Negative Campaign Operative Rongstad to Work for Assembly Republicans
Former Assembly Republican Caucus employee Todd Rongstad is back in the news.
No, he didn't falsely accuse anyone of beating their spouse or a parent of facilitating the huffing deaths of local children (I'm not making those up really), but he is in the news on two other fronts.
First is a Wisconsin Supreme Court decision he lost for his anonymous negative campaign attacks against State Senator Julie Lassa. For that offense, he's fined $65,000.
But even more incredible is that after his numerous questionable negative campaigns, he's back in action with the Assembly Republicans. The winning decision for Republican leadership is to bring back the same person who used to work in the now-defunct legislative caucuses and viciously attacked former Reps. Sarah Waukau and Lee Meyerhofer. Bet you can guess what kind of positive, issues oriented campaign material he'll produce this time.
The only thing Marley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel doesn't get fully right is the bipartisan claims of Rongstad. Other than a couple of campaigns he worked on through connections from a previous marriage, Rongstad has been the hachet man for Republicans in the most negative campaigns in legislative history. And now, the GOP found it wise to bring him back.
I guess the Republican leadership must be feeling the sting of only challenging one third of Assembly Democrats, while the Dems are challenging three-quarters of their members. It appears the GOP answer is to bring back an oldie but a nasty, former Republican Caucus employee Todd Rongstad.
That's right, they're reassembling the campaign operation that made Scooter Jensen famous, just months after Jensen is facing prison time for his involvement with illegal campaign activities.
How do you think the public will sit knowing the GOP has learned nothing from the recent scandals? I hope by ousting some of their members this fall.
posted by Mark Pocan @ 10:04 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
As the linked story indicates, Rongstad has also done work for Democrats, including Dan Schoof (Doyle's campaign manager) and Jeff Plale.
And this is probably the most telling quote from Rongstad:"I am a Republican, but probably over the last four years I've had more work for Democrats."
The "hatchet man" takes swings at both parties, Mark.
That's what he wants you to think. Keep taking the Republican talking points....
It's the age old problem of "swinging the ax for the benefit of he who pays you," and that's why we need Mark's full public funding of campaigns. Let the ax fall on behalf of the public.
Q: Who was Rongstad working for when he got sued?
A: State Senate Candidate Alex Paul, Democrat
Q: Did Mr. Paul receive the endorsements of any high level Wisconsin politicians?
A: Yes, Paul was endorsed by Gov. Jim Doyle.
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