United Citizens and Wisconsin
by Run 75441
United Citizens and Wisconsin
Heading into the Tuesday vote Mayor Barrett with ~$4million in election funds of which 26% is drawn from out of state sources faces off with the under siege Governor Walker having ~$30 million in funds with 2/3rds coming from out of state sources. Again the Koch Bros are kicking in with a sizeable contribution of $1 million as well as the multi-billionaire owner of the Sands, Sheldon Adelson, with another sizeable sum ($1 million?). The unions and citizens of Wisconsin are hard pressed to support Barrett in a similar fashion. So much for payroll wages versus corporate profits. Tuesday election may be a bellwether for the Democrats and the November elections as the 99-percenters and labor take on corporate interests and the “1-percenters’ who are both investing heavily in Walker intending to sway the state into the Red column.
Tuesday’s recall election of Republican Gov. Scott Walker is the most expensive in Wisconsin history. More than $63.5 million has been spent by candidates and independent groups, the overwhelming majority underwritten by out-of-state sources.
The record spending total was made possible thanks to the Citizens United U.S. Supreme Court decision — which had the effect of invalidating Wisconsin’s century-old ban on independent expenditures by corporations and unions — and a state law that allows unlimited contributions to the incumbent in recall elections.” Election a national referendum on public sector unions
Having amassed a sizeable war chest directly resulting from United Citizen’s opening the donation flood gates for corporate interests and a state law allowing recalled Governor Walker unlimited contributions, Walker has a slight lead and is favored to win. While this may end the recall efforts by angered unions and others, Walker’s troubles may not be over as he faces indictment over fundraising efforts by aides and his choice for Lieutenant Governor Brett Davis. There is quite a bit of speculation how this will all play out and it is not the first time the former Milwaukee County Executive has found himself in trouble for questionable activities.
Kelly Rindfleisch said she was hired to campaign illegally for Scott Walker on taxpayer time,’ Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Mike Tate said Tuesday. “With his admission that Rindfleisch was hired to do what ‘she was expected to do,’ has Scott Walker now implicated himself in the criminal conspiracy that was central to his rise to political power?
Is Scott Walker Facing Indictment And Does It Really Matter To Walker’s Wisconsin Supporters? Forbes
John Doe Judge Grants Immunity to Walker’s Former Spokeswoman WUWM Public Radio
Looks to me that due to Wisconsin state law Mayor Barrett should thank his lucky stars for Citizens United.
Money is the mother’s milk of politics, but Walker has gotten very little return on his millions. Barrett has not done much better. We have endured non stop negative ads–most of it deceptive if not outright false–and nobody’s mind has been changed. There was virtually no undecided to be persuaded and it will come down to who can get the greater percentage of the base voters to the polls. Dane County–the most liberal in the state will likely have close to 90% of the eleigible voters casting ballots. That will be met by similar percentages in Waukesha and Ozuakee Counties the two most conservative counties in the state. If Barrett can not get a 70% or better turnout in Milwaukee County, he has no chance. If he does get that turnout, then the race will turn on who shows up to vote in the Fox Valley and western Wisconsin. The Fox Valley is pinkish and western Wisconsin is pale blue. Again, the massive amounts of money spent on negative political ads will have virtually no effect on the outcome.
I thought I heard that as governor in a recall the law had no restrictions on fund raising?
That is correct during a window of time until the date of the recall election is set or something like that. In any event Scott Walker raised around $30 million before he had to follow any rules on fundraising.
Terry:
You live there? I lived in Mad-City for 12 years when Soglin was mayor on the West side off Gammon Road.We bought Dreyfus daughter’s home on Farmingto Way. Ialso ran the Madison 56ers when it won adult national championship as a director. Loved its politics and it was sanctuary.
I suspect Barrett will do well in Madison and almost as well in Milwaukee. Milwaukee is fed up with Walker for having to employ two sets of security guards and more recent antics. It almost sounds like Chicago politics except they never get caught. Walker makes former Governor Tommy Thompson look like a saint.
Little John:
Wisconsin was never that monetarily political.When I lived there, 5.5 million people inhabited it and it was said that Madison was 100 square miles of dreamland surrounded by reality by then Governor Dreyfus. If United was not passed, it would still be a fight as people are pissed. Read Terry below.
Yep!
All true stuff. I have been a Wisconsin resident for all but 3 of my sixty years and have spent most of that in either northeastern Wisconsin or the Milwaukee area. Barrett needs to get turnout from the African American community in Milwaukee to have a chance. He will get an incredible edge in Dane County and some edge in Milwaukee County but the question is whether it will be big enough to overcome the huge margins Walker will rack up in Waukesha and Ozaukee counties.Walker will likely carry 60 of the 72 counties in the state, but a lot of them like the counties of the Fox Valley will be relatively close. Not so in Waukesha and Ozaukee and while I am confidant that Dane county will come through for Barrett, I am less sure about Milwaukee county