Neumann Creates Fake Controversy
I’m at the Wisconsin GOP convention. Around noon I wandered outside to hopefully get some good video of some protesters. No luck. But I did see a group of 30 or so Mark Neumann supporters rallying down the block, so I went to see them. When I got there, Neumann was beginning to speak.
What struck me from Neumann’s comments was that he said that the supporters on the street weren’t being allowed into the convention. That seemed strange, so I asked Neumann about it afterward. Neumann said that his supporters weren’t being allowed in because they weren’t delegates, alternates, or guests. I asked Neumann if that prohibition was only being enforced on his supporters or on everyone. He said that he didn’t know, but we should ask!
So I did.
I asked WRP Executive Director Mark Jefferson and her clearly laid out the policy that only delegates, alternates, guests, and media were allowed in and that it was equally enforced on everyone. I asked Jefferson if the Neumann had filed any complaints about his supporters being denied access, and Jefferson said they had not.
So what do we have?
Neumann is trying to manufacture outrage and his own victim status by claiming that his supporters are being excluded when, in fact, his supporters are being treated like everyone else’s. It’s a cheap, dishonest campaign tactic that deliberately insults the organizers of the convention and the Republican stalwarts who attended the convention. Apparently Neumann thinks he will win the Republican nomination without any Republicans.
The television news stations were covering Neumann. It will be interesting to see if they buy his spin.
I have video of Neumann and Jefferson that I will post here later.
UPDATE: Here’s Neumann speaking to his supporters where he says they’re locked out of the convention.
And here’s RPW Executive Director Mark Jefferson explaining the policy.
It’s a cheap, dishonest campaign tactic
It’s politics. It’s all cheap and dishonest.
Posted by Jay4Liberty on May 22, 2010 at 1603 hrs
Cheap, dishonest and manufactured campaigning is what Mark Neumann is all about this go around.
Why doesn’t he have anything to say against Tom Barrett?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 22, 2010 at 1608 hrs
Around noon I wandered outside to hopefully get some good video of some protesters. No luck.
Where were all the Tea Party protesters??
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 22, 2010 at 1710 hrs
The newspaper bought his spin. The rest of the pressitutes will fall in line.
Posted by steveegg on May 22, 2010 at 1742 hrs
Do we really want this erratic, flaky behavior in a governor?
Mark Neumann made a big deal about not wanting or accepting the WIGOP endorsement/nomination. Now he’s whining because they’re not going to let him in?
We don’t need this. Our state has huge issues facing it, and we don’t need this juvenile behavior.
Posted by hsgbdmama on May 22, 2010 at 1802 hrs
Let’s see. Neumann is running against Scott Walker and he’ll be able to say, with 85% accuracy, that Walker’s supporters were allowed in and his weren’t.
In a time of anti-incumbency it looks like smart message management from here.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 22, 2010 at 1943 hrs
Neumann is trying to position himself as the “outsider” candidate. Fine.
But cheap tricks don’t reflect well on him.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 22, 2010 at 2200 hrs
I love the sign “Mark Neumann Gettin’ it done” Gettin’ what done? He’s a participant in a popularity contest, he hasn’t gotten anything done yet. Did they chant any mindless slogans about government being broken and it needs to be changed?
Posted by Jay4Liberty on May 23, 2010 at 0841 hrs
Where were all the Tea Party protesters??
Why would there be Tea Party protesters at a political convention? This may come as a surprise to you, but we protest irresponsible government policies, not government parties.
As for Neumann, his behavoir is what we’ve come to expect from the D.C. political ruling class. Stupid political animal tricks. Sorry we don’t drink the Kool Aid anymore, Mark.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 23, 2010 at 0843 hrs
Neumann “gets it done”?
Seems to me that Walker is the one who fought the Dragon to a standstill in Milwaukee County, and then went on to force a retreat from said Dragon.
And Neumann, as part of a Congressional MAJORITY, claims that he “gets things done”??
We have a truth-problem here.
Posted by dad29 on May 23, 2010 at 0854 hrs
Duke,
Bet ya $5 that when the Dems have their convention in Wisconsin, there will be TEA Party folks out there protesting, even though it’s just a political convention. It’s part of the TEA Party hypocrisy.
Anyone wanna bet against me?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 23, 2010 at 1003 hrs
Bet ya $5 that when the Dems have their convention in Wisconsin, there will be TEA Party folks out there protesting, even though it’s just a political convention. It’s part of the TEA Party hypocrisy.
and if there aren’t, I’m sure some democrat political morons will make up some signs quick so they pretend that the tea party was there and cry about how unfair it is that they were protested and the republicans weren’t. Then they’ll make the usual statements about racism and hate speech.
Politics. It’s so cool!
Posted by Jay4Liberty on May 23, 2010 at 1017 hrs
Why would there be Tea Party protesters at a political convention?
Oh, well what kind of protesters was Owen fishing for then???????
The only protesters I can think of are those that protest irresponsible government policies, or those that attempt to influence irresponsible government policies, or those than might make irresponsible government policies in the future, not parties. I thought that is what the Tea Party stands for and does. So why shouldn’t they be there. The Tea Party isn’t Republican or Democrat, they’re common sense concerned citizens.Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 23, 2010 at 1259 hrs
And Duke, just an FYI. You tea party folks do, and have protested at Democratic functions. One was in March at the North Dakota State Democratic Convention. And how many tea party folks go to a republican town hall meeting and protest? I’m starting to think that the tea party is just another branch of the Republican Party.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 23, 2010 at 1308 hrs
Pat,
Some republicans think the tea party is just a branch of THEIR party, and those republicans have been getting booted out of primaries by the Tea Party. The Tea Party to date has had much more luck running republicans out of office than democrats. The may overlap with conservative republicans but they are certainly not in line with mainstream republicans. I think the tea party would most certainly also support conservative Democrats. (Then again, they would also support conservative unicorns and those are much easier to find than conservative democrats)
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 23, 2010 at 1550 hrs
Bravo Curt; Bravo!
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 23, 2010 at 1755 hrs
Bravo Curt; Bravo!
Yes Curt, Bravo.
But that doesn’t change the fact that tea party protesters will protest a party, especially if it’s Democratic.
we protest irresponsible government policies, not government parties.
I can’t recall, or find, any tea party protests at Republican town hall meetings. But I’m sure there were many.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 23, 2010 at 1843 hrs
Pat,
A small accounting of Tea Party disapproval of Republicans..
CA GOP Chair Ron Nehring and Gov Ahhhnold being booed in Sacremento. Utah Gov Jon Huntsman booed at an event as well. Rep Gresham Barrett booed and heckled (blowing air horns as he tried to speak) in South Carolina. Lindsey Graham has received some very cold responses, was pushed hard at his town halls and has been censured by numerous county parties in SC. Bob Bennett in Utah didn’t even make the primary this year and was one of the first incumbents to fall.
Shall I go on?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 23, 2010 at 2137 hrs
Neomom,
That national comparison is not exactly applicable to the governor’s race. While Neumann waited until the national Tea Party Express rolled into the state to make any serious outreach to any element of the Tea Party movement, Walker, and indeed the RPW, were busy reaching out to various local Tea Party movement groups. That was evident in the WisPolitics straw poll question where 425 of the 457 who participated support the Tea Party.
The only hope Neumann has now is a massive crossover vote. Of course, that support will dry up on September 15 as quickly as the LeftStreamMedia support for John McCain dried up when he secured the 2008 Presidential nomination.
Posted by steveegg on May 24, 2010 at 0737 hrs
Seriously Grumps, have you degenerated into a Capper puppet that badly?
All Neumann’s supporters had to do to get in was register.
This is like complaining you could not get in to see a movie when you refuse to buy a ticket.
Posted by Fred on May 24, 2010 at 0808 hrs
steveegg - I was responding to Pat #14 and #17 and his the-TEA-Party-folks-are-all-Republican meme. Locally, a good portion of them are Libertarian and Paul-nuts. Its actually rather difficult to keep them focused on the big picture.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 24, 2010 at 1556 hrs
I had enourmous respect for Mark, supported him when he was my congressman. I just don’t understand what has happened to him. I was really torn between him and Walker but if nothing else, he has made my mind up completely.
A man’s honor is his greatest asset, and Mark seems to have misplaced his.Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 24, 2010 at 1847 hrs
Locally, a good portion of them are Libertarian and Paul-nuts
This is why the Tea Party will fail. The “all of a sudden I’m small government” republicans can’t help but bash or label others that are the slightest bit different from them. Then they go out and cheer for people like Tommy Thompson.
Posted by Jay4Liberty on May 25, 2010 at 1247 hrs
No Jay - you really have to see some of these guys. Like this one. Or this one.
I am 200% behind the smaller government movement. Hell, I’d get rid of about 6 cabinet departments entirely if I could. But we can’t be idiots about this. If we actually want a small government advocate to get elected they can’t be whack-jobs. It doesn’t exactly help the cause and it will just leave the same idiots in charge.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 25, 2010 at 1752 hrs
Missed the link on the second one above….
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 25, 2010 at 1756 hrs
Total Entries: 19998
Total Comments: 134037
Most Recent Entry: 05/24/2012 05:43 pm
Most Recent Comment on: 05/25/2012 12:32 am
Total Members: 9751
Total Logged in members: 0
Total guests: 111
Total anonymous users: 0
Most Recent Visitor on: 05/25/2012 04:59 am
The most visitors ever was 538 on 12/01/2007 02:11 pm
Protected and licensed under a Creative Commons License (some rights reserved).