"Fake" Democrat Candidates is Embarrassing to the GOP

Many of you probably already know that the recall primary is scheduled for May 8^th and it will include six individuals that the Republican Party of Wisconsin is identifying as “protest candidates.”  The Democratic Party of Wisconsin, on the other hand, is calling them “fake Democrats.”

While this may be review for most of you, I want to recap the key parts of this topic before offering my thoughts.  Believe it or not, there are still a lot of really good people out there who either do not know about the fake Democrat candidates, or are not fully aware of the details behind them.  While some may say that it is a trivial matter of little to no significance, I want to express my concerns otherwise.

Both parties are openly claiming that none of the six candidates are actual Democrats, and none of the six seem to be denying it either.  One of them will be running as a gubernatorial candidate, one as a Lt. Governor candidate, and the other four as State Senate candidates. So why are they running as Democrats if they actually support the Republican Party?  The candidates and the Republican Party are publicly stating that it is a political tactic to force a May 8^th recall primary that will push the recall election out another month, allowing the Republican incumbents more time to campaign.

But let’s face it, it is not inconceivable that in recall races like Senate District 13 where I am a constituent, actual Democrat candidate Lori Compas could hypothetically get beat out by the “fake” Democrat candidate (Gary Ellerman) who started the “Walkers for Walker” group of lake Mills. Even though Republican incumbent (Senator Scott Fitzgarald) is not running against any other Republicans, the recall is different in the fact that voters can actually vote for one of the candidates for each party.  Therefore Senator Fitzgerald's supporters can freely vote for Senator Fitzgerald as their republican choice, and they can also vote for the “fake” Democrat during the same primary. Obviously if Ellerman were to win the Democrat primary, he would make Senator Fitzgerald a shoe in during the June 5^th election. Dirty pool or not, it is all legal and the GOP are banking on a low primary turn out for true Democrat voters, resulting in the real Democrat candidate being knocked out of the race before we even have the actual election.  

While some may contend that such tactics are fair game and that the ends justify the means, I say no - I am not even remotely interested in supporting such organized hijacking of the democratic process.  Furthermore, I do not believe I am the only Republican out there who feels this way.

Keep in mind that for the last few months many Republican legislators and supporters have been advocating that the recall process is going to frivolously cost the tax payers millions of dollars.  Of course, those on the other side fire back with justifications for the necessity of the recalls. In a turn of events, the Democrats are now claiming that the running of fake candidates will unnecessarily add to the overall cost and the Republicans are countering with arguments that the costs will not raise by much, if at all.  Either way, such back and forth talk or complete changing of positions by the two parties should not surprise anyone.  It all seems to be par for the course over the last fifteen months.

Regarding the fake Democrat candidates, Jeremy Levinson (Friebert, Finerty & St. John SC) is the attorney who filed the nomination paper challenges, and a complaint alleging criminal violations of Wis. Stat. §12.13, that prohibits individuals from making false statements to election officials and falsifying any information in respect to a nomination paper or declaration of candidacy.  Tuesday, the Government Accountability Board voted unanimously to deny Attorney Levinson’s challenges, so unless that decision is overturned in court, all six “fake” Democrats will be allowed to run in the May 8^th recall primary.

I doubt that everyone will agree with me on this point, but I personally believe that the Government Accountability Board (GAB) made the right decision by denying the challenges. I do not agree with fake candidates by either party for any election, but I also believe that the GAB lacks the legal authority to do much about this matter under the current law at this time. Prosecuting criminal cases and alleged violations is more the role of local District Attorneys.

Perhaps the law needs to be revisited and potentially revised in the future, but not at this time. For me, it is what it is and I believe that we simply need to move forward by letting the GAB’s decision stand and get on with the recall process.

My real issue with the running of fake candidates is the fact that the GOP is purposely taking advantage of this loophole to skillfully manipulate the electoral process for the benefit of those legislators under recall. That concerns me because I fundamentally believe in such values as integrity, transparency, and civility.  Maybe others disagree, but the candidates each signed a statement with the GAB agreeing to represent the party that they registered to run under. Signing such an oath when one has no intention of abiding by it is a breach of moral character that I do not support. So to have my party strategically seek out and solicit fake candidates who are expected to intentionally break a signed oath in order to game the system is absolutely unacceptable to me. I do not care which party is doing it, it is wrong. But what makes my stomach churn is when my governor, and senator publicly portray themselves to be of such strong Christian upbringing, while at the same time supporting (if not organizing) such shameful political shenanigans. That is not right.

I am making a strong point of this matter because I believe it speaks volumes to personal character.  After all, if Governor Walker and Senator Fitzgerald are willing to be so outwardly brazen with their ethical behavior and disregard toward the Democratic process when it comes to elections, what evidence is there to support their true desire to place people before politics in other public responsibilities entrusted to them?  What evidence is there to suggest that these two men have the moral fiber to be true statesmen and lead us through a needed healing process?

I for one am not seeing any such evidence and I do not believe that I am the only Republican making that assessment. I would love to hear from others on this, especially those who also believe that there can and should be a higher road taken by our party.

Sincerely,

Gary