Grothman Weighs In on Burkee

Here’s a letter that Senator Glenn Grothman asked me to publish on his behalf.

I’d like to address the issue of the Jim Burkee candidacy to my conservative friends who read this blog.   I am supporting Jim Sensenbrenner.  The

Shepherd’s Express

article a week ago implies Burkee cannot figure out why elected Republicans are backing Sensenbrenner other than a “circle the wagons” mentality.

I first met Burkee about five months ago.  He purported to be a straight conservative who believed Republicans had a bad election in 2006 because they strayed from their conservative principles.  He talked almost exclusively about too much government spending.  I discouraged him from running because I felt he would not win (or even get close.) I also told him that he would send the message that conservative Republicans who stuck their neck out – be it on spending (against the Katrina package, transportation bill, etc.)  or Bush’s lax immigration policy, would get challenged for being controversial.  Sensenbrenner is the most conservative of our eight Congressmen.  I also felt a primary would take Sensenbrenner from what should be his main focus – other races – helping Alberta Darling, John Gard, and John McCain.

Since then, Burkee has become much worse.  As I understand it, some of my conservative/libertarian friends might vote for him.  Here are five things that should give you concern in supporting a Burkee candidacy:

First, Burkee appears to tell different people different things.  John Torinus wrote an article in the

West Bend Daily News

.  I like John Torinus a lot, but in the article (see link) Torinus argues that we need Burkee because he is a centrist and the Republicans lost the majority by being too conservative.  In other words, the Burkee trying to sell himself to Glenn Grothman was almost the exact opposite of the Burkee selling himself to John Torinus.  In a related anecdote, Burkee filled out his Pro-Life Wisconsin questionnaire as 100% opposed to embryonic stem cell research.  In the Torinus article, he reveals himself for stem cell research.  I suppose all politicians color their comments for their audience, but Burkee seems to take this to extremes.

Second, in his own article in the

Daily News

, Burkee says to vote for him because our Congressman should be funneling more money to Wisconsin – in particular education dollars.  The Burkee who I met painted himself as an across the board fiscal conservative.  Burkee now comes across as pandering to spending constituencies.   I don’t think most education spending is even constitutional.

Third, I never met a politician who more brazenly tries to win a Republican primary with Democratic voters.  He’s relying on Bryan Kennedy, the UW-M professor, who ran against Sensenbrenner in 2004 and 2006 for help in fundraising and voter turnout.  Burkee wants to compare himself to Reagan by reaching out to Reagan Democrats.  But, Kennedy is no conservative Democrat – he is a stock left-wing professor.  No wonder Burkee wants to bring more education dollars to Wisconsin.  If Burkee would win, he will owe the election to a big government Democrat and voters who believe he will not be the fighter Sensenbrenner is on their fiscal issues.

Fourth, Burkee’s race is irritatingly self righteous.  In an early lit piece Burkee vowed to “not run negative ads or engage in personal attacks.”  In the same lit piece he called Sensenbrenner a “Washington politician who has been consumed by Washington lobbyists in a city of corruption” and a man who “cares more about lobbyist cash than the needs of his constituents.”  In the debate, he said the election was about honesty – therefore implying that Sensenbrenner was both corrupt and dishonest.  I’m somewhat of a political junkie who has talked to people of all political stripes for many years.  I’ve heard people be critical of Sensenbrenner for a variety of reasons.  Jim Burkee – Mr. Change for a Better America – is the first person I’ve heard imply Sensenbrenner was either corrupt or dishonest.

Fifth, I was offended by Burkee’s implying that Sensenbrenner’s immigration stance was not Christian.  I believe the United States allows more people to enter this country than all other countries combined.  All countries have immigration laws.  Unless you want no standards, some people will be left out or asked to leave.  It is an insult to all people opposed to illegal immigration to call enforcement anti-Christian. It is not anti-Christian if illegal immigrants who have a child in this country takes that child home with them.

I met one Jim Burkee several months ago.  While he shouldn’t have run, I assume that is the Burkee who caused some of my conservative/libertarian friends to support him.  Please re-think your position.  The Bryan Kennedy/

Shepherd’s Express/Journal Sentinel

candidate is not the breath of fresh air you are looking for.  Jim Burkee clearly presents a different side to different audiences.  At the end of his election, he is relying on big government Democrats to get him across the finish line.  Furthermore, his attacks on Sensenbrenner’s integrity say he does not have the temperament to raise the level of debate in Washington.