Thursday, May 3, 2012

Kathleen Falk: Grace Under Pressure

A must read in the Cap Times:
When the questions came from reporters, giving her ample openings to turn the campaign into a slugfest, Falk chose not to go there.

Instead, she emphasized the fact that she was surrounded by activists with unions, environmental groups and community organizations that were backing her — a coalition that reflected the movement that has taken shape to oppose the agenda of Gov. Scott Walker and to recall and remove him.

It was a graceful and impressive choice. Falk bet on the strength of the movement, and on the appeal of its message, rather than typical attack-dog politics.

This is the sort of campaign that the great mass of Wisconsinites want: issue-oriented, focused on the big concerns rather than personalities, conscious of the importance of presenting the strongest campaign possible against Walker’s immensely well-funded campaign — and the many so-called “independent” groups that will pour money into advancing it.

Democratic primary voters have an opportunity to choose between four fine candidates.
But it is worth noting that Kathleen Falk has displayed a particularly high level of political maturity and commitment to the cause with the choices she has made regarding the direction and the approach of her campaign.

By choosing to build and strengthen a popular movement, rather than practicing predictable attack polities, she has distinguished herself in a positive way. That does not necessarily mean that she is the best choice to challenge Walker. But it does suggest that undecided primary voters should — as they weigh the relative strengths and weaknesses of the contenders — consider Falk’s grace under pressure. That’s rare in politics, and it should count for something.
Compare that to Tom Barrett, who has most of the celebrities of the Democratic Party lining up behind him. Many of them are legends in Wisconsin politics.

Then ask yourself these questions: What were the protests all about? What are the recalls all about? Was the past year and a half all about just putting the Democrats back in power or putting the people back in power? Is this about just changing the governor's name or is it about correcting the wrongs that have been done to the state and upon us?

Seems to me that it was the people sleeping in the rotunda and then on the frozen ground outside the Capitol when they were locked out of the People's House. It seems to me that it's the people that are fighting not only for their jobs, but their very rights and freedoms.

Who is the champion of the people?

And it seems to me that it is the people lining up with Falk. Why aren't they lining up with Barrett?

5 comments:

  1. Polls say more people lining up behind Barrett. Or are some people more important than others?

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    Replies
    1. That's a reflection of name recognition. Nothing more, nothing less.

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    2. When she loses on Tuesday will you then admit that even the democrat voters feel she is too extreme? Or find another excuse?

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    3. Speaking of important people with name recognition now, I think far better of Barca, Erpenbach, and many others among our Fabulous Fourteen legislators lining up behind Barrett than to think that they're doing it only because they know his name.

      After all, they met him well before he went to Madison with us to march in the protests.

      And I think that they know what the protests were about, too.

      But now you dismiss them as "celebrities," not the serious sort of people that we want in the party, those nasty insiders. Or, wait, does this also negate the endorsement of the member of the Fourteen who has backed Falk?

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    4. So who do you side with, the people or the party?

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