not be used.”

Lori Paris, head of the Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce, calls the campaign "a hit to our community image."

: "Paul has been our icon for so many years that you think of that particular Paul, you think of Bemidji. But now when you see him running into a tree and falling over, it just looks foolish I think.”

Bemidji should take it a "little bit more personally," the mayor said.

NewsCut

Bob Collins

Author

A klutzy Paul Bunyan is selling insurance. Should Bemidji be worked up?

Health plan ads poke fun at Paul Bunyan, but Bemidji can’t take a joke

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