Barrett proposes recall primary free of attack ads (WI)

JS ONLINE ^ | 4-2-12 | Patrick Marley

[afraidfortherepublic]

Madison - Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett offered a pledge Sunday not to attack his fellow Democrats in the recall race for governor, and he asked his opponents to do the same.

His chief rival, former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, declined to sign the proposal, but her spokesman said she agreed Democrats should be focused on defeating Republican Gov. Scott Walker.

The proposal Barrett sent to Falk and the other candidates would impose financial penalties on candidates if they mentioned their opponents in ads - or if outside groups attacked Democrats on their behalf.

"As Democrats, we must be united in the only mission that matters: recalling Scott Walker and moving our state forward," Barrett wrote in a letter to his opponents. "Nearly one million people signed recall petitions as members of a citizen grass-roots movement to restore Wisconsin values trampled on by this governor - not to watch Democrats sling mud at one another."

State election officials on Friday ordered a recall election for Walker, making him the third governor in the country to face recall. Hours later, Barrett, who lost to Walker in November 2010, got in the race, joining a field that includes Falk, Secretary of State Doug La Follette and state Sen. Kathleen Vinehout of Alma.

The primary is May 8. The winner will take on Walker on June 5.

If put in place, the agreement would help Barrett by keeping at bay labor unions that have endorsed Falk and that tried to keep Barrett from getting in the race.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Wisconsin Barrett trying to secure primary victory with no oppositon ping

FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, this Wisconsin interest ping list.

[raybbr]

Anyone know if Walker should win, how long before they can try another recall?

Or, if the dem should win, can he/she be recalled?

[Mygirlsmom]

A person needs to be in office for one year before being recalled. I believe once one recall has occurred, there can't be another in the same term.

But if the dem does get into office you know what will happen. There will be cries everywhere to stop this "extraordinary process" of recalls that "goes against the will of the people".

[CMailBag]

We’re going to have a new reality show.

It will be called “WHO CAN BE THE BIGGEST UNION STOOGE’

[Calvin Locke]

"Free of Attack Ads"

To a Dem, that means you can't bring up the pol's record, um, as in public voting record, public positions on issues, lack of accomplishments, etc.

[ken5050]

I think this primary all but guarantees a win for Walker. Falk is a hard leftie, completely in the pockets of the unions. They own her. So there’s nothing that Barrett can do to get back that constituency.

[Kenny]

They’re setting up for Romney. If they take away negative ads, what does Romney have left.

I’ve seen this coming for a while, they’re going to get Romney in then start screaming about negative campaigning and Romeny’s out.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

This sounds like a great opportunity for some “payback dirty tricks.” That is, Republicans and conservatives can pay back the Democrats for all their heartburn.

And it’s fairly simple. Just tell people you support one Democrat, and curse the other Democrat. They are such contentious people that they cannot resist fighting against each other at the least perceived slight.