On the same day that the campaign of Gov. Scott Walker said it, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin Monday released its first TV ad directed at the Republican governor.
In the ad, which was scheduled to begin airing Monday night, Democrats compare the current John Doe investigation into Walker's aides with the Watergate scandal of the 1970s that resulted in the resignation of President Richard Nixon.
The 30-second spot intermingles segments of newscasts from today with those from the Watergate era, including a couple with legendary newscaster Walter Cronkite.
The ad ends with a scene from a 1973 Congressional hearing into Watergate in which former U.S. Sen. Howard Baker asks: "What did the president first know and when did he first know it?"
That's then followed by MSNBC's Ed Schultz asking: "What did Scott Walker know and when did he know it?"
The ad centers on the John Doe investigation that has already resulted in charges against six of Walker's top aides. The probe by the Milwaukee County district attorney’s office is reportedly focusing on whether staffers who worked for Walker did political work with taxpayer money. Walker previously served as Milwaukee County executive.
"Our thirty-second television spot notes the similarities between the Watergate scandal that resulted in Richard Nixon resigning in disgrace, and the vast criminal network being uncovered by the ongoing John Doe criminal corruption probe," Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chairman Mike Tate said in a statement Monday.
"This ad will run in multiple markets across Wisconsin and will represent a rolling-buy supported by the small-dollar donations that have sustained our effort — in stark contrast to the sleazy piles of corporate cash on which Walker relies and, ironically, which highlight our belief that at the core of our 'Walkergate' scandal is the idea that rules need not apply," Tate added.
In an e-mail to the HuffingtonPost, Tom Evenson, a spokesman for the Friends of Scott Walker Campaign, said:
"The Democrat Party and the big-government union bosses funding them are using lies and distortions in their negative attack ad to discredit Governor Walker in an attempt to take Wisconsin back to the failed days of billion-dollar budget deficits, double-digit tax increases, and record job loss. The truth is, Governor Walker immediately addressed any issues of misconduct when brought to his attention. The character assassination being conducted by Madison Democrats and big-government union bosses in this ad, shows they are grasping at straws to deflect from the fact that Governor Walker’s reforms have laid the foundation for a more successful Wisconsin."
LOL trying to imply unionized employees are hard working? Might be so for the private sector, but definitely NOT in the public sector. There are definitely some hard working public sector union employees, but a good majority fall prey to the lazy low quality work ethic promoted by their union peers.
What we have in Wisconsin is a process whereby union public employees have abused their political power and formed organizations that use that power to forcibly extract pay and compensation from taxpayers in excess of what is just and right. The results of this has been businesses leaving the State, businesses closing, mass unemployment in the private sector, foreclosures, bankrupticies, abandoned houses, homelesness, and a general decay of the Cities. What have you got against the concept of shared sacrifice? Why won't the public employees allow the Community to pay them what it can reasonably afford, instead of throwing their neighbors out of their homes and forcing their businesses into unprofitability? Why do you hate those in the private sector who make the existence of the State posible? How do you plan to fund the State after you've cooked the Goose that laid the golden egg?
http://mountpleasant.patch.com/blog_posts/hoffas-retro-cinema-club-dreamchild-1985#video-9206916
"BOSTON (AP) — A new study says federal budget cuts could cost Massachusetts more than 50,000 jobs in the next decade, many in key sectors including defense, technology and health care. The study by the Donahue Institute at the University of Massachusetts says the losses would “strike at the very heart” of the state’s innovation economy. Automatic across-the-board cuts are scheduled to start in 2013 unless Congress agrees to a better deal to lower the national debt. The cuts would reduce federal spending by $1.2 trillion over 10 years by slashing the defense budget and support for programs, including Medicare." http://www.wggb.com/2012/02/28/federal-cuts-to-cost-state-50-thousand-jobs-umass-study-says/ Meanwhile: "Eastman Kodak, the troubled camera maker that recently filed for bankruptcy, is considering a move that will cut health benefits for some 16,000 retirees." Read more: http://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/2012/02/28/kodak-seeking-to-cut-benefits-for-16k-retirees/#ixzz1nikBb0jo
Hope the financial death they die is quick and painless, as they lose their jobs, cars, houses, and lives. NOTHING LIKE A COMPASSIONATE LIBERAL DEMOCRAT: "The equivalent of 64 full-time positions in Plainfield School District 202 will be cut in an effort to eliminate a projected $3.2 million deficit in 2012-13 budget. In a unanimous vote, the school board on Monday approved the layoffs, which will save an estimated $3.9 million. But state aid continues to be unpredictable and volatile, and the district may soon be on the hook for several million more in transportation and teacher pension costs that were once the state’s responsibility, district officials said." http://plainfield.patch.com/articles/district-202-to-cut-64-positions
"Beaumont School District Seeks to Cut 41.9 Teaching + Counseling Positions 'As a consequence of reduced revenues to the District, the District will have to reduce particular kinds of service for the 2012-2013 school year,' Lisa Norman, assistant superintendent for Personnel Services, says in a district staff report." http://banning-beaumont.patch.com/articles/beaumont-school-district-seeks-to-reduce-eliminate-41-9-teacher-positions Where's Governor Jerry "Moonbeam" Brown (D) when you need him?
Now if you break this video down, here's why I like it: it does a great job of immediately grabbing attention and framing the argument by asking, "How could you not know this was happening?" The comparative bits with Nixon are compelling, wrenching baby boomers (the target group) back to the era in which Watergate occurred. Seeing this footage accesses memories of the time, momentarily disconnected with the experiential baggage of the present, and promotes receptivity to the presented comparisons. Walter Cronkite was the most trusted news anchor on TV; when he reported news he was believed. It's well crafted, particular in the final frame where both panels are all about Scott Walker. On a personal note, I also appreciate the statement at the end that states, "Not authorized by any candidate or any candidate's agent or committee." Citizens United is a bad idea.
I'm waiting to hear what else transpires from the investigation.
MEANWHILE---while you chat of other states, Wisconsinites have awoken and do NOT trust Walker. His polls are going DOWN! regardless of the 12 Million dollars he saturated the airways with the last 6 months!! Jim Witkins @jimwitkins true RT @WeRWisconsin: Statement on PPP poll: "No amount of money can buy back voters' trust." bit.ly/Adu49h #wiunion #RecallWalker Also: http://www.politiscoop.com/us-politics/wisconsin-politics/766-scott-walker-in-a-political-free-fall.html Scott Walker in a Political Free-Fall Tuesday, 28 February 2012 14:36 Paul I. Tascoupe Wisconsin Politics Walker In Free FallScott Walker in a Political Free-Fall Madison – Gov. Scott Walker’s window of opportunity to change the public’s perception of how well he is doing his job has slammed shut. In recent months, Gov. Walker’s campaign and Koch funded friends have saturated Wisconsin television airwaves with commentary attempting to mask the destructiveness of his draconian polices. With six straight months of job loss in the Badger State, Wisconsinites are more apt to believe what they are experiencing and observing in their communities rather than what they are seeing on television. When you couple steady job losses with massive cuts to BadgerCare and education and when you consider a recent report indicating the state’s budget is still not balanced, citizens increasingly agree that a new governor is in order.
For the more thoughtful, a deeper analysis is required; passing over the campaign rhetoric and weighing the facts of what is truly the best for the state. So much of this battle is not about the governor but a distinct difference in world views.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2012/election_2012_governor_elections/wisconsin/54_in_wisconsin_oppose_recall_of_gop_governor_walker
Just another attack on women! tick-tock scooter time is running out!
The one thing I hear most is "What the H is going on in Wis? Has your govoner lost his mind?"
ah yes--the Faux -Vicki-Sykes et all preferred non-accurate biased poll!! ha ha! As I recall the PPP did very accurate polling for the summer 2011 Senate recalls!! ................ Eric 10:20 am on Wednesday, February 29, 2012 To bad for you Mormonist that Rasmussens poll out today contradicts the lefty PPP poll that had you all happy yesterday. ....
"To Pay New York Pension Fund, Cities Borrow From It First" You can't make that up. Unbelieveable. ALBANY — When New York State officials agreed to allow local governments to use an unusual borrowing plan to put off a portion of their pension obligations, fiscal watchdogs scoffed at the arrangement, calling it irresponsible and unwise. And now, their fears are being realized: cities throughout the state, wealthy towns such as Southampton and East Hampton, counties like Nassau and Suffolk, and other public employers like the Westchester Medical Center and the New York Public Library are all managing their rising pension bills by borrowing from the very same $140 billion pension fund to which they owe money. Across New York, state and local governments are borrowing $750 million this year to finance their contributions to the state pension system, and are likely to borrow at least $1 billion more over the next year. The number of municipalities and public institutions using this new borrowing mechanism to pay off their annual pension bills has tripled in a year. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/28/nyregion/to-pay-new-york-pension-fund-cities-borrow-from-it-first.html?_r=1 That's called GAME OVER, Folks.