Burkee Responds to Pro-Life Wisconsin

In response to this post, former candidate Jim Burkee has this to say:

Dear Owen

I’m writing in response to a September 26th letter you posted from Matt Sande accusing me of lying, “obfuscation,” and “insincerity” regarding my approach to stem cell research during my recent campaign for US Congress.

Mr. Sande contended in his letter that “then-congressional candidate Jim Burkee called me at Pro-Life Wisconsin (PLW) to discuss at length his positions on various life issues.”  He then described a conversation we never had, concluding with, “Burkee enthusiastically responded that he would be happy to fill out our questionnaire and return it to us promptly.”  

His letter to you continued:  “Burkee’s contention that he never spoke to anybody at PLW is untrue.  We had a substantive, 15 minute phone conversation in July.”  Mr. Sande then concluded that I contradicted myself in interviews with John Torinus and Charlie Sykes by expressing my conditional support of embryonic stem cell research.  Finally, he propagated this story not only on your web site, but in a conversation with State Senator Glenn Grothman – who subsequently posted his own letter accusing me of telling “different people different things” (note as well that Grothman claims to have known me for five months, when in fact he has known me since May 2006, when he first began joining my Friday political lunch group).

Here is what really happened:

On July 8th, my campaign director, Tyler Williams, sent an e-mail at 12:27 pm to Pro-Life Wisconsin.  Please note that he sent the e-mail from his account, clearly identified himself as Tyler Williams (he began with, “My name is Tyler Williams….”), and asked for a congressional survey.  His signature then provided his phone number, 262.365.1079. (see attachment 1)

At 3:27 pm that same day, Mr. Sande called Tyler Williams from the Pro-Life Wisconsin office (262.796.1111) and talked with him for exactly 30 minutes (we found the record of the call in our Sprint phone records, see attachment 2).

In fact, while Mr. Sande was talking with Mr. Williams, I was on my phone (262.573.9462) having another conversation (see attachment 3).

Clearly, Mr. Sande received an e-mail from Tyler Williams, he called Tyler Williams talked with Tyler Williams on Mr. Williams’ phone.

I am not questioning Mr. Sande’s integrity here.  Perhaps something from his notes left him with a different recollection.  But my account, and that of Mr. Williams, is clearly accurate, as demonstrated by the evidence:  Mr. Sande talked with Tyler Williams, and never with me. In fact, after Mr. Williams finished his conversation with Mr. Sande, he suggested we arrange a meeting with Mr. Sande to ask for their support.  After studying Pro-Life Wisconsin’s positions, however, I decided not to (it appeared to me that Pro-Life Wisconsin opposes contraception – a position I disagree with.  I also do not agree with their position on all stem cell research).

Tyler Williams is a man of integrity and honesty who worked diligently for my campaign for over a year.  He is now in St. Louis, studying for the ministry at Concordia Seminary.  A prodigious note-taker, he still has notes of his conversation with Mr. Sande.

I contacted Mr. Sande on the 26th to ask why he would make such an accusation: He works for an organization that seems to promote Christian principles, and yet in this instance he violated a basic principle – one articulated Biblically, and one I work to honor – that disagreements should first be aired privately (not to mention a commandment on bearing false witness)..  Instead of having the courtesy to call me (he would have had to call Tyler, since Mr. Sande didn’t have my phone number), he instead slandered my good name in conversations with Glenn Grothman – who then compounded the canard by repeating it publicly on several occasions – without once attempting to verify its accuracy.  Finally, he repeated the defamation in a letter to you, Owen, referenced above.  

Why am I taking the time to address this accusation?  Because I place a very high premium on my reputation for honesty and integrity.  I teach my children the principle that your yes should mean yes, and your no should mean no – and I do my best to live by that principle.

Because of Mr. Sande’s defamation, Glenn Grothman told people around our district that I was not to be trusted – a crime multiplied when Boots and Sabers published Grothman’s accusations, and talk radio hosts repeated them on the air.

I may have lost the September 9th primary, but I take great pride in having run a campaign with honesty and integrity, refusing to stoop to the depths so many campaigns today do.  In fact, one of my criticisms of my opponent was that he paid so little attention to the appearance of impropriety.  So I take pride in having set that example, and in knowing that I gave everything to what I considered myself called to do, with integrity.

Mr. Sande has refused to retract his false accusation, which is why I am now responding with this letter.

And it’s a real shame.  I have great respect for the work all pro-life organizations do.  I am fervently pro-life, and want nothing more than to see a culture of life promoted by our nation’s leadership – and an end to the millions of abortions that have robbed us of an entire generation of Americans.  Unfortunately, in this instance, Mr. Sande put his own personal interests ahead of those of his organization, and of the movement.

Thank you for your time, Owen.

Jim Burkee
—
Dr. Jim Burkee
http://www.jimburkee.com

Paid for by Jim Burkee for Congress

The supporting documentation was included.