Did Wisconsin GOP target Scott Walker critic with “McCarthyite” tactics?

[TygrBright]

Hint: The answer is a word that has three letters, starting in 'y'.

Did Wisconsin GOP target Scott Walker critic with “McCarthyite” tactics?
By Greg Sargent

I just got off the phone with Professor William Cronon of the University of Wisconsin, a harsh critic of Scott Walker and other Wisconsin Republicans. He’s accusing the Wisconsin GOP of retaliating against his criticism with what he calls “McCarthyite” tactics.

This could be an important story, so bear with me. Earlier this week, Cronon published an Op ed piece in The New York Times that contained a scathing attack on Walker and the Wisconsin GOP, alleging that their anti-union proposal represents a radical break from Wisconsin history. Cronon also posted a blog entry that alleged that a little-known conservative outfit called the American Legislative Exchange Council, which tries to engineer right-wing policies in state legislatures, is behind the Wisconsin anti-union push.

Shortly thereafter, Cronon says, the University of Wisconsin’s attorneys received a request from the Wisconsin GOP, under the state open records law, for copies of a huge amount of Cronon’s emails sent from his state account at the university. That request is posted right here. Tellingly, the Wisconsin GOP asked for Cronon-authored emails that contain a range of union-related keywords, such as “AFSCME,” “collective bargaining,” “recall,” etc.

It’s a remarkable request, as TPM notes. The Wisconsin GOP is apparently using the state’s open records law to request the private emails of a university professor who criticized Walker and Republicans.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/the-wisconsin-gops-mccarthyite-targeting-of-a-scott-walker-critic/2011/03/03/AFJSGyVB_blog.html">continued

You know, I really, really wish I could say this was unbelievable. Rather than par for the course.

gloomily,
Bright

[msongs]

1. if he uses his government provided email account, should it not be searchable by FOIA?

Using a government funded and provided email account to conduct personal business - is that protection?

[TygrBright]

3. I don't think "whether" is the issue here.

I think the issue here is "potential for abuse of power, intimidation, and the 'chilling effect'" of a partisan political entity with ties to a government administration using a mechanism like FOIA in these circumstances.

helpfully,
Bright

[Bjorn Against]

4. Not all public employee's communications are subject to FOIA

This professor certainly had many e-mails exchanged with students dealing with their grades and other private information. The Freedom of Information Act was meant to ensure government operates with transparency, it was certainly not the intent of the law to use it against college professors and other educators.

[midnight]

2. Professor Cronon was doing an educational piece to stress

the new educational option being allowed in the educational system per the Wisconsin Legislation... Hopefully the new trend in the Educational system will protect this educator...

[Marnie]

5. Granted it is retaliation.

But other than harassment what is the point. If he is pro union so what as long as his article is correct.

If Walker releases the names of private citizens, who have corresponded with the Prof. could he be liable for breaching their privacy?
As the Prof's ultimate Boss could the Gov be sued for harassment?

There was a somewhat similar situation where the Virginia bagger AG wanted correspondence and papers from a climate change supporting Prof. on the grounds of his receiving public money, so the AG was on a witch hunt to see if any of the funds were misspent.

The university backed the Prof. They took the AG to court and got the witch hunt stifled.

climateprogress.org/.../cuccinelli-mccarthyite-witchhunt-michael-mann/