October
2006
A Bloggers Confession: I voted for a Republican today - God will forgive me.
Today I voted.
No, it's not election day but I voted absentee because I know on election day I will be really busy with work. It was an easy ballot for the most part. I'm up to date on all of the issues. I know where the candidates stand. I know who will be best for our community and who will harm it.
But I did something I don't normally do. I voted for a Republican.
Living in Milwaukee County, I hear of all of the horror stories that Sheriff David Clarke Jr. has been responsible for. His lack of leadership, his arrogance and his never ending ability to always point the blame at someone else.
I also don't like that Clarke lies.
He says he's a Democrat but why are we always seeing him holding hands with neo-conservative Republicans? Why does he endorse only Republicans? Why does he speak at Republican rallies and Republican forums which seek to undermine democratic ideals and defeat democrats?
It is irritating that Clarke never takes responsibility whenever something goes wrong in his department. When the men he represents criticize him he berates them, demotes then and even makes them walk beats without a partner in Milwaukee's tougher neighborhoods. He's a darling of talk radio and whenever they want him to do something, he's a good little soldier and follows their GOP partisan wills. Clarke is a snake.
His opponent, Don Holt is a Republican. Holt earned my vote.
In a phone conversation with Holt, he showed that he understands the issues and has the experience to make the department run well. I'll go a step further and say that if Holt wins (it's a HUGE longshot) I may even vote for him for re-election if he does a good job and treats the job as an administrative one as the sheriff should.
Jim McGuigan
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You didn’t vote for Don Holt, you voted against David Clarke. There could have been ham sandwich running against Clarke and you would have voted for it before you cast a vote for Clarke.
Name me one Republican that Clarke has publicly endorsed during this election cycle or one pro-Republican event that he’s spoken at. You can’t, plain and simple. But in order for your pure hatred of Clarke to be justified, you need to say these things so that you can feel better.
The truth is that Holt is no more qualified to run the vast Milwaukee County Sheriff’s office than you and I are of manning a mission to Mars.
It’s HOLT who has been the one at all of the Republican events and fundraisers where he’s endorsed fellow Republicans. I think you’re confusing your candidates.
Now see here Jim, you had convinced me to vote for Holt………..until I read these comments today. Never again will I listen to your crap about respect given and taken. It is clear that you give no respect. I am saddened by the fact that I had even let you and John convince me that this was not a personal attack on Clarke. Now I know you are full of it. I am ashamed that I changed my vote to Holt in the first place, because I thought you took the higher ground. I will not be fooled again. Good luck with your pathetic blog. I never will again send anyone to be educated here. I am out.
mke,
I voted for Holt because he’s the more qualified candidate. You say that Clarke is more qualified but Clarke had fewer qualifications to become Sheriff before he was given the post by then-Governor McCallum than Holt currently has.
I can’t say I would agree with Holt on all the issues, but if he understand the chain of command, taking responsibility and is a good administrator, why would I not vote to re-elect him in 4 years?
Monte,
Get over yourself. Clarke gives no respect. We’ve been consistent here. We never said Clarke was a good guy and we don’t believe he is now.
As for the high ground — are you suggesting that I not criticize Clarke despite his bumbling? Just click on “Clarke Watch” on the left hand column and you’ll find plenty of stories that are critical of him. Don’t pretend that you were being fooled. We’ve been consistent.
“First, who’s kidding who? David Clarke really is a Republican.” — TMJ radio host Jeff Wagner.
http://www.620wtmj.com/_content/talk/jeffwagner/index.asp?id=14&entry=14394
Clarke’s fundraiser is Dave O’Neill, the same Dave O’Neill who was the Paul Bucher for AG fundraiser.
Congressmean Mark Green called Clarke to congratulate him the night CLarke won the primary. “Can you get me some black votes, Dave?” Green was overheard to say. “I’m having trouble finding an edge against the governor.”
How about a list of Clarke’s campaign supporters: GOP state Party Chairman Richard Graber; Jim Klauser, Tommy Thompson DOA chief and advisor; former U.S. Senate candidate Russ Darrow, the car dealer; and Maggie Farrow, Elm Grove Republican, appointed Lt. Governor under Scott McCallum, who happened to appoint Clarke.
When Clarke ran for mayor, paid GOP activists who didn’t even live in the county gathered his signatures.
Let the horse die, mkelover.
Holt has made integrity and accepting responsibility a central issue of his campaign, because Clarke lacks those qualities. Holt’s got a long resume in law enforcement administration and is well qualified, which means … Mars, here we come. I’m ready.
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Jim, I think the headline may have something to do with the vehement responses to both this post and the issues post.
JD,
You’re probably right. But the fact is that if I cast any vote in the Sheriff’s race I would have voted for a Republican. Clarke is a Republican in Democrat clothing but Holt is the real deal.
Voters get to choose between two republicans in this race — Clarke or Holt. That’s not supposed to be the way the system is supposed to work but given the choice of voting for a republican who lies about his party affiliation or a republican who says he’s a republican, well that decision is a pretty easy one.
You did a good job outlining Clarke’s GOP connections. I’ll also point out that Clarke was up on stage with Republican hopeful Tim Michels when Michels ran against Feingold.
Yes, mkelover, a ham sandwich would be a more qualified candidate for sheriff than David Clarke. In fact, even the baloney sandwiches that we used to feed the prisoners at the City Jail would be a better choice.
(Editor\’s note - Parts of this comment have been deleted, but the following two paragraphs are unedited)
… If you know anything about politics, fundraisers work on BOTH sides of the aisle because this is their JOB. Cutting off 50% of your potential income because of potential contrasting political beliefs is suicidal, especially in a heavily democrat County/city like Milwaukee.
JDM - you are an out and out liar and you should be ashamed of yourself. How would you know what Green said to Clarke during a phone conversation? The fact is you do not and are trying to put words in his mouth that only bolster your own agenda. And show me anywhere in campaign literature or on the Clarke web site which lists all of the supporters you listed. The FACT, once again, is that you can\’t because you are just assuming these supporters right now. Learn election rules too, signature circulators do NOT have to live in the specific municipality where the candidate is running. Obviously those who sign have to live in the area but not the circulators.
Jim - Don’t the conservatives win either way, Clarke or Holt?
Bill,
Yes, Republicans win either way. Don’t mistake them for conservatives though. I haven’t seen much conservatism from Clarke’s office. I haven’t seen any personal responsibility out of his office either but I see that as more of a democratic trait.
In fact, very few fundraisers and campaign handlers work both sides. Barb Candy, RJ Johnson, O’Neill, on and on … Hard to raise funds for someone you don’t believe in or support, unless you’re soul-less.
Yes, I put words in Green’s mouth. I thought that was obvious. It’s called satire.
Don’t look at Clarke’s literature or his website - you’ll find the Republicans mentioned above in a more telling place - his campaign finance reports. The facade is that Clarke is an “independent Democrat” - of course he’s not going to list them.
Who said using paid GOP activists who do not live in Milwaukee County to gather signatures in a city of Milwaukee mayor’s election was illegal? But gee, it’s not going to lead anyone who really cares about Milwaukee to vote for you.
Mkelover, just go vote for Davey, already. See you at the polls.
Sorry, guys. David has my vote, too. I still don’t buy into the fact that it is more than just some people got their feelings hurt, because they were asked to look outside the box, and their comfort-level was interrupted.
Good luck with Holt. He probably won’t get very far. There is a silent majority of citizens who still think David Clarke is a good sheriff.