Fake ‘Democrat’ Comes Forward In Wisconsin Recalls

TPM ^ | June 8, 2011 | Eric Kleefeld

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Wisconsin Republicans have now put forward a ringer Democratic candidate to force a primary in the recall against GOP state Sen. Dan Kapanke, as part of the state GOP's strategy to combat the recalls. The candidate: James Smith, a 25-year old hospital technician who has served on the La Crosse County Republican executive committee, and who will now challenge the official Democratic candidate, state Rep. Jennifer Shilling.

The La Crosse Tribune reports:

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.

The key here is that recalls are now tentatively scheduled for July 12, under the state election officials' proposed timelines, targeting six Republicans. If there were only one Democrat against each one Republican, then the July 12 date would immediately be held as the general election. But if there were additional Democrats, the July 12 date would then become the primary, giving the incumbents more time to campaign for a general election in August.

Also, thanks to Wisconsin's open primary system in which anybody can vote in a party primary, it would force the Democrats to spend time, money and resources campaigning for their own nominations.

The strategy is being officially coordinated by state Republican leaders, and has been endorsed by state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Our WI GOP DOES have b@lls, LOL!

ATTEMPTING to beat the 'Rats at their own games around here is something new and relatively untried!!

[falcon1966]

fight fire WITH fire.

[kittymyrib]

Good for the WI GOP! A phony TEA Party candidate, who was actually a Democrat activist, gave the Dems their “great victory” in NY-26, so they certainly shouldn’t complain about this strategy.

[sickoflibs]

RE :"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. The key here is that recalls are now tentatively scheduled for July 12, under the state election officials' proposed timelines, targeting six Republicans. If there were only one Democrat against each one Republican, then the July 12 date would immediately be held as the general election. But if there were additional Democrats, the July 12 date would then become the primary, giving the incumbents more time to campaign for a general election in August. Also, thanks to Wisconsin's open primary system in which anybody can vote in a party primary, it would force the Democrats to spend time, money and resources campaigning for their own nominations. "

These Republicans know how to fight fire with fire. Watch Democrats respond :"This is SO unfair." as if they impose rules on themselves.

[Nervous Tick]

>> Our WI GOP DOES have b@lls

It’s refreshing to see the GOP fighting hard with every tool they have. For a change.

By the way, if your GOP has extra balls y’all might want to consider offering your surplus for transplantation in other needy areas (like the national GOP for instance). :-)

[FroggyTheGremlim]

And after the "primary" I hope Smith demands a recount!

I can't wait to hear the Democraps weeping and gnashing teeth when their own dirty tricks are used by the Repubs.

[Fester Chugabrew]

The twits posting under the article sure got their panties in a wad. Love it!

[CharlesWayneCT]

This isn’t really the same strategy as Democrats running 3rd-party candidates pretending they are tea party.

The article explains clearly that the recall process doesn’t allow enough time for an incumbent to campaign, given that the challenger has all the momentum through the recall process while the incumbent is actually working (and may be even be forbidden from doing campaign-style things while in session, I don’t know Wisconsin law but Virginia doesn’t allow fundraisers while in session).

By running a second candidate, it forces the July date to be a primary, which pushes off the general election.

I suppose they might have been able to accomplish the same thing running a republican candidate in a primary, but I’m not sure the recall rules allow that, and in any case the republicans certainly don’t want to replace their own candidate so it would make no sense.

The republican isn’t pretending to be a democrat. But, apparently the republicans could, if they wanted, all turn out and vote in the democratic primary, electing the republican to be the “democrat” opponent. In a district where republicans outnumber democrats, that would be interesting.

But it doesn’t sound like they will play tricks. The danger would be that you’d excite the democratic base, and drive up turnout in the general election.

[CharlesWayneCT]

BTW, I liked the california recall rules. A recall election had TWO parts. In the first, you voted yes or no on the existing candidate. If they got 50%, they were in.

If they didn’t get 50%, then the second vote was for a person for the office. So, the democrats had two shots, first Davis could win, and if he didn’t, one of their democratic replacements could win.

[Joy in the Journey]

Behold, the power of Republicans! (I can’t believe I’m even writing that!)

FIX BAYONETS!!!

[rex regnum insanit]

I think this is a great idea. The Dims have been doing this for years. Most recently in NY 26CD where the democrat won in a majority Republican district because the vote was split between the rep and a phony tea party candidate who was another democrat

[Fido969]

"I WON d@mmit, now tell those Republicans to get over it. And send me a picture of Anthony's weiner!"

[Cyman]

I understand the sentiment that would force this kind of action, I just still cringe when I read about Republicans wallowing in the mud with racist left-wingers.

[Maverick68]

b

[Two Kids' Dad]

Any tactic that harms the Democrats is perfectly fine by me, as long as it’s not illegal. The Republican won’t have to wallow with any Dems, just run for the office.

And since this adversely impacts the dems, perhaps it’ll get both parties together to fix the problems with the primary systems nationwide.

[ken5050]

The mroe I see her pic, she has the potential to replace Helen Thomas on FR..when Helen leaves us for that big mosque in the sky..

[Bailee]

Nice why stop there run a Conservative as a fake Dem. Who knows you might get lucky and have a Rep vs Rep(Fake Dem) in the General election.

I think California has this one Right. 50% of the voters must be in Favor of the recall before you can proceed.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

... I just still cringe when I read about Republicans wallowing in the mud with racist left-wingers.

If we don't get smart Cyman, you will soon be cringing in a gulag. This is not illegal. For years they have been holding us to the highest standards while they lie, cheat, and do whatever they need to win. We are not in the mud with them. We are just protecting our interest for once.