Madison360: Broadcasters give Scott Walker a new platform

[Yon_Yonson]

Madison360: Broadcasters give Scott Walker a new platform


PAUL FANLUND | Editor of The Capital Times Posted: Thursday, September 8, 2011


That didn't take long. On Wednesday, Gov. Scott Walker's press office announced that the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association has agreed to a "partnership" to distribute a weekly radio message from the governor.

"I am excited that the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association has agreed to facilitate another avenue for the people of Wisconsin to hear directly from their government," Walker said.

That's code for bypassing those unpleasant media "filters" out there.

Then today we see the first installment. In Walker's world, up is down and black is white. On his epic war on teachers this year: "Much attention has been given to the reforms we put in place to help school leaders balance their budgets while protecting teaching jobs and improving the quality of education. These are positive reforms for our state."

And later: "Many school leaders are thrilled that they can finally push the kind of reforms they only dreamed of before this year."

Sure they did.

Were Democrats invited to produce a regular alternative message? "The WBA has a history of working with Wisconsin's governor throughout the years (regardless of party) -- as we are a non-partisan organization," wrote Michelle Vetterkind, the association's president and CEO, in an email response to my inquiry.

Did former Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle have such a program? "Not a weekly radio address, no," she wrote. "However, this is something we'd love to continue" with governors of either party.

She said legislative Democrats can do their own. "If the Democrats wish to offer a response, we are more than willing to post a link to it as well," she said. "It would be posted at the same time."

Democrats appear likely to take them up on the offer. Melanie Conklin, an aide to Rep. Peter Barca of Kenosha, leader of Assembly Democrats, says she is in contact with an aide to Sen. Mark Miller of Monona, leader of Senate Democrats, on a next step.

Maybe Walker's messaging is needed because, you know, there isn't enough right-wing radio in this state.



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