Yes indeed it is campaign season, and yes, politics can get ugly, and that is just what some state Republican candidates did on Monday, when President Obama visited Milwaukee. Their campaign tactics were ugly. First up, Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Neumann visited City Hall in the morning, delivering one of his books, requesting that Mayor Barrett deliver to President Obama. A campaign book that he wrote that includes criticism on the president’s policies, and criticizing the train funding.
Next, there was State Republican Chair Reince Priebus who held a teleconference with reporters on regarding the President’s visit. Then, the worst of the ugly tactics came from the Scott Walker camp. His campaign began even before President Obama’s plane even touched the ground, stating that the Barrett campaign was desparate by having the President come to town in the first place. Mayor Barrett handled the criticism with class, stating that any visit from a president is an honor for any reason. Who called Walker desparate when national republican figures came to town to fundraise for him?
Then, Walker decides to release his campaign against the high speed rail system on the day of the Presidential visit as well. Yes, that’s smart. Let’s campaign to reject federal money that has already been comitted to Wisconsin at the same time that we are fighting to get FEMA dollars for flood diaster victims!
Then, he stands in front of the Hoan Bridge with falling debris to say that funds for high speed rail should go for such projects. Does he think that voters are that stupid? What about the numerous COUNTY structures that have been crumbling during the 8 years that he’s been running for governor! Or how about holding a press conference in front of the many COUNTY owned medians that haven’t been mowed in weeks. Here’s a good photo for Walker, how about inner city children standing in front of pieces of concrete with sprinkles of water coming out instead of swiming pools that were taken out of their parks?
And lastly, Jill Bader a spokeswoman for the Walker campaign posted to Twitter a video that was meant to mock the ongoing high-speed rail plans of this administration. The video shows predominately African Americans dancing down a ‘soul train’ line, refferring to it as President Obama’s response to Walker’s anti-rail campaign. The Wisconsin Democratic Party called the video and the timing of its release tasteless, saying that the message was full of negative racial overtones. And demanded an apology from the Walker campaign.
The Barrett campaign weighed in on Walker’s antirail rhetoric as well:
“Facts don’t seem to bother Scott Walker as he continues to deliberately deceive the people of Wisconsin about high speed rail dollars. He knows full well that this money cannot be used for any other purpose, yet he still misleads and misinforms. Walker needs to just tell Wisconsin he would rather see these resources sent to Oregon, Florida or Ohio instead of here. That would at least be honest. Unfortunately, he keeps on saying anything to get elected, further proving he’s a guy we can’t trust.”
Walker and the other republican candidates need to first learn the difference in campaign techniques and ugly tactics. Yes, they have the right to campaign, but where is the class, and respect that you automatically give to a sitting President of the United States of America. Their tactics remind me of the shoe that was thrown at President Bush during an international visit. Voters need to let candidates who engage in such tactics know that this behavior is not acceptable.
