Spinmeister Walker Schemed To "Nip [PR Problem] In The Butt"

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, having devoted considerable time, expense and space to the needs of patients at the Milwaukee County Mental Health Complex, goes into detail reporting on emails showing Scott Walker and his appointees' focus on the politics involved:

As crises at the Milwaukee County Mental Health Complex unfolded, Scott Walker managed the response from the background, while his staff focused on political damage caused by the botched care of what one key staffer called "crazy people." 

Walker was in his final year as county executive and running for governor as issues at the complex demanded much of his attention, a review of thousands of emails gathered as part of a criminal probe shows. 

Walker's county and campaign staffs collaborated in determining how to respond to one issue after another — sexual assaults of patients at the complex, security lapses, controversial remarks by Milwaukee County's mental health administrator. At one point, Walker's campaign manager complained that a county lawyer needed to "think political for a change."

It's not a pretty picture, and neither is the Walker malapropism at the heart of one his PR strategies, as the paper reports:

And Walker suggested reaching out to Journal Sentinel editorial writers, noting: "The next problem will be editorials and this can nip it in the butt."