Despite titling his political autobiography "Unintimidated," Walker seems to be running scared
As you may have seen earlier this week, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker was linked to a secret e-mail system at the center of a criminal investigation of illegal political activity in his office when he was Milwaukee County Executive in 2010. A trove of 2010 e-mails
released on Wednesday exposed how Walker's county and campaign staffs used a secret router installed in the executive's office to coordinate political strategy, including fundraising—and Walker himself was one of those who communicated with the system.
One of the e-mails described participants as belonging to the "inner circle," specifically saying it was used to communicate with Walker and his chief of staff. The problem for Walker is that using public resources to raise money or campaign for higher office is illegal. The question is to what extent he knew about what was going on.
With Walker up for re-election in 2014 and contemplating a 2016 presidential bid, these aren't idle questions, but according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel editorial board, he's not talking:
Walker needs to talk, but apparently he won't right away: His office said Walker won't be taking media questions Thursday; he's traveling to a National Governors Association event in Washington, D.C., and won't return until Monday.
"The governor doesn't have any media availability," spokesman Tom Evenson said.
That's a mistake, especially as he gears up for his run for governor this year and a possible run for president in 2016. The longer he dodges questions, the more he undercuts his reputation as a straight-shooter. There are questions that need answering that only the governor can answer. The people of Wisconsin deserve those answers.
You can't accuse the
Journal Sentinel of having a vendetta against Walker: They
endorsed him for governor in 2010 and
opposed his recall in 2012. So if they think something smells sour in Walkerland, you can bet it does.
