Gableman's Shaming Expands

More than thirty Wisconsin judges have condemned Supreme Court candidate Mike Gableman for airing an outrageously misleading television commercial.

Their statement is here.

Their main point:

"Judge Michael Gableman has released a television ad which, in our collective view, marks a new low in judicial campaigns in this state … Gableman has exceeded the boundaries of fairness, honesty and integrity for candidates running for judicial office."

For the record, here is the list of judges signing this stunning statement:

Fmr. Justice William Bablitch, Wisconsin Supreme Court

Presiding Judge Paul B. Higginbotham, Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District IV

Presiding Judge Daniel P. Anderson, Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District II

Judge Charles P. Dykman, Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District IV

Judge Joan Kessler, Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District I

Judge Dominic Amato, Milwaukee County Circuit Court

Judge Carl Ashley, Milwaukee County Circuit Court

Judge Dorothy Bain, Marathon County Circuit Court

Judge David Barowski, Milwaukee County Circuit Court

Judge Andrew Bissonnette, Dodge County Circuit Court

Judge Patrick Brady, Marathon County Circuit Court

Judge Karen Christenson, Milwaukee County Circuit Court

Judge Dennis Cimpl, Milwaukee County Circuit Court

Judge Jeffrey Conen, Milwaukee County Circuit Court

Judge Thomas Cooper, Milwaukee County Circuit Court

Judge John Damon, Trempealeau County Circuit Court

Judge John DiMotto, Milwaukee County Circuit Court

Judge M. Joseph Donald, Milwaukee County Circuit Court

Judge Thomas Donegan, Milwaukee County Circuit Court

Judge Ramona Gonzalez, LaCrosse County Circuit Court

Judge Glenn Hartley, Lincoln County Circuit Court

Judge John Hoffmann, Waupaca County Circuit Court

Judge Raymond Huber, Waupaca County Circuit Court

Judge Charles Kahn, Milwaukee County Circuit Court

Judge Philip Kirk, Waupaca Circuit Court

Judge Mary Kuhnmuench, Milwaukee County Circuit Court

Judge Edward Leineweber, Richland County Circuit Court

Judge Patricia McMahon, Milwaukee County Circuit Court

Judge Marshall Murray, Milwaukee County Circuit Court

Judge Dale Pasell, LaCrosse County Circuit Court

Judge William Pocan, Milwaukee County Circuit Court

Judge Mary Triggiano, Milwaukee County Circuit Court

Judge Timothy Van Akkeren, Sheboygan County Circuit Court

Judge Paul Van Grunsven, Milwaukee County Circuit Court

Judge Jeffrey Wagner, Milwaukee County Circuit Court

The AP story about the judges' condemnation does not mince words, either.

Check out the lede:

"More than 30 judges say a dishonest campaign ad by Judge Michael Gableman has tarnished the entire judicial system."

Keep in mind that Gableman is a judge and is seeking a seat on the state's highest court.

A substantial number of his colleagues statewide are saying he's not fit.

I was among the large numbers of commentators who had attacked the ad.

It's the most offensive ad I've seen in all the years I been in and around political campaigns. In addition to its misleading content, it brought JIm Crow and Willie Horton-style race-baiting back to Wisconsin.

And it's important to remember that while some of the harshest ads in this race have been paid for and aired by outside groups, the commercial being condemned by the judges was "authorized and paid for" by Gableman, and his committee.

That's a crucial distinction, and should Gableman loose, the ad will rise to the top as "Exhibit A" in that suicidal campaign's post-mortem.