Mary Burke: Doomed From The Start
“Democrats can’t even feign excitement for Mary Burke’s candidacy, making it clear she is not a credible nor serious candidate. Burke was not the first choice of Wisconsin Democrats to run for governor, and after her shaky campaign launch, Democrats have not been quiet about their opposition to her candidacy.” – Communications Director Gail Gitcho
Paul Fanlund, The Capital Times Editor, Questioned Whether The “Far Left Would Undermine Burke’s Candidacy” Because She Lacks The “Credibility So Common To Admired Democratic Resumes.” “My question then was whether the Democratic far left would undermine Burke’s candidacy because she has neither the hardscrabble life narrative nor the labor-backed, multi-campaign credibility so common to admired Democratic resumes.” (Paul Fanlund, “With Mary Burke In, The Liberal Jury Is Out,” The Capitol Times, 10/8/13)
After Writing A “Pro-Burke Column,” Fanlund Was “Sharply Criticized By Many On The Left.” “My pro-Burke column was sharply criticized by many on the left, most stridently by those who regard themselves as the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party. I was maligned in print, and, I am told, on talk radio.” (Paul Fanlund, “With Mary Burke In, The Liberal Jury Is Out,” The Capitol Times, 10/8/13)
The Progressive Notes Big Labor Not A Fan Of Burke’s Outsourcing Of Jobs Overseas. “Union leaders don’t like the fact that Trek has no union employees, and that Burke oversaw the company’s operations in seven countries overseas—as opposed to making sure jobs stayed at home in Wisconsin.” (Ruth Conniff, “Met Scott Walkers Challenger, Mary Burke,” The Progressive, 10/7/13)
The Progressive:“Nor Are They Charmed By Her Assertion That Trek Is Such A Good Employer, It Doesn’t Need A Union.” (Ruth Conniff, “Met Scott Walkers Challenger, Mary Burke,” The Progressive, 10/7/13)
HEADLINE: “Mary Burke Faces Criticism From Wisconsin Democrats.” (Jack Craver, “Mary Burke Faces Criticism From Wisconsin Democrats,” The Capital Times, 9/17/13)
Milwaukee Union Activist Chris Liebenthal Compared Burke To Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele, Who Liberals Are Angry With. “Milwaukee union activist Chris Liebenthal compared Burke to Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele, who was elected with liberal support but has since angered many on the left by pushing for privatization of some county services and supporting a GOP-authored bill to downsize the county board.” (Jack Craver, “Mary Burke Faces Criticism From Wisconsin Democrats,” The Capital Times, 9/17/13)
“We already have seen with Chris Abele what can happen when an uber-wealthy corporate-minded person takes office. I’d rather see a more populist type of candidate such as Senator Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee, or Representative Chris Taylor, D-Madison.” (Jack Craver, “Mary Burke Faces Criticism From Wisconsin Democrats,” The Capital Times, 9/17/13)
Democrat Wisconsin State Representative Brett Hulsey: “I Was At An Event With Mary Burke The Other Day. She’s Got The Charisma Of A Turnip.” (Daniel Bice, “Lawmaker Spends Campaign Funds On Used Convertible, Triathlon,” Journal Sentinel’s No Quarter Blog [Milwaukee, Wisconsin], 8/6/13)
“Not only did [Hulsey] suggest that she is personality-deprived, Hulsey said she was MIA during the fight with the GOP governor over his legislation stripping most state workers of their collective bargaining rights.” (Daniel Bice, “Lawmaker Spends Campaign Funds On Used Convertible, Triathlon,” Journal Sentinel’s No Quarter Blog [Milwaukee, Wisconsin], 8/6/13)
Hulsey: “While we were fighting Gov. Walker — trying to keep him from cutting $800 million from education and gut Wisconsin’s school system — she was working with right-wing interests to take money away from Madison schools to create this bogus private academy. I’m not impressed.” (Daniel Bice, “Lawmaker Spends Campaign Funds On Used Convertible, Triathlon,” Journal Sentinel’s No Quarter Blog [Milwaukee, Wisconsin], 8/6/13)
WEKZ Liberal Talk Radio Host John “Sly” Sylvester: “‘I’m Supposed To Trust Some Woman Who Outsourced Jobs To China Making Trek Bicycles,’ He Said, Referring To The Fact That Many Trek Bikes Are Manufactured Abroad.” (Jack Craver, “Mary Burke Faces Criticism From Wisconsin Democrats,” The Capital Times, 9/17/13)
Cognitive Dissidence’s Jeff Simpson On Millionaire Mary Burke: “The Problem With This Burke Candidacy, Is The Infatuation Of Money.” (Jeff Simpson, “Mary, Mary – Why Ya Pollin?” Cognitive Dissidence, 7/15/13)
Blue Cheddar (A Progressive Blog In Wisconsin): “My Thoughts (Negative) On Mary Burke Running For Governor.” (bluecheddar, “My Thoughts (Negative) On Mary Burke Running For Governor,” Blue Cheddar Blog, 10/7/13)
Blue Cheddar: “Burke is not exactly attractive to those of us who occupied the streets and Wisconsin’s Capitol building in 2011.” (bluecheddar, “My Thoughts (Negative) On Mary Burke Running For Governor,” Blue Cheddar Blog, 10/7/13)
Blue Cheddar: “First off, the way Dems have tried to both choose Burke and keep their choice under wraps is an insult to our intelligence.” (bluecheddar, “My Thoughts (Negative) On Mary Burke Running For Governor,” Blue Cheddar Blog, 10/7/13)
Blue Cheddar: “In the liability column is the fact Burke will surely see Trek’s manufacturing process foreign and domestic torn apart by Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce.” (bluecheddar, “My Thoughts (Negative) On Mary Burke Running For Governor,” Blue Cheddar Blog, 10/7/13)
Blue Cheddar: “I simply need more information before I can have any excitement for Burke let alone lift a finger for her.” (bluecheddar, “My Thoughts (Negative) On Mary Burke Running For Governor,” Blue Cheddar Blog, 10/7/13)
Blogging Blue (Blogging Liberally In The Badger State): “Mary Burke For Governor? Meh…” (Zachary, “Mary Burke For Governor? Meh…” Blogging Blue, 10/7/13)
Blogging Blue: “Burke has done little nothing to articulate what she stands for, and while many within Wisconsin’s Democratic establishment may believe that to be a winning strategy, I’m less than inspired.” (Zachary, “Mary Burke For Governor? Meh…” Blogging Blue, 10/7/13)
Blogging Blue: “I’d encourage you all to go visit Burke’s official campaign website to learn more about her, but all there is to learn from her campaign website is that she wants your money.” (Zachary, “Mary Burke For Governor? Meh…” Blogging Blue, 10/7/13)
Wisconsin Soapbox: “Is She Progressive Enough?” “In short, the real question that many in the ‘grassroots’ have is, ‘is she Progressive enough?’” (“Okay Everyone, Let’s Hit ‘Reset,’” Wisconsin Soapbox Blog, 9/1/13)
Wisconsin Soapbox: “Madison Teachers are highly skeptical, especially with her outrageous spending of over $100,000 on her board seat. . .” (“Okay Everyone, Let’s Hit ‘Reset,’” Wisconsin Soapbox Blog, 9/1/13)
Wisconsin Soapbox: “They also have beef with her financing and advocacy for ‘Madison Prep’, which is a highly controversial charter school concept developed by the Urban League’s leader in Madison.” (“Okay Everyone, Let’s Hit ‘Reset,’” Wisconsin Soapbox Blog, 9/1/13)
Wisconsin Soapbox: “There have also been lots of questions over her devotion to workers, unions, and a lot of the traditional Democratic base.” (“Okay Everyone, Let’s Hit ‘Reset,’” Wisconsin Soapbox Blog, 9/1/13)
Kathleen Vinehout (Democrat Wisconsin State Senator) On Political Neophyte Mark Burke: “Running For Office Is A Great Education. Everybody Should Do It At Least Once.” (Press Release, “Statement On The Announcement Of Mary Burke For Governor,” Senator Kathleen Vinehout, 10/7/13)
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