Take a long, hard look at the endorsement page of Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice David Prosser.
See anything that strikes you as odd?
I did, and that’s the fact that Judge (and former Democratic State Rep.) Pedro Colon, who’s up for reelection this year, endorsed Justice Prosser for reelection. The endorsement of Prosser by Colon is curious, given how hard Colon is promoting his liberal leanings on his Facebook page.
I know Pedro Colon is really really anxious to win election to the Milwaukee County Circuit Court after being appointed to the bench by former Gov. Jim Doyle, especially given Colon’s lackluster record when it comes to advancing his personal ambitions. After all, Colon failed in his bid for Milwaukee Mayor in 2003, he was unsuccessful in his 2008 bid to unseat Milwaukee City Attorney Grant Langley, and he wasn’t hired as the deputy director of legal services for the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) in 2010 after he resigned his appointed position on the MMSD Commission. However, while Pedro Colon’s decision to endorse Justice Prosser may win him some support among the right-wingers in Milwaukee County, I’m willing to bet there’s a lot of folks in the county who will look at Colon’s endorsement with a jaundiced eye, including yours truly.
I had been on the fence as to who I’d support for Milwaukee County’s 18th Circuit Court branch, but given Colon’s willingness to endorse Justice David Prosser, I’ll be supporting Judge Christopher Lipscomb, a jurist who has over 12 years experience as a municipal judge and 19 years experience as a municipal prosecutor dwarfs what precious little judicial or prosecutorial experience Pedro Colon may have garnered during his brief time on the bench. I’ve also spoken with Judge Lipscomb’s campaign and confirmed that he has not made any endorsement in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, nor has he received an endorsement from either of the candidates in that race.
It seems pretty clear to me that the best choice….the right choice on April 5 is to vote to promote Judge Christopher Lipscomb to serve as judge for Milwaukee County’s 18th Circuit Court branch.
EDIT: In a related story that I find tremendously amusing, I’ve been banned from commenting on Pedro Colon’s Facebook page, in addition to having a comment I posted about his endorsement of Justice Prosser removed.
The postcard Lipscomb’s campaign sent out was pretty effective. For example “opponent’s law firm not even listed in the phone book.”
Has anyone confirmed with Colon’s office that he does indeed endorse Prosser?
I just posted to his FB page requesting an answer and including the link.
Colon confirmed he endorsed Prosser in September.
Rep. Zepnick, replying to MPS director Blewett also questioning this endorsement: “we r almost at finish line…Could I ask you to Please delete this?”
Taking a yuck to a double yuck. Thanks for finding this nugget, Zach. This changes my vote.
Yeah, that tells me a lot about Rep. Zepnick.
I also think it’s stunning that someone from Colon’s campaign would ban me from being able to comment on his Facebook page. That says a lot about his ability to tolerate dissenting opinions, and I’m not sure I want someone like that sitting on the bench.
Zach, you have not been banned – we haven’t touched the permissions. You must have “unliked” the page — if you “like” it again you can comment. I don’t know how your comment got deleted, but you are welcome to post what you like.
No, I didn’t “unlike” the page. My comment was deleted, and shortly thereafter I noticed I no longer had the ability to post comments.
Who deleted my comment, Sachin???
A volunteer who shouldn’t have. I apologize again. People make mistakes, Zach, but progressives shouldn’t act like a mistake is indicative of someone’s character.
And furthermore, why was my comment deleted?
I’d love to hear some concrete answers to these questions, seeing as how we shouldn’t be trying to stifle the opinions of fellow Democrats, whether we agree with those opinions or not.
It was deleted by a volunteer, who shouldn’t have done so. I’ve apologized repeatedly and have tried to fix it. Apparently we needed to do something after you re-liked the page, and that should now have been done, so you can post whatever you want, as long as it’s not abusive or obscene. Again, Zach, you have my apologies.
Thanks….I appreciate the clarification!
Hi friends. As you probably know, I’m both Pedro Colon’s campaign manager and a well-known progressive.
Pedro is a tremendous leader and has a clear progressive history. He could not be more proud of his record in the Legislature. But he believes, as I’m sure all of you do as well, that the judiciary should be independent. He asked both conservatives and liberals for support, and because of their common history as former legislators in the judiciary, Prosser endorsed him.
Kloppenburg didn’t get in the race until months later. So Judge Colon courteously reciprocated the endorsement, as they are both on the ballot. Pedro recognizes that most of his supporters will back Kloppenburg, and respects her credentials. He believes she would make a fine Justice as well.
Another point – Judge Colon’s opponent is supported by the right-wing Milwaukee Police Association, who were major champions of Scott Walker. Is that a reason to oppose him?
The reality is that experience, credentials, etc. should come into play. Judge Colon’s opponent is misleading the public through his use of a stale Journal Sentinel endorsement from a different race, and the JS says that he has a problem with “stretch(ing)” the truth. Pedro is the first Latino judge to be appointed in 10 years, and the last appointment of a Democratic Governor. Pedro is supported by so many other judges because he’s the best candidate, period. I would encourage people to make the right choice and vote for Judge Pedro Colon.
And yet Justice Prosser’s endorsement was listed on Colon’s most recent mailer. Surely you didn’t send that mailer out months ago, only for it to be lost in the mail.
Spin this however you want, but Pedro certainly could have withdrawn his endorsement; after all, former Gov. Lucey withdrew as Prosser’s campaign co-chair and endorsed JoAnne Kloppenberg, so certainly Judge Colon could have done the right thing and followed suit.
However, I will agree that experience, credentials, etc. should come into play, and Judge Lipscomb has plenty of experience and credentials as a judge/prosecutor, while Judge Colon’s only experience is the brief time he sat on the bench after being appointed by Gov. Doyle. If we go based on experience and credentials, then clearly Judge Lipscomb is the most qualified candidate.
A reply on Facebook:
“Sachin Chheda — Hi friends. As you probably know, I’m both Pedro Colon’s campaign manager and a well-known progressive.
Pedro is a tremendous leader and has a clear progressive history. He could not be more proud of his record in the Legislature. But he believes, as I’m sure all of you do as well, that the judiciary should be independent. He asked both conservatives and liberals for support, and because of their common history as former legislators in the judiciary, Prosser endorsed him.
Kloppenburg didn’t get in the race until months later. So Judge Colon courteously reciprocated the endorsement, as they are both on the ballot. Pedro recognizes that most of his supporters will back Kloppenburg, and respects her credentials. He believes she would make a fine Justice as well.
Sachin Chheda — Another point – Judge Colon’s opponent is supported by the right-wing Milwaukee Police Association, who were major champions of Scott Walker. Is that a reason to oppose him?
The reality is that experience, credentials, etc. should come into… play. Judge Colon’s opponent is misleading the public through his use of a stale Journal Sentinel endorsement from a different race, and the JS says that he has a problem with “stretch(ing)” the truth. Pedro is the first Latino judge to be appointed in 10 years, and the last appointment of a Democratic Governor. Pedro is supported by so many other judges because he’s the best candidate, period. I would encourage people to make the right choice and vote for Judge Pedro Colon. “
That’s spin, and it’s disappointing spin at that.
There’s no spin. He’s not running from anything. Zach, I don’t know who deleted your comment, but they shouldn’t have, and I apologize on the campaign’s behalf. I asked my colleague working on the campaign, and they indicated that you do not “like” the campaign (forgive the irony). Again, my understanding is that if you click “like” again, you can comment at will. I’ll say one more thing – talk about shooting ourselves in the foot. I guess if one is not a lockstep liberal, on every single issue, on every single endorsement, then one can’t be supported by progressives. Despite whatever one’s progressive record. I’m sure you’ll remember to oppose Judge Ashley, Judge Rothstein, Judge Noonan, Judge Watts, and all the rest despite their records of distinguished service. Chris Lipscomb is actively lying to people about being endorsed by the Journal Sentinel, but that doesn’t matter. Chris has zero experience on the Circuit Court bench, but that doesn’t matter. Not a single judge on the Circuit Court, Court of Appeals or Supreme Court think Judge Colon should be defeated, but that doesn’t matter. Not a single progressive state legislator or local elected official thinks Judge Colon should be defeated, but that doesn’t matter. Every major union that’s endorsed, every major gay group that ‘s endorsed, has endorsed Pedro Colon, but that doesn’t matter. Pedro is the only Latino to be appointed judge in 10 years, and the last appointment of a Democratic Governor, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is that 8 months ago he endorsed David Prosser, after Prosser courteously endorsed him despite their previous political differences. What matters to you is that he didn’t endorse the person who didn’t even get into the race until the 3rd week of December. There’s no spin. There’s just pique. We should be better than this.
Sachin, you may ordinarily have a point about ideological rigidity. However, the current supreme court race is anything but ordinary. It is a generational defining race – one where, for the first time in a long time, the multi-pronged and normally fractured big tent progressive based is unified around an issue and against a governor’s (and political party’s) agenda. And as a proxy for that line-in-the-sand battle, Prosser has thrown down the gauntlet and declared himself time and again to be firmly on the other side (while displaying a petulant, sexist temperament in the process). If you claim to be a progressive leader, and claim Colon to be a progressive leader (whatever that’s supposed to mean for a circuit court judge!), but don’t see that line in the sand, then you’re blind leaders who are missing the forest for the trees.
And yet I still can’t post on Judge Colon’s Facebook page. To say I’m disappointed in the kind of conduct I’ve witnessed from Judge Colon’s campaign would be an understatement. I’ll also note that I currently “Like” Judge Colon’s page and I CANNOT comment in any way, shape, or form.
As to your comments about the Prosser endorsement, I’ll just note that as a progressive, I can’t fathom why another progressive would endorse a far-right ideologue like David Prosser unless it was nothing more than a political calculation. The fact that Pedro Colon would endorse someone who’s diametrically opposed to what progressives stand for says something about his character, because I’d never endorse someone like David Prosser as a “courtesy.”
I’m disappointed in Judge Colon, and I’m disappointed in you. I really wanted to give Judge Colon a chance to explain this, but instead my comments were deleted and I was banned from being able to comment, and that tells me all I need to know about you folks.
“That tells (you) all (you) need to know”?? Come on, Zach. Give me a break. It was a mistake, which I’ve repeatedly admitted. The volunteer who made the mistake no longer has access to the account. Sometimes the technology gets the better of us. You can chill just a bit.
As for your argument about endorsing, I guess Prosser shouldn’t have endorsed Pedro either. I think we were hoping that this election would turn out different than the past few Supreme Court races, where it’s all about partisan politics and not about what it should be about, which is a commitment to the law and qualifications and scholarship and experience. I voted for Kloppenburg, and will again, but I understand and support why Pedro chose to go out on a limb and make a statement about the judiciary. He’s not supposed to be responsive to political concerns – he’s supposed to be impartial. You haven’t always endorsed the most progressive candidate – there are other considerations. Like Dan Bohrod, Henry Sanders, Dave Westlake…. there’s more to politics than just adherence to the progressive line. We should be able to disagree. And forgive mistakes. I’m not attacking your character the way you’ve attacked mine.
Where is it written that endorsements must be a two-way street? I know Judge Colon can’t control who chooses to endorse him, but he very clearly can choose who he endorses. I understand what happened is a part of politics, but that doesn’t make it right.
Sachin, I realize I crossed the line there, and you have my apologies. While I may not agree with what’s gone on, I shouldn’t have attacked your character.
” I think we were hoping that this election would turn out different than the past few Supreme Court races, where it’s all about partisan politics…”
Sachin, I think that sentence right there sums up beautifully the criticism of having a county party activist also managing a non-partisan campaign. Here’s the muddled message I’m hearing from you when taking into account all of your responses, in paraphrase: “The MKE Dems feel we need to get more involved in local non-partisan races because our presence hasn’t been felt, where we’ll support candidates who endorse and are endorsed by quasi-GOP candidates so that we can rise above partisanship”. Say wha?!
On the other topic of the handling of dissent on this whole ordeal, here’s the muddled message I’m hearing from you: “We toooootally didn’t ban anybody or delete any comments, it was your fault. BTW, when we deleted your comments and banned you, it was tooooootally accident. BTW, the person who accidentally did that has bean barred from access to the account and we appologize.” Huh?! With all due respect, do you see how you might be fostering a bit of a credibility problem here?
To take it one step further, I think these examples are perfectly indicative of the type of muddled and ineffective (when even existent) messaging we’ve grown used to with the MKE Dems. Henceforth why I will never join the party, and these comments understandably carry little weight. Bit of a Catch-22, I suppose.
You’re just making stuff up. I never used the word “accident.” I said mistake. Someone did it, I admitted that once I figured out what had happened (a volunteer had deleted the comment and cut Zach off, which I ordered reversed as soon as I realized it had happened), and it took 24 hours to fix, and I apologized about 10 times. I’m pretty sure Zach accepted my apology, and we will continue forward. What’s the problem with my credibility? The campaign should not have deleted Zach, or Martine’s, or Mike’s comments. Zach should not have been cut off. How many times can I say it?
As for muddled message on MKE Dems, you’re entitled to your opinion. Most folks who express an opinion to me tend to offer some support for the strides we’ve made in the last year.
As for your other point, I think judge races have become too partisan. I think judges, especially at the Supreme Court level, have become too partisan. That’s a progressive viewpoint. When I worked with Justice Butler (which I did as vice-chair of the County Party, and didn’t hear one complaint, probably because everyone on the left supported Butler), we tried hard to set a higher standard. We condemned all third-party ads. We only went positive. Justice Butler focused on his job, and was an excellent Justice. He didn’t even approach the line on fundraising, let alone cross it. Maybe we should have been less ethical, and he would have won.
But I’ve been consistent on judge races for a long time. Ask any judge I’ve worked with (Judge Dallet, Judge Brostrom). We even wrote a new, longer disclaimer to make it crystal clear what the rules are. We don’t even put the candidate’s photograph in fundraising emails, so it’s clear the candidate isn’t asking. None of that has ANYTHING to do with the Democratic Party getting more involved in local races.
Lastly, I’m not a one-note person. I’m a volunteer Party activist. I don’t get paid a penny to be County Party chair – and it could be a full-time job if I let it be. I have to make a living, and the more than 200 people who voted for me knew full well that I have long made a living working in politics. If I choose to run for re-election, and the Party membership says Sachin, we don’t like what you do for a living, so we’re not going to vote for you, so be it.
I’m pretty damn close to saying bring it on, because I’ve gotten a whole lot more messages of support from people who actually help to build a progressive local Democratic Party than I have messages of criticism.
So whatever hat I’m wearing – I say vote for Pedro today. He’s doing a great job as a Children’s Court judge, he brings diversity of experience and talent and history to the bench, every progressive group that’s endorsed has endorsed him, and his opponent is lying about being endorsed by the Journal Sentinel. It’s a pretty simple case.
“To take it one step further, I think these examples are perfectly indicative of the type of muddled and ineffective (when even existent) messaging we’ve grown used to with the MKE Dems. Henceforth why I will never join the party, and these comments understandably carry little weight. Bit of a Catch-22, I suppose.”
This muddled message has been the bane of the Party since the 2008 November elections…but instead of being a reason to not join the party, it should be a call to arms for those of us who are concerned that the birds keep eating our trail of bread crumbs…join the party and do something about it!
Thank you, Ed! Yes, we need your voice in the Party, even if we don’t always agree! Personally, I think our messaging problem stems from a substantive problem at the legislative and national level. We need our elected Dems to live up to their progressive ideals and promises. When they do, the voters will reward us! For example, let’s reject once and for all the failed NAFTA model and move to a new era of fair trade that helps the American middle class grow!
Ed, I agree completely we need everyone involved instead of sitting on the sidelines complaining. I recently joined the Dem party here in Dane County.
Without beating a dead horse Sachin, isn’t that what Zach is doing here? Holding pedro accountable for not living up to his progessive ideals and promises? For the life of me I don’t care when he endorsed Prosser i dont understand why!
I do agree with you wholeheartedly about NAFTA, does that mean you will join with us and work on getting Ron Kind out of office and replaced with a true democrat?
Judge Colon gave his endorsement to Justice Prosser before Kloppenburg was in the race. Now he’s supposed to pull it back two days before election day? That would not be an admirable act for any Judge: reversing a decision in a bow to public political pressure. Tom Barrett, Willie Hines, organized labor, and so many others have endorsed Judge Colon and stand with him because they know he is a solid progressive and a qualified jurist. That’s what’s at stake here – a diverse, qualified, and progressive Circuit Court for our community. Judge Colon was a strong voice for years in the State Legislature (where he was reelected every time, by the way) on progressive cause. This is how progressives lose: by attacking each other. Democrats are great at circling the wagons and firing inward. Let’s not do that now. And finally, this business about Mr. Lipscomb being more qualified, a part-time suburban judge who presides over speeding tickets, is preposterous. Do we really want someone – Lipscomb – who misleads voters with false newspaper endorsements sitting as a circuit judge? No way. As an attorney, a progressive, and a Milwaukee resident, I stand with Judge Colon.
I agree in general principle, which is why I can’t vote for Colon anymore. The most frequent and consequential result of the fractured nature of the progressive base is that we get so-called progressive leaders who roll us at seemingly every turn since there is little risk to them for doing so (save for the occasional Plale or two). Which is why my general rule is to never reward bad behavior from someone who’s campaigning for progressive votes.
So what’s the choice: a guy who’s running misleading ads, or a guy who’s campaign and supporters are taking highly disturbing actions against dissenting potential supporters (with continually evolving and confusing logic and explanations, and no word from on high throughout the whole ordeal)?
What’s the choice: a guy who’s endorsed by the right wing MPA (who at least for the most part perform heroic duties in their public service), or a guy who’s endorsed by and endorses a right wing supreme court justice (who’s only heroic in his service if you’re a fan of mean-spirited, sexist bullies) in one of the most symbolically meaningful supreme court races in decades.
Sure, some Very Serious People may pooh-pooh this as ideological rigidity, but I call it playing the game that our ideological adversaries have been playing for 40 years, and playing very well to our detriment (and most importantly to the detriment of the middle class and the poor).
Not to get all hyperbolic or anything.
JCG, that comment sums up exactly what I’ve been thinking.
I don’t dispute Rep. Colon’s long career of fighting for progressive ideals, but I still can’t wrap my head around why a progressive would think that endorsing a far-right conservative Supreme Court justice is a good idea. Lipscomb may have been endorsed by MPA, but he was also endorsed by former DA E. Michael McCann, who’s far from being a conservative. I’m willing to bet Lipscomb’s endorsement by MPA has a lot to do with his experience as a municipal prosecutor/judge, but I could be wrong.
Ultimately though, my issue here is Judge Colon’s judgment in accepting an endorsement from David Prosser and then returning the favor with an endorsement of Prosser. As a progressive, I can’t fathom why another progressive would endorsement someone like David Prosser, even if it was done as a “courtesy.”
JCG bravo. My thoughts exactly. I called up Herb Kohls office when he allowed the telephone companies to have complete immunity for illegally spying on us and told them if he votes for that I will never vote for him again and I wont(unless he runs against paul ryan). I dont give my vote out easily and I am sick of the rahm attitude of who the hell else you going to vote for bullshit.
Also Zach, I was kicked off facebook pages before: WMC, Vicki Mckenna and Sean Duffy(seems he didn’t like my Sean Duffy Aid post).
Yet it is not too late to follow Governor Lucey’s lead and denounce the Justice Prosser and endorse JoAnne Kloppenburg.
Unless of course Judge Colon approves of Justice Prosser’s behavior towards Chief Justice Abrahamson and the rest of the ridiculous ads run on his behalf.
I agree that you dont need to agree on all issues, but there are some very major issues and the endorsement of Justice Prosser is one. With the illegal shenanigans that the Governor and the Fitzgeralds have pulled, we know many things will end up at the Supreme Court. We also know that Justice Prosser has promised to be a compliment to Governor Walker. Is that ok with Judge Colon?
My comment about the endorsement was deleted on Pedro’s page also. I will no longer be supporting him and will be telling friends not to.
“As you probably know, I’m both Pedro Colon’s campaign manager and a well-known progressive.”
Well-known progressive? Not sure that is true…but I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt.
Pedro Colon’s campaign manager? Admittedly I should have known that but since other campaigns in this election cycle have been a higher priority for me, I wasn’t paying attention to Judge Colon’s and didn’t know that. And it may not be a big issue, but I am not totally comfortable with a party officer also being a campaign manager…particularly for a non-partisan election.
@ED – LOL, fair enough. I may not be that well-known. For people active in the Party or labor in Milwaukee, I’m probably better known. But point taken. As for a Party officer being a campaign manager – I’m a Party volunteer, and I never said I’d give up my ability to make a living in order to be a Party officer. Like Bill, I do sometimes get paid to do campaigns. As for the issue about non-partisan elections, I specifically campaigned on the idea that the Party should be MORE involved in non-partisan elections, and we endorsed in many nonpartisan elections this spring. Can’t agree with you on that. But would love to see you at a Party meeting sometime.
Sure you’re a party volunteer, but given the position you hold, I’m sure you can see how you managing a campaign could give the appearance that the party supports that campaign, given the position you hold in the party.
Yes, Zach, I agree that’s a legitimate issue. All life is a balancing act. The members of the Party will have to decide if they can continue to survive my imperfections, if I decide to run again. I appreciated your support last time and hope to have it again. But in this race, I’m proud to be working with Pedro Colon. As for getting a fair shake, ask Larraine McNamara-McGraw if I was fair in how she was treated when I moderated the debate despite my support of Chisholm. Or ask Peg Lautenschlager if I was fair at the Party meeting she spoke at despite my support for Falk in that primary. Chris Lipscomb would have been treated with respect if he’d come to a Party meeting, but he chose not to.
I agree that we need to get more involved in Non-partisan elections. As you can tell I am in my village of cottage grove.
That being said, this is IMPORTANT. As I travel the state i see many homemade Kloppenburg signs. This race MATTERS! I would hope Judge Colon would understand that and not just go for what he thinks would help him win. If he does not change his endorsement I am all for seeing him unemployed on Wednesday.
As for your point on his opponent “actively lying” have you seen any prosser ads?
I am a Dem party member and have been to the last two Milwaukee meetings and was a delegate yesterday at the 4th CD convention. I was a delegate at the state convention last year and intend to be again this June.
I understand the you are a volunteer. But if I were a party candidate I would wonder if my local party could provide the support I need if the chairman is running someone elses campaign. And believe me I know how much work a campaign can be, particularly for the campaign manager.
And I don’t disagree that Democrats should be more involved in non-partisan campaigns. And I have no quibble with the party endorsing candidates in non-partisan elections either. But I don’t think party officers, paid or volunteers, should be involved at the level of campaign manager or similar responsibilities.
Ed, you summed up exactly what I wanted to say about the situation.
Ed, I apologize for not knowing you were at the Party meeting. Please come talk to me at the next one! We appreciate your engagement and your courage in putting your name on the ballot, and your grace in your public support of Meagan.
I’m going to continue to work professionally in politics, as I have a family, a mortgage, and a minivan lease. Again, the members of the local Party will have to decide, if I choose to run again, whether or not to accept me warts and all.
Vote Pedro!
So isn’t it safe to say that by endorsing justice prosser, judge colon endorses What he stands for? That being said, we know the prosser campaign and all Republicans in madison have said they need prosser to compliment and advance the walker agenda. So it appears that judge colon approves of the walker agenda and calling chief justice abrahamson a bitch.
That appears to me to be an unaccptable position for a progressive to take
I am a Marquette law student and I have known Judge Pedro Colon for several years. In my opinion, this call to have Judge Colon withdraw his endorsement of Judge Prosser in the 11th hour of his campaign is an unproductive use of time. Indeed, as others have said, should this one point negate all of Judge Colon’s progressive action? As a young progressive himself, Judge Colon appeals to the younger generation of voters through his work in and for the community both as a legislator and as a Judge. Rather than call Judge Colon to withdraw his endorsement of Judge Prosser, wouldn’t our time be better spent unifying other progressives to make a meaningful representation at the polls tomorrow? I believe so, particularly in light of the questionable ethical behavior of his opponent.
if he endorsed prosser then nothing else matters, there is no excuse