WI recall: Former county GOP leader to challenge Shilling as Democrat

[elocs]

http://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/article_b71cf9c8-918c-11e0-86ef-001cc4c002e0.html

Republicans have found a spoiler candidate to challenge Rep. Jennifer Shilling in this summer's recall election, which would force a Democratic primary and extend the campaign by nearly a month.

James Smith, until recently a member of the La Crosse County GOP's executive committee, says he is running as a protest candidate.
Smith, a regular fixture at local labor protests this spring where he held signs touting his support for Gov. Scott Walker, said he resigned his party leadership position Monday before announcing his candidacy. He said he does not plan on campaigning aggressively but wants to protest the recall process.

"I want to bring light on the issue that 22,000 signatures can pretty much overturn an election where even the loser got 40,000 votes," he said Tuesday.

Let the games begin. Let's face it, Republicans are pretty much going to vote for the Republican regardless, but their dirty tricks in trying this stunt may backfire on them by turning off some independents that might have voted Republican and by further motivating Democrats.

In all of these recalls, and especially the one against Walker, Democrats need to be on their toes and to think at least several move ahead. This is not going to be a cake walk.

[CatholicEdHead]

1. They are persistant, aren't they

And very shameless. Naked shows of power usually fall flat on their face.

[dembotoz]

2. may i suggest a big new conference where the "former Republican"

is asked to publicly renounce his sinful ways

If he refuses--tie him to the repubs and scream fraud fraud fraud

[bobthedrummer]

3. He is running as a Democrat -K&R n/t

[Jackpine Radical]

4. A couple of thoughts here.

What the Republicans gain by this is time--time for their gigabuck campaigns to work on the voters. They are counting on Citizens United to bail them out.

However, there are two ways this can backfire. First, as you noted, it could turn off a lot of relatively low-information independent voters. Rather surprisingly the local media do seem to be publishing the background information on the spoilers, so people should have some idea of what's going on.

Second, as you (I think it was you) pointed out in the past, they have the air game, but we have the ground game, and the ground game wins when you play it fully. As a sort of sidelight and confirmation of that, one of our local activists pointed out that Kloppenburg carried the districts where heavy recall work had been done.

I'm not in a contested district, but our local Dems went out in busloads on the weekends to collect sigs for the Harsdorf & Kapanke recalls, and our people are right now getting organized for phone banking and street canvassing in our neighboring districts. Our county chair is fantastic at coordinating these things.

[elocs]

5. There are likely lots of those who previously voted for Kapanke who are public employees

or union members and I'm sure that many of them are less than happy about what has been going on here in WI. In fact, on Fridays Wisconsin Public Radio has a morning call in show where they have two guests, one representing the Democratic point of view and the other the Republican side. Last Friday one of the final questions to them both was concerning Walker's move to end collective bargaining rights for public employees. You can imagine what the Democrat said, but when it came to the Republican it was interesting because he was a decades long public employee as well as having run for Congress as a Democrat. On the question of ending collective bargaining the Republican agreed totally with the Democrat.

That is what Walker and his minions didn't count on when they moved against organized labor here in Wisconsin: there are public employees who are Republicans as well as those who are independents that usually vote for Republicans and they are not happy with this at all. The Walker regime and his Republican cohorts have overplayed their hand this time although it will take some hard work to bring them down.

[EC]

6. I'm guessing this is why they've got ex-sheriff

Fred Ekornaas here in Kenosha to run against Wirch, if the petitions on him are approved. Ole Fred is a former Democrat, who said he left the party because of the ta-do in Madison this winter...he said he was embarrassed and angered. I'm sensing he was angry he didn't get elected again last time as a Democrat, so this time he's running as a repub. They (the repubs) recruited him and are backing him.

[mysuzuki2]

7. Have they somehow forgotten that their pal Walker

essentially got where he is today due to a recall process? If the Milwaukee Co. executive had not been recalled, he would not have been elected to that job. Without the exposure being county executive brought him he would never been elected governor.

[Evasporque]

8. Illegal....

Wait for it...WI election statues expressly forbid this spoiler activity.

A United Wisconsin to recall Scott Walker Running spoiler candidates is illegal per section 12.05 of the Wisconsin Election Practices - "False representations affecting elections. No person may knowingly make or publish, or cause to be made or published, a false representation pertaining to a candidate or referendum..."

[elocs]

9. A comment yesterday about this on JSOnline:

http://www.jsonline.mobi/123354958.htm?page=33

ccshopping
Jun 07, 2011 2:27 PM
"Wisconsin laws. "2011 Wisconsin Code
Chapter 12. Prohibited election practices.
12.05 False representations affecting elections.
Share|
12.05
12.05 False representations affecting elections. No person may
knowingly make or publish, or cause to be made or published, a false
representation pertaining to a candidate or referendum which is
intended or tends to affect voting at an election."

One word, Gableman. The law has no teeth if the courts will not uphold them.

That's a good point. The Republicans pretty well control the courts as well when they control the Supreme Court here.