Vol. 68, No. 10 Thursday, October 23, 2008 ENDORSED CANDIDATES NOVEMBER 4 US PRESIDENT Thinking through Barack Obama, Democrat Why Obama is winning US HOUSE DISTRICT 4 By Dominique Paul Noth growing understanding of the Gwen Moore, Democrat Editor, Labor Press record. Obama, they conceded, hat a curious race for had proved neither as liberal nor WISCONSIN Legislature the White House and as tax-happy as painted — and the Congress. At this perhaps more in touch with tradi- incumbents unless indicated W Obama survives the flash- tional American optimism and point it seems that Republicans bulbs on a Milwaukee visit Senate can only win November 4 by frugality and even broader fami- emerging than Reagan District 4: Lena Taylor discouraging voter turnout while ly values than his main opponent Democrats. the Democrats must strive for for the presidency. His response District 6: Spencer Coggs Obama has been up 10% in record turnout to guarantee a to financial crisis also reassured District 8: Sheldon Wasserman, recent polls of battleground mandate for change. them that he had the experience states. He is ahead or competing Democrat, challenger Six months ago, there were and temperament. in 10 states that went for Bush in District 20: Clyde Winter, Democratic strategists who were They didn’t say this easily. 2004. He is also up 10% among Independent, challenger counting on conservative cool- Several remained cautious about women in polls, up among col- ness to John McCain to keep his sharing these views because they Assembly lege-educated suburban white party from the polls. Some even grew up disliking Democrats – voters including soccer moms, District 7: Peggy Krusick called it the key to a Barack and because McCain forces were and probably hockey moms, too, District 8: Pedro Colon Wasserman, Page 2 Obama victory. telling them to either back their if there are such things. District 9: Josh Zepnick But the surprise in this elec- original candidate or stay home. He’s gaining the majority tion is the goodly portion of But the changing trend is not District 10: Annette (Polly) Williams among white males and definite- moderate Republicans and reli- the one union leaders feared District 12: Fred Kessler ly Latinos; he’s attracting anx- gious conservatives actually lis- most (and are continuing to ious financial managers — District 14: David Hucke, Democrat, challenger tening favorably to Obama. address) — white working-class including the $40,000 a year District 15: Tony Staskunas So they tell pollsters. So voters who may use Obama’s front office novices on Wall District 16: Leon Young they told me not only in color and background to vote Street who can’t believe their Waukesha and Ozaukee counties against their own economic District 17: Barbara Toles CEOs were that stupid. but also on an October visit to interests. District 19: Jon Richards He’s raising more money New York City, where I shared They exist, but it’s hard to than McCain from Republican District 21: Glen Brower, Democrat, challenger airports, Wall Street visits and see them gaining traction in, say, strongholds, enough to plan half District 20: Christine Sinicki restaurant meals with a number Ohio, when unemployment an hour of prime time on major District 22: Sandra Pasch, Democrat, open seat who identified themselves as jumped to 7.4%. Still, it’s a deli- networks Oct. 29. Through “lifelong Republicans,” “diehard cate topic. small Internet contributions he conservatives” and even “former ut consider this: The sta- Milwaukee County Advisory Referendum has been outspending the GOP McCain admirers.” tistics as well as the City of Milwaukee Binding Referendum two or three to one, allowing him Not just financial crisis has Banecdotes suggest there VOTE YES ON BOTH! See Story Page 8 forced them to rethink. So has a are more Obama Republicans Obama continued Page 4 Milwaukee area candidates must complete a process of questionnaires and interviews even to be considered, and recommendations require a two-thirds agreement on the Can fake fear of fraud slow the vote? Committee on Political Education (COPE) of the Milwaukee Area Labor Council, representing all member unions, locals till in the crosshairs of party roustabouts seeking to office. and constituency groups. COPE choices are not binding, presidential politics, demean anyone convicted of a That was following the law but they represent considerable scrutiny on working family SWisconsin is also on the major crime. and acting swiftly (while most of issues. firing line in accusations of voter Unleashing the cry of the GOP charges against Union households are one of the most committed voting fraud. Even if it barely exists. "Felons! There Are Felons on the ACORN around that nation have segments in the nation. On November 4, polls are open Sniff the air: Determined Streets!" it is an attempt to flowed out months later). It 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. despite the polls to turn the state undermine voter registration meant no voters were imperson- for John McCain, the national drives among the poor by princi- ated at the polls. Republican Party has singled out pally two organizations in Of some 49 named in Wisconsin as a place where it Wisconsin -- ACORN Milwaukee complaints, prosecu- can scare the public and suppress (Association of Community tors have to this point found only the vote. There's nothing there Organizations for Reform Now) two worth charging with any- but the smell, but it's still going and Community Voters Project. thing. Noted Milwaukee District to be an odorific fight. Officials of those organiza- Attorney John Chisholm in an One nose-holding attack, tions, doing due diligence on the interview, "Compared to even discussed last month, is led by registration deputies the govern- four years ago our voter registra- the only Republican in high ment trains and they hire, uncov- tion system and independent office, J.B. Van Hollen, state ered fraudulent voter registra- groups are so much better now . attorney general, who was clear- tions. They fired the employees . quickly reporting concerns to ly pushed by GOP officials to and reported their suspicions to the election commission" - in sue his own state, insisting on a city election officials, who effect preventing any fraudulent check of driver license names passed them along to the DA's Vote continued Page 10 against two years of address changes by residents who want to vote. A more recent effort was pushed at an angry and typically inaccurate press teleconference Why did Chris Yatchak call Sheila Cochran a stinker at the by the national GOP's main law- United Way kick-off? See Page 6. yer, Sean Cairncross, and other Page 2 — AFL-CIO MILWAUKEE LABOR PRESS, Thursday, October 23, 2008 www.milwaukeelabor.org No fight bigger: Wasserman vs. Darling n Milwaukee area races for most expensive legislative race announced a year ago that would Senate and the extreme wing of Shore constituents who hardly the Wisconsin legislature, in Wisconsin history. seek to step up to the Senate in the Republican Party is pushing share it. Ithere is one Assembly and Labor's candidate has the District 8. That meant taking on for Darling in what they know is It's a far cry from what the one Senate face-off of keen com- reputation as the hardest working another formidable fund-raiser a difficult election year. district originally expected from petition and high interest to orga- legislator, respected by both and campaigner, Republican Wasserman has directly Darling, yet some are confused nized labor. sides for his dedication, frugal Alberta Darling. raised the issue that this is not because she can still speak one These contests are so close ways with the public dollar and Wasserman has the edge in the Darling who began serving way in support of progress and and hard to track that pundits are independence in ideas. The state speaking his mind on social 18 years ago in District 8 when then vote the other way. The top- reluctant to predict the outcome AFL-CIO also gives him the issues and demonstrating legisla- Republicans were better able to per was her recent floor pleas for in either. Which means union highest marks in supporting tive and ideological consistency resist pressure from the extremist stem cell research followed by a votes could make the difference. union bargaining rights and Talk radio, which once indi- wing of the party. The question vote that would have virtually The Assembly race - see worker training programs. cated respect for both camps, has today is just who has she been eliminated the entire Wisconsin Page 3 -- is District 21 where heldon Wassermann is also recently been trying to boost serving? initiative in stem cell biology, organized labor is speaking up a physician who has deliv- Darling by creating petty dis- When first elected she was not just the embryonic kind. for political newcomer but veter- Sered some 3,000 babies putes about who works harder, regarded as a moderate, a former That vote smacked the North an public servant Democrat Glen hereabouts and offers practical who is more frugal, even who teacher concerned with a bal- Shore hard as an example of Brower to unseat incumbent steps to improve health care and says what under their breaths. It anced approach to family prob- being out of touch with a diverse Republican Mark Honadel. education. is the definition of silliness in lems. She even sat on the district that is moving more to The Senate race is between An easy victor for years in politics. The issues and realities Planned Parenthood board. the middle as she crossed further two familiar political names - a Assembly District 22 - where of this campaign are far deeper.