Saturday, August 23, 2008

Burkee Insinuates Upcoming Debate Is Biased Against Him

Jim Burkee, who is challenging Sensenbrenner in the primary, is sending out this email to his supporters.

Dear Friends,

On August 27th (this coming Wednesday) at Germantown Village Hall you will have your one and only chance to see Jim Sensenbrenner do something he has rarely done over the past 30 years - debate.

Perhaps he believes he can control this debate, which was organized by supporters of Sensenbrenner.  With the cards stacked against me, I need your help to turn this debate into a win!

Please join me and the Jim Burkee for Congress team to provide moral support in my debate against the 30-year incumbent.   The debate begins at 7 sharp, but we will want our people there much earlier.

One more thing:  Please drop me an e-mail to let me know you plan to come.  We’ll be back in touch then with further instructions.

Wish me luck!  I hope to see you then.

Yours,

Jim

—
Dr. Jim Burkee
Candidate for US Congress
www.jimburkee.com

Since I am the moderator of the debate and have been involved in its preparation, I find it necessary to respond to Burkee’s insinuation that it is somehow stacked against him.  It is not.  Both in deciding the format and in drafting the questions (which I have), considerable thought was given to making sure that the debate is fair.  The only thing about the format that Burkee’s campaign disagreed with was the fact that the candidates will be seated.  He wanted to stand, but Sensenbrenner has a bum knee, so the organizers decided that sitting was acceptable.  I hardly think that classifies as stacking the deck against Burkee. 

Burkee is correct in saying that the debate was organized by supporters of Sensenbrenner.  It is sponsored by the Washington County Republican Party.  Two thoughts on this…

First, Sensenbrenner has been the 5th District’s representative for nearly 30 years.  Before that he was an elected representative in Madison.  He’s been involved in politics in this area for over 40 years.  As such, it’s mighty difficult to find any Republican organization that doesn’t support Sensenbrenner.  I suppose that some lefty or Libertarian group could host the debate, but why would Sensenbrenner, or Burkee for that matter, want to have a debate there?  This is a REPUBLICAN primary.  And wouldn’t those other groups favor Burkee then?  How does that make the debate more fair?

Second, just because the the debate is being hosted by a group that favors one side does not mean that it will favor one side.  Burkee’s campaign has agreed to the format, so presumably they think it’s fair.  They asked to make a couple of changes, which were agreed to.  Unless Burkee can point to something in the format that favors Sensenbrenner, he has no legs to stand on to say that the debate is biased.  Perhaps he is assuming that the questions will be biased.  I assure you that they are not.  In fact, we will be asking about some of the things that Burkee has been hammering Sensenbrenner about.  And in any case, asking both men about the issues of the day and government policy is what this is about. 

I’m disappointed that the Burkee campaign would insinuate that the debate is biased against them as a way to drum up supporters.  It’s insulting to those of us who are spending a lot of time and effort to put the debate together.  If after the debate he thinks it was biased against him, then we’ll all have the tape to judge for ourselves.

(10) Comments
Posted by Owen at 1147 hrs
Politics + Politics - Wisconsin

  1. Bummer for HIM!  As a long-time supporter of Jim Sensenbrenner, I was planning (and still AM planning) on coming to the debate, and bringing family and friends.  I truly wanted to hear both men’s views and determine for myself whether I felt it was time for a change.  I was actually giving Burkee a fair chance, and was quite open going into the debate setting…  Tactics like this “cheapen” the character of the canddate and damage credibility in integrity.  DING!  Three strikes, and you’re out…..

    Posted by GAMazy on August 23, 2008 at 1218 hrs


  2. I am not a fan of Sensenbrenner and am open to change, in that I am willing to give someone else a fair chance for consideration.  Personally, I think after a unspecified number of years, no matter how good the person is, it gets to be too long.

    I am disappointed at the tone of this post (coming from Burkee camp).  I didn’t get a chance to comment on your column in the Daily News earlier this week - I wanted to note that I found it to be very balanced & wanted to complement you on that one.  I would find it very hard to do that when you are comparing someone with “history’ (be it positive/negative/neutral) vs. someone that you know little about.  I think you were very gracious to allow for the benefit of the doubt.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on August 23, 2008 at 1228 hrs


  3. Just a politician doing what politicians do.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on August 23, 2008 at 1233 hrs


  4. While I do agree with many of the Honorable F. James’ votes, I also would like to see more changeover on the federal level.  I’ll be hounding for 12-year limits for Congress until I gettig tired of talking, or die; I like to talk.  I’ll take a wander over to Burkee’s website, but as of right now, I’m honestly already a bit biased against him after reading this post.

    Posted by Mike Gallo on August 23, 2008 at 1313 hrs


  5. I think the underdog always has to make it look like the world is against him.  It was rude to imply that the debate is biased, but I can see why he would want to get butts in seats.  He can’t very well say, “Congressman Sensenbrenner and I will engage in a friendly debate.  Join us for tea and crumpets.”  No one could show.  He has to say, “They’re all against me, come help me!”  Though it was in poor taste to imply his hosts purposely stacked the debate against him.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on August 23, 2008 at 1341 hrs


  6. In order to win an election against Sensenbrenner, who has been a Wisconsin favorite, one must prove to the voters that their level of integrity, character, viewpoints, etc., are on the SAME level as Sensie or HIGHER.  One cannot unseat an incumbent if they suck.  This letter sucked and it made him look like an immature whiner, something Sensenbrenner is NOT.  If a candidate has a strong character base and a sound agenda, he stands a very good, if not excellent, chance against an incumbent who, as we all know, won’t be around forever.  If he is to be unseated, it will be because someone “better” came along (I would hope).  Burkee is not painting himeself as “someone better”...

    Posted by GAMazy on August 23, 2008 at 1432 hrs


  7. Not from your district but had a question. Have the Washington County Republicans hosting the debate already endorsed “Sensie”? If so then I can completely understand why Berkee would say that the debate would be biased. I don’t believe it was a poke at Owen or he wouldn’t have accepted the invitation at all. I would guess that most of you would not really have given Burkee a chance since you are using pet names for your candidate. Give Burkee some respect for having the balls to jump in the water and not sit around dragging everyone down who sees the need for change.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on August 24, 2008 at 0100 hrs


  8. Used your link to Burkees website and found a press release stating that he was not allowed to walk in the July 4th parade in West Allis, Waukesha and Brookfield. He was not welcome but Sensie was, I cannot imagine that happening in Central Wisconsin or anywhere. You and your power of this blog should stand up for the right of the people to get to know ALL the people on the ballot. If they are crazed morons, the public will decide. I think you have the responsibility to speak out against this type of treatment toward anyone willing to stand up and run for office. I cannot imagine what their excuse was.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on August 24, 2008 at 0125 hrs


  9. MoveF…thanks for the chuckle!  I used the term Sensie as it was rather amusing to myself and easier to type!  LOLOL!  Glad it caught your eye!  So does that mean all the people who have pet names for Obama are endorsing him, too?  Guess that would indicate he has already snagged the majority on this campaign!  LOLOLOL!

    I was actually rather intrigued by this new candidate and was open for change.  He is shooting himself in the foot by mucking up his name with accusations against the candidate from his own party.  He “appears” immature and unprofessional.  Oh, that’s right…this is politics.

    Posted by GAMazy on August 24, 2008 at 0850 hrs


  10. If this is going to be the only one, I am going to attend.

    Posted by Dean on August 24, 2008 at 2042 hrs


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