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.
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