Ross' Run is a Rouse
Melanie Conklin should've done a google search on Secretary of State Candidate Scot Ross before penning her recent puff piece.
If she had she'd have discovered that Scot worked for the Assembly Democrat Caucus under former Democratic leader Shirley Krug, and that he admitted to illegally campaigning on state time. She would have also known that Scot still owes the state of Wisconsin $3,985 in legal fees.
Instead, she conducted a light-hearted interview about how Ross intended to go up against the famous Lafollette family and why he had decided to run. Ross told her he was running to speak out against the influence of special interests in elections and voter id legislation.
My theory is that those clever folks at the DPW plan to use Ross' election committee to funnel tens of thousands of dollars of special interest money from WEAC and other employee unions to coordinated campaign efforts. Election law allows Ross' campaign to accept $97,000 in PAC and another $43,000 from the DPW for a total of $140,000 in PAC/Party contributions this election cycle.
Why else would an experienced campaigner but extremely flawed candidate run for an office he can't possibly hope to win during such an important election year?
These are exactly the kind of games we could expect to see with publicly financed campaigns.
14 Comments:
Give it up already - nobody cares about this... especially for such a do nothing office. Foti's in prison, and Scott and Sherry are packing their purses. Find something else to complain about, like how Assembly Republicans rejected an ethics reform bill in a closed party caucus.
Give it up is putting it mildly! What is this poor befuddled woman thinking about these days? Certainly not about the majority party’s legislative leaders moves to change rules that would allow them to seek contributions from lobbyists before the fall elections!
Certainly not about the lemmings willing to follow their leaders over the edge of a cliff, day or night in open or closed session!
Get a grip will ya!
I'm guessing the fact that Deb's husband is a lobbyist is the reason why she has no say about that one.
That's the ticket!
I loved the line "Why else would an experienced campaigner but extremely flawed candidate run for an office he can't possibly hope to win during such an important election year?"
Flawed candidates shouldn't run? Wow! what a great idea. Where do we sign-up to judge the qualifications for being deemed "flawed"?
Your theory has a serious flaw Deb. The Democrats already have that office. If they wanted to shove money into a Democrat running for Secretary of State just to pump up a message of some sort, they could just do it now. So why run a primary? That is not the reason Ross is running. He wants to be the Secretary of State.
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He should not be disqualifed from running just because he worked at a caucus! Enough worrying about staff when we all know they've all been doing this for 20 years.
The responsibility for caucus activies lies with leaders, including people like Ellis and Loftus who were pioneers of this activity. And while we're at it isn't caucus work in the past of this site's author as well?
However, though I'd like to see him win, he seems like a longshot at best, which would lend credibility to the slush fund argument. Even though Dems hold the seat, LaFollette won't play with the team and Ross would, so they could control where his funds were sent. Problem with that logic is that the Dems have plenty of other options, including Bill Christofferson, to funnel money. They don't need to muddy up poor Scot.
I think he's legit and I wish him well.
Wow, Deb. You struck an nerve here. It's raining liberals. Way to go!
The only rouse I see here is this blog. Have you ever done anything other than complain and make fun of Dems? Don't you think your time would better spend urging your party to pass ethic reforms or health care reform or any reform to the government waste they complain about everyday? Your problem is that you are just angry and misinformed. I tell you what, when you want to open your eyes I will be the first to welcome you to the Democratic party.
The only rouse I see here is this blog. Have you ever done anything other than complain and make fun of Dems? Don't you think your time would better spend urging your party to pass ethic reforms or health care reform or any reform to the government waste they complain about everyday? Your problem is that you are just angry and misinformed. I tell you what, when you want to open your eyes I will be the first to welcome you to the Democratic party.
What say we have a little humor? Got an extra $25 burning a hole in your purse?
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God forbid we actually encourage people to participate in this thing called Democracy! Ignorant comments and disparaging commentators are why the average American is turned off by politics. Seems to me that if the DPW wanted to funnel money, they would do it through the current SOS. Sorry Deb, I am not buying your conspiracy theory. This is one Wisconsinite who is tired of wealthy right wing conservatives telling me what my values are, while they give my tax dollars to their lobbyist friends. I welcome someone who is willing to stand up. Sounds like you are just angry Ross is speaking against special interests, like your lobbyiest husband, messing with our elections. I don't understand what you have against someone who's goal is to protect every Wisconsinite's right to vote. Why do you think I shouldn't be able to vote? Why do you want to take away my freedom?
Hello -
It is not all about the Democrats running. Last I checked all qualified citizens have a civil right to run for public office. Perhaps you forgot that
there is a qualified Republican running for the office of Secretary of State. ME!
Please! Don't count me out!
Sandy Sullivan
http://sandysullivan.info
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