Count me among those who think this is a monumentally dumb idea.
A coalition of union groups active in state Senate recalls now advocates that Democrats field fake Republican candidates to run in primary elections against GOP state senators – just as Republicans are fielding fake Democrats to run against those who challenging GOP incumbents.
Friday evening, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin issued a statement that neither endorsed nor ruled out the idea, saying the party will “review the options available.”
The proposal from We Are Wisconsin, described in an email from Kelly Steele, communications director, was sent earlier Friday. The email argued that it was necessary to keep Republicans from hijacking the election process, and called on interested Democrats to contact the state Democratic Party and volunteer to run as Republicans in the districts of six GOP senators subject to recall elections.
I’m probably opening myself up for more criticism than I’ve already received after my entry on Thursday that was critical of the “zombie” protesters at the Special Olympics event, but I think this is a stupid idea. After how critical Democrats/liberals have been of the concerted effort by Republicans to run fake Democrats against the real Democrats seeking to unseat the 6 Republicans who are facing recalls, running fake Republicans only invites charges of rank hypocrisy and further muddies these already complicated races.
UPDATE: Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chairman Mike Tate has issued a statement on the GOP recall election dirty tricks. Here’s the statement:
“The unprecedented Republican manipulation of these recall elections has compelled a number of people to urge a level playing field by running fake candidates in GOP primaries.
“We cannot and will not stoop to the Republicans’ level by encouraging candidates to lie about their party affiliation, or recommending that people try to deceive voters. We never have done that, and won’t start now. This is something that every single one of our six challengers has said they adamantly oppose. Fred Clark, Jess King, Shelly Moore, Nancy Nusbaum, Jen Shilling and Sandy Pasch — along with Senator Miller — all contacted the party over the last 24 hours to make it crystal clear this was absolutely the wrong tactic.
“At the same time, these phony GOP primary candidacies have in essence allowed the Republicans to seize the ability to call these elections at a date of their choosing. They can pick and choose which sham primaries to force. That’s wrong. Selecting an election day is a responsibility that should fall to an independent, nonpartisan agency looking out for the people of Wisconsin — not to a political party gaming the system for partisan gain. This transparent GOP conspiracy has cheated the people of protections against such dirty tricks.
“That is why we must guarantee these primary and general election dates move forward. The only way to do that in the face of these deplorable Republican tactics is by ensuring Democratic primaries with placeholders.
“This approach will keep the Republicans honest – an increasingly difficult task given the stunts they’ve pulled. It sends a clear statement that the GOP attempts to exploit the political process won’t be tolerated. It also ensures a much fairer process than what Republicans have concocted with their dirty tricks, as well as reduces confusion among voters about when recall elections will take place.
“No one likes where Republicans have taken this process. The fight for Wisconsin is too important to have one hand tied behind our back.”
I’m glad the Democratic Party of Wisconsin won’t be stooping to the level of Republicans by fielding fake Republican candidates.
I am torn on this one. While i think its very unethical what the republicans re doing, it allows them two shots to knock off the democrat. Now we have to make sure and get out the vote two times in a month. The republicans can get out the vote enmass, if there was a race on their side they could not do that.
I’m torn on this one, too. When I first heard this I thought it was a horrible idea…then I started to imagine what would happen to our state if we lost the recalls because we didn’t utilize a strong enough strategy.
Personally, I want to maintain my integrity, of course. But my integrity won’t keep me warm enough at night when I’m living in a cardboard box.
Also, the Dems have run fake candidates before..so can we successfully claim the moral high ground here?
BTW- kudos to you for expressing your opinions regardless of how they will be received. People can disagree and still get along. You’re not “either for us or against us.” Doesn’t being a liberal mean never having to tow a party line?
Thank you. 🙂
I stand corrected. Looks like we (Dems) haven’t run fake candidates before. Sorry ’bout that.
And I am learning a ton from my fellow bloggers, so-thank you.
The Democratic Party hasn’t run a fake Republican before, but there is the case of Andrew Wisniewski, who ran against Bob Ziegelbauer with the help of at least one person from AFSCME.
unless you count Jeff Plale, Ben Nelson and joe lieberman
When you compare most of todays Democrats to FDR, and all of todays Republicans to Abraham Lincoln, they all end up looking kind of fake.
Yeah, no argument there.
I dunno. In a twisted way I like it in a “fight fire with fire” kind of manner, and it lessens the chances of GOP chicanery. I have real worries about what the Waukesha and Washington County clerks’ offices might pull in a small turnout election to screw over Sandy Pasch, for example.
My instinct is to say the Dems shouldn’t follow the advice of We are Wisconsin and stay out of GOP primaries, because it can draw the contrast between the two parties and show why the WisGOPs have to be removed from power. But ultimately, it is about winning the elections, and being the nice guy only goes so far if there are no results.
Bottom line: I see the idea behind the tactic, but wouldn’t do it, if I was the DPW.
I’m with you on both of those; the zombie protest was dumb, use your head and think what it might look like to a non-union member. And running the fake candidates is dumb on the republican side and dumber on our side. It makes the Republicans look desperate, but will accomplish their goals, if we do the same we sink to their pathetic level. What has helped so far has been the restraints of the protestors and activists, it’s essential that we keep this.
I am a union member and was probably walking picket lines before Kelly Steele was born. This is a spectacularly bad idea. It deflates rank-and-file enthusiasm and confirms cynicism among voters as well as activists, especially voters in the middle who we most need to reach. It would put the DPW in competition with the Republicans to sully the state’s traditions.
I’ve marched my heart out since February, walked the recall trail, and donated; and am feeling my stomach turn upside down on this one. By ceding the high ground, it actually hurts our electoral chances.
We Are Wisconsin is off the rails, let’s hope the DPW has more sense.
Democrats are thinking of doing it also. And circus of politics continues.
http://elections.wispolitics.com/2011/06/dems-say-they-wont-run-fake-republicans.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
emocrats won’t be fielding phony Republican candidates in recall primary elections, state Dem Party Chairman Mike Tate says.
Republican leaders have recruited conservative candidates to run as Democrats in recall primaries. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, said this week they were using the tactic to allow their incumbents more time to campaign and spread their message after a busy session in the Capitol this spring.
The Dems angrily denounced the GOP strategy, but a left-leaning coalition yesterday called on the state party to copy the Republicans and field fake GOPers against Republican candidates.
Tate issued a statement yesterday that didn’t rule out the strategy. But today he said the Dems “cannot and will not stoop to the Republicans’ level by encouraging candidates to lie about their party affiliation, or recommending that people try to deceive voters.”
— By Greg Bump
I think fielding fake candidates looks childish. It cheapens the whole electoral process and thus our democracy.
Although, I have had my childish moments of wanting to fight fire with fire, the real question may be, ‘What about future elections?’ At this point, for me, their reliability is already somewhat suspect. The election process needs to be cleaned up and shorn up, not further besmirched with childish chicanery.
Thanks Jeff, what a relief. I was working myself up into a state and contacted We Are Wisconsin (“left-leaning”, my butt) and my recall leader and union president to complain. Oh, and Mike Tate. What were these boneheads thinking?
I’ve updated my entry to include a statement from DPW Chair Mike Tate, who’s made it clear the party doesn’t supporting fielding fake Republican candidates.