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Chris Stirewalt, Ford O'Connell and Ryan Clayton discuss the latest political shenanigans in Wisconsin.
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-- idea.
It's it's my private information and it's being sent everybody all of -- -- That.
Was -- upset Wisconsin resident talking to local fox affiliate WITI.
About a mailer that was sent out by a pro democratic group.
That identified.
The voting history of individuals they've purchased public records and that are sending out mailers to people's neighbors.
Telling them that -- know their neighbors will know whether or not they voted so they better get out to vote and this is power play coming -- you from Waukesha Wisconsin.
Having a great day out here but certainly.
Tensions are running high this is this group I believe called greater Wisconsin.
Is.
A big part of the new story today as people talk about this mailer.
So let's get some perspective on it and let's talk to our friend Ford O'Connell he's a Republican strategist you know -- -- power play all the time he's a pretty big deal.
But I'd also like to introduce you to -- Clayton.
He's a democratic strategist we've kept him -- forward in her medically sealed room separate in the Washington bureau so there can be no fisticuffs gentlemen how we -- -- Doing all right Chris Brown -- all right so.
Did you guys heard about this story the deal as.
This group this outside expenditure group has come in and drop these mailers targeted to specific neighborhoods they're backed by the steelworkers -- -- or at least that's on the mailer.
National steel workers and what they're saying is we're gonna we're gonna tell your neighbors if you don't vote.
And you better get to the polls let's start with you Ryan.
-- what that mailers is the non partisan attempt to drive voter turnout and to encourage everyone to get to the polls today June 5 to make sure that Scott Walker's no longer an office you know but I don't think that mailer you know I was in Wisconsin this weekend.
And I saw some of those mailers and none of them had anything about any candidate -- You know I didn't have anything about any political parties on and the only -- -- -- on there was they my union -- -- said the steel workers because -- who printed it.
I mean but they didn't send that -- -- greater Wisconsin a nonpartisan.
Independent expenditure outfit -- that mailer out of what that does is it just encourages people to say hey this is public record just so you know you're -- vote or they don't vote.
And what they found is that that really drives turnout almost more than anything else that you can do.
That encourages people to go to the polls and I think that's a great thing because -- never solved anything in America with less democracy.
You know every time that more people vote that's a great day.
And the Republicans are coming out against this -- just unhappy because that means more people are gonna vote and we can see through the voter ID laws that they passed from state of all try -- -- -- I don't want people who don't have it but.
But for -- jump in here this it.
Nonpartisan my foot this is the unions were concerned about their bread and water and not having it.
There's a Soviet style intimidation tactic designed to shame people in the boating and undermine the tenets of democracy.
It is ridiculous it's not illegal but it's at or and I hope the Wisconsin reviews -- after this recall election where Scott Walker's gonna win.
I did I would I would expect that the government Republican strategist.
I'll go to -- hold -- right.
So that you see here we have this very stark divide so this is good to be out and then -- he would -- strategy -- this the only country stated brother O'Connell.
So.
-- the question for you with leaving aside.
The partisanship of this -- where it's from.
Isn't this.
Does in this divided neighborhood.
Isn't it somebody's right to stay home and not vote if they say you know what I don't want any part of this and I don't even -- -- go.
Why why is it okay to create these sorts of pressures and and -- -- communities.
Well just like it's their right to stay home and vote or the right to go out and exercise their right to vote you know voting records are public record it's in the public domain so -- also somebody else's free speech right.
To mail that out in the mail and and send out public information or more individuals you know but the reality of what.
-- is talking about -- so pro democracy if you're so pro voting.
There why isn't he talked to his Republican strategist friends who have been passing voter ID laws around the country to keep 10%.
Available eligible citizens from going to the polls and exercising their right to vote on Election Day why -- they -- talk to them because that's actually having an effect on people who want to vote.
Who cannot vote because they don't have the proper identification is required by state legislatures and Republican governors because they don't wanna see people -- -- because if they can't count your vote.
And all the latest.
I have no idea I like you write drivers so much forward.
I don't hate democracy I wanna make sure that the right people voted -- -- avoid voter fraud which obviously Ryan is trying to actually perpetuate here.
By shaming people and the voting is not just that -- cast ballot -- the intent of the fear that when this election's over your neighbors who -- even with you that is the Tenet of democracy one person one vote decide whether to -- -- not -- vote that's what this is all about.
And it's a shame that the Democrats at the resort to these sort of Soviet style tactics because right now they're losing and they know that if this continues.
Folks like -- democratic governors like Jerry Brown in California.
And handled Cuomo in New York where you have the most unionized state and highest number of union -- workers are gonna look very closely what Scott -- doing because what he's doing right.
And that is -- action you.
Yeah I mean right look gorgeous -- -- addressing the question you know if there's so much voter fraud.
Then show me the cases show me where it's that they're you know there's this -- bulldogs finally I didn't everywhere like OK gentlemen gentlemen.
Gentlemen go ahead I don't wanna get sucked down the rabbit hole on voter fraud we're not talking -- -- -- we're talking about this mailer and -- the question is.
It's certainly everyone would stipulate that this is legal you can buy these voting records it certainly can be done there's no question that it's an expression of free speech I don't think anybody saying that.
I'm talking about the -- appropriateness of it is this is this a healthy thing to do is it ethically it's legal but is it ethically right.
Yeah well you know coverage on the -- people vote that's healthy for our democracy and what this year there's been shown for social scientists people who work at universities really Smart people have shown.
That when you send out these mailers that more people go vote I don't know -- -- is so opposed to more people voting but that's the simple fact of why Republicans don't like this because they know that it means.
The more people are gonna show up to the polling Booth on Election Day.
And that's the thing they're so upset about they want to make sure that people don't vote they want to restrict people from being having access to the ballot box.
They want to keep old people and people of color and young people away from about.
Right all right -- -- Ryan Ryan RR Rizzo Ford did so the question here though is.
These folks when they get in to vote.
Even if they feel pressured by their neighbors especially if there's.
Organized labor -- -- -- they feel pressure to go when they get there it's still their own choice they could vote.
For walker.
That they can't vote for walker -- -- I I think this whole thing is morally repugnant because people should want to vote because they want to vote.
Not because they're being shamed by their neighbors or by some outside organization.
Who decided to post their names for everybody to say.
I mean we we all know how this works out a -- it's legal it's morally repugnant and I hope the Wisconsin reviews this situation once this recall election's over.
Gentlemen we really appreciate you making time to get -- -- respect about it.
It's very beautiful up here in Wisconsin and despite all the -- it's a lot of fun I wish I wish you guys could be with this have a great debt.
Absolutely terrific -- I must say about a Scott Walker for us.
