FollowUp 33: Wisconsin Republican Dirty Tricks

While most of the attention in Wisconsin continues to be on the gubernatorial recall election, coming up on Tuesday 5 June, there is a lot more happening on the ground.  Here is an example of a state senate ad and a news story on the issue.  I will then offer a few thoughts as to why this is really horribly misleading.



Originally, there was an ad on this topic that was mailed out. It was discussed on Channel 4.

"Lehman voted for felons. Putting our communities in danger, John Lehman voted for early inmate release."

That was the beginning text in the video version of the ad, sent out by the Wisconsin Recall Action Fund on their Stop the Recall YouTube Channel.  The words are certainly provocative.  The inmate release was, according to the ad, part of the 2009 Assembly Bill 75.  If you follow that link, the first thing that you are likely to notice is that the pdf is over seventeen hundred pages long.  This is the 2009 state budget, not a simple and isolated bill.  The part regarding early release for inmates is fairly early in the document, beginning on page 13 and running for four solid pages of text. 

Early inmate release is limited to those inmates who gain approval of a parole board and, depending upon the class of felony, sets conditions for rehabilitation programs, supervision, electronic monitoring and tracking, appeals and hearings.  Those who committed violent crimes and crimes against children, those who would most put communities in danger, are not eligible for early release.

On its face, the ad is horribly misleading.  But the scare tactic being used is based on a flawed premise, that early release of inmates endangers communities.  If you speak with a prison warden, she or he will tell you that they are opposed to fixed sentences without parole.  Having a parole possibility gives the guards a tool, an incentive for good behavior within the prison.  That incentive helps inmates through their rehabilitation programs, making the prisons safer, lowering recidivism, and allowing for safer communities after inmates are released.

The truth is diametrically opposed to the conclusion of the ad.  Mr. Lehman's vote made Wisconsin communities safer.

This local ad in SouthEast Wisconsin counts as dirty tricks in my book.  It is pulling legislative provisions out of context, presenting scare tactics without real basis, and telling implicit lies as to the goals of a candidate.  Will it scare voters enough to vote against Mr. Lehman?  Perhaps.  The Recall for Governor is tightening, though still looking like it is in Governor Walker's favor.  Gathering millions of signatures was not enough.  If Wisconsin is to move beyond the Walker lies and destruction of unions and women's rights, then the Democrats and Independents who have had enough of Mr. Walker and Mr. Wanggaard need to cast their ballots on Tuesday.  The election will come down to who turns out the votes.

16 November 2011, Original Pedantic Political Ponderings post.
30 November 2011, FollowUp 1.
4 December 2011, FollowUp 2.
11 December 2011, FollowUp 3.
14 December 2011, FollowUp 4.
15 December 2011, FollowUp 5.
30 December 2011, FollowUp 6.
13 January 2012, FollowUp 7.
17 January 2012, FollowUp 8.
25 January 2012, FollowUp 9.
2 February 2012, FollowUp 10.
9 February 2012, FollowUp 11.
12 February 2012, FollowUp 12.
18 February 2012, FollowUp 13.
22 February 2012, FollowUp 14.
6 March 2012, FollowUp 15.
12 March 2012, FollowUp 16.
16 March 2012, FollowUp 17.
30 March 2012, FollowUp 18.
31 March 2012, FollowUp 19.
3 April 2012, FollowUp 20.
4 April 2012, FollowUp 21.
11 April 2012, FollowUp 22.
14 April 2012, FollowUp 23.
17 April 2012, FollowUp 24.
21 April 2012, FollowUp 25.
29 April 2012, FollowUp 26.
2 May 2012, FollowUp 27.
6 May 2012, FollowUp 28.
10 May 2012, FollowUp 29.
13 May 2012, FollowUp 30.
23 May 2012, FollowUp 31.
24 May 2012, FollowUp 32.

2 June 2012, FollowUp 34.
4 June 2012, FollowUp 35.
5 June 2012, FollowUp 36.

FollowUp 23: Wisconsin Republican Dirty Tricks

graphic from Dane101.com

And the Republicans in Wisconsin are running fake (zombie?) candidates to forces primary elections again.  Here is the current ballot information for the 8 May 2012 Recall Primary.

In the 13th State Senate District, Democratic Party member Lori Compas of Fort Atkinson is making her first run for office.  Ms. Compas organized the recall of Scott Fitzgerald, who she now hopes to replace on 5 June.  She is running in the 8 May primary against Gary Ellerman, a supporter of Governor Walker and of Senator Fitzgerald who bills himself as a protest candidate; a fake Democrat.

In the 21st State Senate District, Democratic Party member and former State Senator John Lehman of Racine is running to replace Van Wanggaard, who replaced him in 2011.  He is running in the 8 May primary against Tamra Varebrook, another protest candidate; a fake Democrat.

In the 23rd State Senate District, Democratic Party member and former Assembly Member Kristen Dexter of Eau Claire is running to replace Terry Moulton.  She is running in the 8 May primary against James Engel, the president of the Wisconsin Ski Industry Associations, another protest candidate; a fake Democrat.

In the 29th State Senate District, Democratic Party member, former police officer, and current Assembly Member Donna Seidel of Wausau is running to replace Pam Galloway (who recently resigned rather than face a recall election to take care of family matters).  She is running in the 8 May primary against James Buckley, another protest candidate; a fake Democrat.

Working now toward the top of the ticket, the position of Lieutenant Governor, currently Rebecca Kleefisch, has three contenders in the 8 May primary.  The solid member of the Democratic Party is Mahlon Mitchell of Fitchburg (a small city just outside of Madison).  Mr. Mitchell is the President of the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin and was frequently on television to offer a union perspective regarding the Republican push to end collective bargaining.  His first challenger for the Democratic slot in June is a largely unknown private investigator from Milwaukee, Ira Robins.  The second challenger is Isaac Weix, another protest candidate; a fake Democrat.

The highest office in Wisconsin is up to seven contenders, five in the Democratic Primary and two in the Republican Primary.  The pattern continues, sort of.

Tom Barrett and Kathleen Falk are the top contenders on the Democratic side.  Mayor Barrett. of Milwaukee, has had some awkward stands that have upset some union members, but is the most liked in polling.  Former County Executive Falk is preferred by unions, but many consider her to be too shrill (I know that this sounds like I am being sexist, but the language used privately against Ms. Falk is far worse and often comes back to the pitch of her voice).  Current Democratic Secretary of State, Doug LaFollette (whose name may sound familiar to those outside of Wisconsin because of Fighting Bob LaFollette of a century ago; Fighting Bob was Doug LaFollette's great-great-uncle), is considered to be a long shot but is still possible.  Democratic State Senator Kathleen Vinehout is on the ballot.  Gladys Huber is the gubernatorial protest candidate, another fake Democrat.

Scott Walker is defending his seat as Governor of Wisconsin.  But, he has an almost fake primary candidate in Arthur Kohl-Riggs, a pizza server who describes himself as a "progressive Republican" (an oxymoron these days) and says that he is not a fake Republican.

So the big question is Is this legal?  By Wisconsin Statutes, perhaps not.

(3) Prohibited acts. No person may:

(a) Falsify any information in respect to or fraudulently deface or destroy a certificate of nomination, nomination paper, declaration of candidacy or petition for an election, including a recall petition or petition for a referendum; or file or receive for filing a certificate of nomination, nomination paper, declaration of candidacy or any such petition, knowing any part is falsely made.

Declaring one is of a party that one knows is not so would be such a falsification.  On the other hand, this might be hard to prove.  An article on Dane101 has an extended discussion of the legality or lack thereof.  Democrats have asked that the "Zombie Candidates" be kept off the primary ballots.  That didn't work last year.

16 November 2011, Original Pedantic Political Ponderings post.
30 November 2011, FollowUp 1.
4 December 2011, FollowUp 2.
11 December 2011, FollowUp 3.
14 December 2011, FollowUp 4.
15 December 2011, FollowUp 5.
30 December 2011, FollowUp 6.
13 January 2012, FollowUp 7.
17 January 2012, FollowUp 8.
25 January 2012, FollowUp 9.
2 February 2012, FollowUp 10.
9 February 2012, FollowUp 11.
12 February 2012, FollowUp 12.
18 February 2012, FollowUp 13.
22 February 2012, FollowUp 14.
6 March 2012, FollowUp 15.
12 March 2012, FollowUp 16.
16 March 2012, FollowUp 17.
30 March 2012, FollowUp 18.
31 March 2012, FollowUp 19.
3 April 2012, FollowUp 20.
4 April 2012, FollowUp 21.
11 April 2012, FollowUp 22.

17 April 2012, FollowUp 24.
21 April 2012, FollowUp 25.
29 April 2012, FollowUp 26.
2 May 2012, FollowUp 27.
6 May 2012, FollowUp 28.
10 May 2012, FollowUp 29.
13 May 2012, FollowUp 30.
23 May 2012, FollowUp 31.
24 May 2012, FollowUp 32.
30 May 2012, FollowUp 33.
2 June 2012, FollowUp 34.
4 June 2012, FollowUp 35.
5 June 2012, FollowUp 36.