Some supporters of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker are unable to control their frustration and have resorted to threatening recall petition circulators. Details on that below, but first a follow up from last week.
A local television station reported previously that officials of Edgewood College in Madison were aware of a felony act of destroying signed petitions committed in one of their buildings by one of their students, but failed to report it to local police. Tonight, that station aired a story indicating that the students who witnessed the crime, and perhaps an Edgewood College official, reported the incident to police on Monday. The Madison police department is now investigating. It's clear that if the Channel 27 reporter hadn't asked about it, Edgewood College officials would have kept their mouths shut.
The alleged perpetrator, who has not responded to inquiries from the media, apparently bragged about his crime by tweeting a message directed to Governor Walker shortly after he destroyed a petition: “Today I ripped up a petition form to recall you.”
From WKOW TV in Madison:
27 News first reported on the alleged elections crime Wednesday and the failure of campus officials to notify police. DeSpain says an Edgewood College official contacted him Monday about the incident.
A spokesperson for Gov. Walker has yet to explain what actions were taken as a result of the tweet from the student's account to the governor.
Kansas Governor Sam Brownback recently apologized for his staff's response to a high school student's tweet about a Brownback school appearance.
27 News also reported that the alleged ripper tweeted that his "punishment" from the school was to write a letter of apology, though it's not clear to whom the letter is to be addressed. To the students who were circulating the petition? To the citizens of Wisconsin? Perhaps he should apologize to the families of those who have died defending our democracy. Unfortunately, the lack of enthusiasm to prosecute this treasonous bastard will likely embolden others.
Before this gets too depressing, may I suggest you listen to Chubby Checker while you read the rest of this diary.
"Let's Twist Recall Again...Like We Did Last Summer!"
In another case of destroying signed petitions that happened on the streets of Madison on November 15th, circulators provided a license plate number and a description of the criminal's vehicle to the police. A little internet sleuthing reveals the likely identity of the man, but so far nobody faces any charges in that case.
In Platteville, an activist working on the recall asks for help:
We need people to help canvass for recall signatures. We need folks to double and triple up for the sake of safety. You don't even actually need to collect signatures, just walk around with the canvassers and have a cell phone ready to call 911. Video camera's and large flashlights would be very good as well. I already had one near-violent encounter in broad daylight here today.
Grant county is very blue, but there is a small but very determined group of tea-party tools & fools looking to illegally disrupt the democratic process.
Another activist from northern Wisconsin let her facebook friends know recently that she has faced similar intimidation attempts in her town, but she has not given up.
As I drove home from work tonight, the local progressive radio station asked people to call in and share their recall stories. One man called to say that he set up a table over the weekend outside the town hall in the rural area where he lives. He arranged everything in advance to be sure he could be there, but that didn't stop a few local thugs from spreading rumors that they planned to chase him out - with shotguns if necessary. When a few of them showed up (sans guns, I believe) and harassed him, he called the county sheriff's office. Deputies arrived and explained to the thugs that the circulator had a legal right to stay and collect signatures. The circulator gathered over 50 signatures that day and reported that most people were very polite.
Republicans in Reedsburg complained that a circulator was allowed to set up a table inside the city hall. It's a public space, so there really is no question about the legality of gathering recall signatures there, but that didn't stop the bellyaching from the right wing. Local officials offered the Republicans equal access, but the Republicans have not shown up since, responding with what might be the funniest quote from the recall so far:
"The government offices are where citizens can come and talk to their government and receive basic government services," (Sauk County Republican Chairman) McCumber said. "It should not be a place where political propoganda can be disseminated -- whether it is our message or anybody elses."
There is so much to mock in that statement, from the Republicans championing the rights of citizens to access government services (that's new for them) to their admission that they engage in disseminating propaganda, but instead, let me say I hope you enjoyed the music from Chubby Checker. I shook his hand in 1975 in Reedsburg when he played there as part of their annual Butterfest celebration. Only in Wisconsin.
Can't get enough Wisconsin-y goodness? Check out noise of rain's diary detailing the flip side of the recall madness. Republicans try everything to keep their ship of fraud afloat, but fail.