As pointed out by Chris Bowers this morning, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel was forwarded letters from local Wisconsin GOP parties encouraging their membership to support the runs of fake Democratic candidates in the upcoming recall elections against State Sen. Randy Hopper and State Sen. Luther Olson.
When interviewed, Dan Feyen, chairman of the 6th Congressional District Republican Party called these candidates "protest candidates" as if that made it so much less sleazy. But now, the head of the Wisconsin Republican Party has owned up to the scheme. An article this afternoon in the MJ-S notes that Stephan Thompson, the executive director of the Wisconsin Republican Party, has
"issued a statement justifying the practice because Republican senators have been too busy in Madison to prepare for the recall elections.
'The Republican Party of Wisconsin has advocated that protest candidates run in Democratic primaries to ensure that Republican legislators have ample time to communicate with voters throughout their districts after the state budget is approved,' Thompson said in his statement."
The MJ-S also helpfully notes that just last year, Thompson's predecessor, Mark Jefferson,
"complained that Democrats and the unions ran a fake Republican in the re-election contest for state Rep. Bob Ziegelbauer, an Independent from Manitowoc. Jefferson called it a 'nasty, cynical ploy.'"
However, Thompson thinks that the "fake candidate" scheme is now a great idea, since it is intended to benefit Republicans in this case. He complains about the lack of time the Republican recall candidates have to campaign and teach folks "about the differences between the candidates and about the Republican plan to control government spending and boost economic growth vs. the Democrat alternative of job-killing tax hikes."
Thompson then proceeds to insult the Democrats, belittle the anger of the Wisconsin people, and disparage the democratic process of recall elections outlined in our state constitution - all at the same time!
"The upcoming recall elections are unprecedented not only in Wisconsin, but in our nation's history. Unlike the Democratic Senators who deserted their constituents for a trip to Illinois, six Republican state Senators face recall not for misconduct, but for doing the job they were elected to do: taking a stance on a tough issue that came before the legislature.
Now, these Republican senators are again busy doing their jobs crafting a fiscally responsible state budget that promotes economic growth, which puts them at a distinct disadvantage with many of their challengers who have had sufficient time to campaign. Because of this disadvantage, and the outrageous nature of elected officials facing recall for standing up for a balanced budget, the Republican Party of Wisconsin has advocated that protest candidates run in Democratic primaries to ensure that Republican legislators have ample time to communicate with voters throughout their districts after the state budget is approved."
Sadly, Mr. Thompson has obviously forgotten that the people of Wisconsin know exactly where the Republicans stand. All of the Republican Senators facing recall elections voted for Governor Walker's union busting, public education gutting, social services destroying "budget repair bill." That tells us all we need to know about those Republican Senators' positions.
