While activists protest right to work in the Capitol, Mike Tate raises money

I think this blog post sums up why so many progressive activists in Wisconsin are so fed up with Mike Tate and the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.

Wisconsin is in danger of becoming the 25th “right to work” state by early March, with hearings held today, a Senate vote coming later in the week, an expected Assembly vote at the beginning of March, and an assured signature from the governor as soon as possible after that.

It’s possible to convert one of the Republican Senate votes so that it doesn’t pass and one would think that the Democratic Party of Wisconsin would be doing everything they could to make that happen and to educate the public and encourage contact with legislators.

One would think.

Instead, I got the following e-mail today from Mike Tate, chairman of the state party:

“It’s today, Callen.

“The state Senate is set to take up legislation that would make Wisconsin a right-to-work state. They’re attacking our state’s working families. We HAVE to fight back before Scott Walker and his GOP allies succeed.

“But we can’t fight back alone. We need your help. We have to raise $5,200 before COB today if we want to keep the pressure on the GOP to stop them from passing right to work legislation.”

That was followed by several links allowing me to instantly donate money to the cause and then a signature of “Solidarity, Mike”.

Now perhaps Mike Tate pulled himself away from sending out fundraising emails in order to join those activists who were making their voices heard at the State Capitol in opposition to the Republican right to work proposal, but I haven’t seen any mention of it.

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20 thoughts on “While activists protest right to work in the Capitol, Mike Tate raises money

  1. And this is why I don’t give money to the state DPW, and won’t until Tate and Rae are not in the Chair’s seat .

    Hey young Milwaukee consultant dudes, instead of constantly asking for money and claiming you can’t do things, how about stepping up , and SPENDING THAT MONEY on getting the Dem message out all over the state in this key time. Then some of us might actually believe in you, and be inclined to (wait for it….) donate to the cause!

  2. Does anyone know what was fundraised in the last election cycle, versus what was actually spent on local candidates? I’ve seen some on Facebook claiming it was a pretty shocking disparity.

  3. I’ve received that email nearly every day for a week and what I can’t help wondering when I read it is whether the DPW truly oppose R2W on principle? Or is it just a funding loss to them? Not being snarky, I genuinely wonder. It’s not a given that Democrats support worker protections and rights, re-negotiation of trade deals, strengthening of regulations, scrutiny of law enforcement, etc. as many are unquestionning neo-liberals who sent us down the path of widening economic inequality in the first place.

  4. Mike Tate was not the only one fund raising yesterday. https://www.facebook.com/events/1531797700434694 Jason Rae- “building the bench, giving us the digital advantage, asking for mo’ money.

    “We HAVE to fight back before Scott Walker and his GOP allies succeed.

    “But we can’t fight back alone. We need your help. We have to raise $5,200 before COB today if we want to keep the pressure on the GOP to stop them from passing right to work legislation.””

    He did even explain how the $5,200 would help. Mike Tate- . But for WHAT?

    This is not an endorsement, but Jeff Smith, who is running for DPW Chair was at the protest rally in Madsion. Fighting for hard working, tax paying Wisconsin families.

  5. Mike Tate is not the only one fundraising yesterday. Jason Rae of “build the bench, regain digital advantage, recylce, rehash, replicate” asking for mo’ money too. For himself. https://www.facebook.com/events/1531797700434694

    From the fundriaising letter” ” We HAVE to fight back before Scott Walker and his GOP allies succeed.
    “But we can’t fight back alone. We need your help. We have to raise $5,200 before COB today if we want to keep the pressure on the GOP to stop them from passing right to work legislation.”This is not an endorsement, but Jeff Smith, who is running for DPW Chair was at the protest rally in Madsion. Fighting for hard working, tax paying Wisconsin families.”

    Fighting hard how? Doing what? How is that money being used?

    This is not an endorsement, but yesterday Jeff Smith WAS at the protest rally in Madison. Fighting for hard working tax payers and their families. He was the only one there, fighting in the trenches. Who do you want to lead the DPW?

  6. I agree about Tate’s email. What a joke. He should have been across the street speaking to the crowd.
    Tate brags that HE raised over 40 million during his 6 years as Chairman of the Party. I ask, “what good did it do us?” I think HE raised around 8 million this last cycle. You will never know for sure because he will never open the books. Sadly, a lot of the money raised went to Nation Consulting where his friend Jason Rae works. Yes, the same Jason Rae that is now running to replace Tate. Now you know why money is so important. I ran for the Assembly and the DPW wouldn’t give me a dime. This is why so many people have had it with the state party. Oh, it also explains why the Republicans control everything.

    1. Thanks for your comments Joe, and thanks for running and trying to win. Read similar comments about Jessica King’s campaign as well…I guess she was finally able to get a small amount of help towards the end, after begging and pleading with Tate. It was too little, too late, though.

    2. Joe, please stop repeating unsubstantiated rumors as if they’re facts. As I noted in a comment on another thread, there isn’t much evidence to support your claims about the amount of money the DPW has paid to Nation Consulting, but just in case anyone here isn’t interested in clicking my link, here’s what I said.

      CFIS is the best way to confirm what Joe’s saying, but I’ve reviewed CFIS, and unless I’m missing something there isn’t much truth to what Joe’s alleging.

      Further, I’d just note that anyone who’s shocked that the DPW may have paid Nation Consulting for work needs to get a grip on reality. The fact is, Nation Consulting does a lot of work for the Democratic Party here in Wisconsin, just like they do a lot of work for Democratic candidates. Perhaps that speaks to the reputation and record Nation Consulting has, rather than being a product of a sinister plot to line their pockets.

      If any of you want to criticize Jason Rae, the Democratic establishment in Wisconsin, or even Nation Consulting, at least do so from a position of truth and fact, rather than casting aspersions and dealing in rumor. That’s not cool, nor is it acceptable or appropriate.

  7. Thank goodness Mr. Tate is leaving! I’m not an official party member but I am disgusted with the leadership over the past over the years of his leadership. Disgraceful that more money wasn’t spent in the 2010 legislative election. With the overwhelming GOP majority, they gerrymandered the districts so-o-o badly the Democrats will have a tough time getting back into power anytime soon.

  8. JRae’ FB page is patheticly gratuitous. Rae for democracy? Rae for Labor? Rae for Education? Nothing.

    Rae for Rae all over the place. http://www.jasonrae.com/vision-for-the-dpw

    A vision without a lick of policy or platform detail. Not a titch of detail about operational means to the ends. Professional privileged political class garbage.

    Maybe a candidate who has a vision for the state of Wisconsin and the best interests of her citizens might be a good place to start reforming a party. Then again that’s why someone like myself would never make it in politics.

    Excuse me while I clean digital BS from my monitor.

  9. I got the letter Rae sent out and I was embarrassed for him. It was the most poorly written letter I have ever seen from any politician. It’s time to recreate the Democratic Party, not turn it over to someone whose skill level is severely lacking. My message to Rae. Stay away.

  10. Mr. Tate’s email was titled: ‘can’t and won’t happen’. I deleted it. But then Jake Hadju, executive director of the DPW, forwarded it that very same day and suggested that maybe I missed Mike’s tome. I replied and complained about the title since we all know full well that RTW is flat out going to happen and they need to stop pretending that we can do anything about it. NO REPLY!

  11. I’ve been getting the same sort of e-mail for several days now, supposedly from Jennifer Shilling in her role as head of the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee. After she and Barca fell right in with the right-wing squawk narrative regarding those Milwaukee teachers protesting at Scott Walker’s house a few weeks ago I have to admit the whole “Solidarity! Brothers and sisters! Give us cash!” rap is starting to wear a little thin. I considered reply with a piece of my mind and a request to be taken permanently off the mailing list but so far it’s still easier and more satisfying to just delete. So far. But she’ll never get any money from me again.

  12. I join all Progressives in Wisconsin who oppose the corporate bought establishment when I say this…

    “Hearing this news makes me want to light my hair on fire…”

    How about we get some emails from them with some ideas about how to organize rural wisconsin and suburbs where these GOP crazies live?

  13. Here’s the weird part.

    I asked Cullen Harty what was the date/time stamp on the email sent.

    Tues, 2/24, @ 11:24 a.m.

    It was sent on the day of the hearing while testimony was underway. So instead of being at the capitol to testify or speak to the press, DPW members got an email soliciting donations. He could have walked outside and passed a hat among the protestors.

  14. I posed the question. How come there weren’t any Democratic leaders speaking at the rallies. I was told Labor wouldn’t let them. Does anyone know if that’s true?

  15. I would like to have a chair, that is Walking around the Capitol Square handing out membership cards. The DPW needs to be about working people, because really we are that organization that is not a union that can fight for the rights of all people.

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