Democrat Senators Interrupt Republican Press Conference with Shouting

Things are getting hot in Madison.

MADISON, Wis. (AP)—Two Democratic lawmakers, including the Senate majority leader, got in a shouting match with Republicans at a news conference outside the Senate chamber on Thursday.

Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker, D-Weston, shouted at seven Republicans holding the news conference, telling them not to accuse Democrats of stifling debate on voter identification.

Decker spoke up after Sen. Spencer Coggs, D-Milwaukee, had already interjected himself in the news conference. Coggs had been watching with reporters for about 10 minutes when Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, asked why he wouldn’t hold a hearing on the issue.

“Because we disagree with you,” Coggs said, stepping up to the microphone.

“You’re not representing your people,” Darling said to him, arguing that a majority of Wisconsin residents want to require voters to show photo IDs at the polls.

As Coggs and Darling exchanged comments, Sen. Joe Leibham, R-Sheboygan, stepped forward and said, “This is great. We’re finally having a public hearing on the issue.”

Decker came out of his office and watched the heated exchange for a couple of minutes. Then he jumped in.

“Do not accuse us of putting time limits on free speech in the state Senate!” Decker shouted at the Republicans.

“I want to get back to the issue!” Darling yelled in return.

Decker and several Republicans, including state Rep. Jeff Stone, of Greenfield, yelled at one another for a few minutes before Decker got in one last comment.

“Go back in the Assembly and take care of your business!” Decker shouted at Stone before turning around and walking back to his office.

How rude.  Usually, press conferences are answered with more press conferences - not by shouting it down.

And I love this:

After the fracas was over, Coggs said he spoke up because he believed Darling was asking him a question.

“They attempted to shout me down,” he said. “It made no sense. They wanted a debate and my voice to be heard, then they shouted me down.”

Is Coggs that dense or just playing the part?  Generally, people giving a press conference don’t ask questions of the audience and expect them to come to the microphone and respond.  Furthermore, the Republicans are calling for a debate on this issue IN THE SENATE, where action can be taken on it one way or the other.  Coggs seems to think that a debate in the hallway supplants actual Senate debate.

UPDATE: Here’s the audio. 

UPDATE2: Here’s the video. 

1. “Do not accuse us of putting time limits on free speech in the state senate”

   “but….”

   “Meeting adjourned” BANG!

   What balls!

   Go Alberta!

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 06, 2008 at 1255 hrs




2. Call your Senators…it’s not too late. (yet)

   Contact These Senators About Voter ID!:

   Jeff Plale 608-266-7505

   Lena Taylor 608-266-5810

   Russ Decker 608-266-2502

   Spencer Coggs 608-266-2500

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 06, 2008 at 1406 hrs




3. Sen. Joe Leibham, R-Sheboygan, stepped forward and said, “This is great. We’re finally having a public hearing on the issue.”

   I agree w/Joe Leibham.

   The light of day and open debate is exactly what we need in Madison.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 06, 2008 at 1415 hrs




4. Well than Mr Decker I would love to hear EXACTLY why when it came time too debate the issue you saw fit to close down the session.

   You may not consider that stifling free speech, however your constituents may, did you ever stop to look at it that way Mr. Decker?

   And this little incident surely did NOTHING to improve your image as a “pompus, my way, or the highway” ass

   Posted by Michael J. Cheaney on March 06, 2008 at 1522 hrs




5. That’s a riot.  Repubs accusing Dems of stiffling public debate on a bill that has received dozens of public hearings in the last two years, 6 or 7 floor votes between the two houses, pulling motions, three passages and three vetoes.  Pretty sure nobody has stopped the debate.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 06, 2008 at 1633 hrs




6. WOOOOW.  The nerve of the Senate Dems to go and interrupt a press conference.  I can’t even believe how uncivil they can be at times…

   Posted by Brandon on March 06, 2008 at 1713 hrs




7. “Is Coggs that dense or just playing the part?  Generally, people giving a press conference don’t ask questions of the audience and expect them to come to the microphone and respond.”

   Are you that dense, Owen, or just playing the part of a party hack?  Apparently Sen. Darling DID ask him a question.  Having been given the opening, Sen. Coggs responded.

   Let’s be clear about why Republicans want to abolish same-day registration, want Granny in the nursing home to trek down and get a photo ID, etc.:  Because such voters are much more likely to vote Democratic.  At least be honest about it, Owen.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 06, 2008 at 2143 hrs




8. Let’s be clear about why Republicans want to abolish same-day registration,

   What a steaming pile of dung!  Why not put this question in front of the voters, Wally?  What are you dems afraid of?

   My mother is 90 and capable of getting a free voter ID.

   Quit your lame ass excuse making.  We’re going to fix this.  It’s a simple matter of time.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 06, 2008 at 2221 hrs




9. Sen. Coggs was correct on one thing: The fact that the report highlighted serious problems with the election workers. What does he propose to do about that? Throw money at the problem like they do in MPS? Unfortunately, money doesn’t make people smarter (or more honest).

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 07, 2008 at 0122 hrs




10. Ah yes, the Dems/liberals, what a bunch of buffons.  First, the don’t believe in free speech and they don’t believe in legal voting.  Way to go, Democrats and liberals.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 07, 2008 at 0206 hrs




11. It seems to me that the Dems are trying to ram the smoking bill down the throats of Wisconsin, by saying that the majority of Wisconsinites favor its passage. -and that very well may be the case, although most of the people I informally polled are about 70-30 against.

    Why should the voter ID bill be any different? The Republicans have given in on a number of issues including giving free ID cards to low income people, and even included an exemption for Senior Citizens in Assisted Living Centers in the previous version in 2005.

    I for one am totally disturbed by the contempt that the Democrats obviously have for the citizens of Wisconsin.

    If they really cared about us they would let this go to a referendum and give the voters a chance to let our voices be heard.

    Posted by Michael J. Cheaney on March 07, 2008 at 0754 hrs




12. Democrat Senators Interrupt Republican Press Conference with Shouting

    Watch it!

    http://wkow.madison.com/News/index.php?ID=19532

    I actually think it was a great exchange.

    As far as “shouting” goes, maybe, if you were raised in a library!

    The bigger question here is the legitimacy of the report itself which everybody seems to clutch like it is the Holy Grail.

    Who wrote it? Names please.

    Who authorized it? Why? Names please.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 07, 2008 at 0903 hrs




13. Let’s be clear about why Republicans want to abolish same-day registration, want Granny in the nursing home to trek down and get a photo ID, etc.:  Because such voters are much more likely to vote Democratic.  At least be honest about it, Owen.

    That is about as lame as it gets.  Granny in the nursing home has ID.  You want honest Wally?  I favor it to curb illegal immigrant voting, convict voting, and just plain illegal voting.  Oh and this reflects so well on Democrats… all 3 of the above groups vote heavily in favor of Democrats.  You must be proud.  (The saddest thing is, he probably is proud).

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 07, 2008 at 1047 hrs




14. We get so many statistics thrown around here (70% seems like a popular number on this string), that we should really get in the practice of providing a link to the survey, so everyone knows what’s being measured.

    Posted by Mike on March 07, 2008 at 1120 hrs




15. Mike, what on earth are you talking about? This?

    ...although most of the people I informally polled are about 70-30 against.

    Time to stop skimming and start reading.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 07, 2008 at 1151 hrs




16. Yer probably right.  Heh heh, sorry all.  I think I read the 70% number a couple of times somewhere else.

    Posted by Mike on March 07, 2008 at 1223 hrs