November 15, 2009

Barrett makes first official campaign stop in Racine

Sen. John Lehman, Rep. Cory Mason and gubernatorial candidate Tom Barrett

Barely two hours after formally announcing his candidacy for governor at his home at noon, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett made what he called his "first official campaign stop" -- in Racine.

Delicately timed to end before the 3:15 p.m. kickoff of the Packers game, ("I'm smart enough to know you never campaign during a Packers game," he said.) Barrett showed up at 2:30 at Wilson's Coffee and Tea, where State Sen. John Lehman, D-Racine, was holding a fundraiser for his own re-election bid.

Saying he is "very excited" to be in the race -- so far, he's the only Democratic candidate to succeed Gov. Jim Doyle -- Barrett said he would file the necessary candidacy papers tomorrow morning.

Asked what his platform would be, he said, "Obviously, jobs and the economy are at the top of the list. Fifty years ago, all a man needed to succeed was a strong back and a good alarm clock. But now many jobs have gone south. This is not a Democratic issue, not a Republican issue. I want to break down the partisan walls, the partisan rhetoric."

He noted accomplishments he's made in Milwaukee, including cutting $32 million from the city budget and eliminating 350 jobs. "We're going to have to do this on the state level, and at all levels of government." At the same time, he pointed to private sector job gains, like the 800 jobs Republic Airlines said last week it would keep in Milwaukee, while bringing another 800 here from out of state.

Democrats he greeted at Wilson's couldn't help noting Barrett's right hand, still heavily bandaged from the incident -- three months ago today -- when he came to a woman's aid during an attack outside State Fair Park. He assured everyone it is healing. On Friday, the last two of 10 pins were removed. "People are going to have to get used to shaking my left hand," he said. The incident helped raise his political profile, Barrett said, "but I don't want to do it again."

Barrett has been mayor of Milwaukee for 5 1/2 years. Before that he served in Congress, from 1993 to 2003. When two districts, including his, were combined, Barrett ran unsuccessfully for governor, losing in the primary to Doyle. Lehman, when he arrived at Wilson's loaded down with his own campaign yard signs, leaned a "Barrett for Governor" yard sign against the wall. "I've had that in my garage for eight years," he said.

Barrett, 55, is married and has four children, ranging in age from 10-17. His wife is a Milwaukee teacher and he has said he would not move the family to Madison if elected. But he said, "I'll be governor wherever it's necessary." So far, he's the only Democrat in the race; Republican candidates for governor are Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker and former Congressman Mark Neumann.

As for his own campaign, Lehman said "we haven't made a formal announcement yet, but we are raising money. We're ahead of where we were four years ago." In that election, County Executive Bill McReynolds outspent Lehman almost 2-1, $400,000 to $218,000, but lost anyway. "I'm confident we're going to be fine," Lehman said, while noting that his 21st Senate District "is one of four targeted seats," all of which were won by Democrats four years ago, giving them control. Racine County Board Supervisor Van Wanggaard has announced plans to run against Lehman next year.

In brief remarks, Lehman also voiced support for Rep. Cory Mason, D-Racine, the subject of Republican attacks for remarks he made on the Assembly floor last week about Racine's County's oversight of the Wisconsin Shares program. Lehman pointed out that measures similar to the ones Mason voted against in the Assembly were defeated in the State Senate the same day. "I'm satisfied with the level of state cooperation with Racine County," Lehman said. "Keep listening to Cory on Wisconsin Shares."

57 comments:

  1. Can't wait until he has to defend the mess that Doyle and Obama got this State in.
    Please explain why MORE taxes are the answer, how is that working out for Milwaukee?
    Love that fact that Barrett thinks that remove of local control as is what he is doing to MPS will fix anything.
    Wonder if he will defend what The Democratic party pulled on Barb Lawton

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  2. Barrett is a goof ball. Time to get a Republican in Madison.

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  3. Cutting jobs at the state level is probably a good thing, but it seems like political suicide to announce it before an election.

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  4. We have a great candidate in Barrett. He understands Wisconsin's needs and will wage an honest campaign based on important issues. I was honored to meet him today. It's going to be fun to help him get his message out over the foolishness Walker and Neumann will throw out. What a coup for Racine, to have his first stop here. Thanks, John and Cory.

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  5. katybora

    Very funny! The job killer Barrett the cowared who refuses to defend Barb Lawton after being attack by Jim Doyle. Be such a good Governor.

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  6. Just what did the dems threaten Lawton with to have a seasoned politian withdraw from the race in tears?

    Wasn't it convinient that Barrett was thrust into the national stage with that incident just before Doyle stepped out?

    Anybody else see conspiricy here?

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  7. The "good ole boys club" forcefully purged Barb Lawton in order to keep the special interest scams going. Perhaps they forgot half the voters are ladies!

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  8. Lawton was un-winnable. Barret is the best shot.

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  9. Nice to see that Mason was in town for the photo opportunity. I wonder why Wilson's hasn't yet changed their name to the ACORN Coffee Company, where handouts are free and the coffee is expensive. At least the smell of bad coffee will cover the stench of all the BS that was flowing there today.

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  10. So Scott because Lawton may not of won it becomes OK to destroy her with lies? That's right its what the democrats do best is it not?
    Lets list a few

    Doyle
    Becker
    Dickert

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  11. LOL! I like the thing about Acorn. The place definitely does have that vibe. One thing that I disagree on is their coffee, it's expensive but good. To enjoy a good cup of coffee I will normally put up with some weirdos. One thing that is for sure is that I never talk politics in that place, it definitely can be a dangerous move. Che Chevara would have definitely enjoyed the breakfast blend.

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  12. Milwaukee has become a crap hole and while it is not all Barrett's fault (Norquist has some blame in this), he has done NOTHING to fix it. Barrett is a wanna be puppet for the Obama Adminstration. The Dems know the next election is going to be bad for them so they are pulling out all the stops perhaps a promise of a job in the Administration if the Dems can not pull this one out?

    The state of Wisconsin is a TAX HELL and the businesses we have are flocking out of here and it is the anti-business climate that has created this (thanks Jim). Its a simple principle it is the wealthy that create jobs and if we want jobs we need to attrack people with money.

    Seeing Corey Mason in the picture is comical, I think he should probably be setting up a public meeting to defend his votes on child care fraud. He is looking for face time and a possible job.

    The last part of my rant is on Wilson's. I love the coffee there, but the comment about being an ACORN hangout is the reason I stopped going there. Prior to the election I went there 6 days a week and the comments from the owners have stopped that. When you bring Politics in business you risk losing customers.

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  13. What's all this talk about what the dems did to Lawton? Anyone of you anonymous people care to expand on your beliefs?

    I believe that she has very little name recognition overall in the state due to Doyle's very high profile governorship, that alone would make it a very hard race. Even though she is one of the most active Lt. Gov.s in the US and ever in Wisconsin.
    Then she hasn't been able to nail down enough big contributors so she doesn't have the kind of enormous war chest this race is going to take.
    Those two things alone would make most people drop out.
    Add to that the likelihood of having a family illness and it would be a total disaster for her to even attempt the primary.

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  14. What would be really funny is a picture of Barrett, Lehman and Mason, all with casts on their hands, with a story titled Barrett, Lehman and Mason all injured while beating up small business in Wisconsin.

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  15. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  16. Write this one down not one but two Mason sightings in one week!

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  17. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  18. Kay

    Please do not play dumb here. For a fact someone leaked to the Green Bay Station the story of Lawton's "affair" this kind of thing is something Doyle is well know for as much as he is known for hating her.
    Add to that Doyle's gutting of Film Wisconsin just to stop a program that Barb was a supporter of causing many to lose jobs.

    Barrett IMHO knowing he can not win this race has to have a deal in place to make it worth his time.

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  19. It's unfortunate that the Dems need to solicit Tom to be the sacrificial lamb in the 2010 Governor race. After the drubbing in New Jersey and Virginia it’s pretty clear where the election is headed. Using the City of Milwaukee as an economic comparison, Mayor Barrett has not done much to improve jobs (mind you 800 Republic jobs are great), but look around at the empty storefronts in downtown Milwaukee and reduce taxes so small businesses are attracted. The school system is a mess – and that’s being kind, MMSD continues to dump millions of gallons of raw sewage into Lake Michigan and the true power base of the Dems, still languish in record poverty despite decades of promises.

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  20. Was Mike Shields there? Is he not the Racine Dem chairman? For that matter from the photos I see no blacks there at all. Is The DEms having one party for whites and one for Blacks?
    Is Barrett so upsetting Blacks over trying to control MPS that they are sitting on their hands?

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  21. It didn't look like many people appeared at Wilson's to support Lehman. The place looked pretty empty. John it is a sign of how many votes you and Mason will be getting next November.

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  22. I was actually leaning on the side of Barrett.....That WAS until he showed up to support Lehman! Listen folks, our motto for any election should be if your running for re-election your out! You've had your chance and you all have failed us miserably! Time for new blood all the way around!

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  23. Republicans could be virtually assured of carrying Racine County for their gubernatorial candidate by running an add using one of Pete's photos from Wilson's. Barrett's pals aren't too popular in Racine right now, especially the chubby, bearded one.

    Too bad, but Pete would exercise his copyright.

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  24. Let's see number of mentions of Scott Walker's bid for Governor, 0.

    In one day a big puff piece on Tom Barret.

    Keep up that objectivity.

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  25. Not even The Post can overlook the mess Doyle and Obama has made. The Post can not blame Bush anymore getting old. Barrett has shown a disgrgard for local control with his trying to take over MPS (that alone get him lots of love from The Teacher's Union)
    Maybe the payoff will be surport to run for Kohl's seat when the time comes?

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  26. You people actually go to these places and buy coffee? And sit around and talk politics?

    LOLOLOLOLOLOL

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  27. Dick Cheney's ghost ('cuz I helped!)11/16/2009 10:09 AM

    9:36 "...the mess Obama has made."

    You're on crack. He's been president for 10 months; Bush had eight YEARS to screw up this country, start two major wars, add $5 TRILLION to the national debt, put MILLIONS out of work, spend BILLIONS on bailouts.

    This mess is BUSH'S...and Obama has to clean it up.

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  28. Lets not forget the TRILLIONS Obama has added nor all the dead service men Did he not say we were leaving? So he wants to send more troops?

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  29. What is wrong with some of you? With the economy the way it is, the burden for small businesses is enormous. Why go out of your way to trash a family owned local business? Some of you are so negative and bored you'd rather see another empty storefront.

    A family small business is a blessing for the Racine community, if you don't like their product move on and shut-up about it!

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  30. That's right, with the economy the way it is, you have no right to express your opinions. This is Racine, not America, so shut up.

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  31. Orb, Just because you CAN express your opinion doesn't mean you should.

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  32. Wrf, are you a commie? Who decides who SHOULD express their opinions? You? Thousands of Americans have died defending our right to express our opinions.

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  33. Orb, you are such a drama queen, really, a Diva of the 1st order. Queen Godwin!

    Yes, because a person believes small businesses are important and whether we shop there or not, we should support them at the very least by not going out of our way to trash them in the press-we are commies, you nailed it girlfriend.

    Why don't you attempt to honor the sacrifices others have made for free speech by saying something smart instead of just saying anything?

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  34. Yeah, Orbs. Say something smart, like "Bush lied, troops died" or "the science on global warming is settled".

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  35. Can't beleive that the Racine Post hasn't endorsed Barrett yet.

    Orbs - I almost never agree with you, but you always crack me up!

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  36. http://abcnews.go.com/Business/abc-news-exclusive-obama-administration-slashed-60000-jobs/story?id=9095621

    Guess this is Bush's fault too

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  37. It's all Bush's fault The black plague, extintion of the dinosaurs, slavery, the Civil War, both World Wars, and the Kennedy assasination. For a man so dumb that he couldn't say "strategic", he certianly ran circles around the intellent democrats.

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  38. I heard Obama buys his coffee at Wilsons and has even recommended it to Hugo Chavez.

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  39. Dick Cheney's ghost11/16/2009 1:35 PM

    1:10 You know, you can ignore the facts all you want, but everything I said is true: Bush started two major wars, added $5 TRILLION to the national debt, put MILLIONS out of work, spend BILLIONS on bailouts. Those are facts.

    How'd he do it? He had a Republican majority in Congress, an unprecedented attack on US soil, far too many people believing his administration's lies (WMDs, anyone?) and ME calling the shots from the bunker.

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  40. I had to go back and read the article as most of these posts have nothing to do with the article, I thought I was missing something - apparently not. some of you will take any opportunity to further your agenda.

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  41. Hay Cheneys Ghost, what Bush did in eight years only took Obama 3 months to do, soon you will be calling yourself OBAMA'S GHOST.

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  42. Dick Cheney's ghost11/16/2009 5:02 PM

    3:14 Yeah? Obama started two world wars? Do tell, you moron.

    Sorry he hasn't cleaned up your mess yet.

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  43. Dick

    But he said he would do that run away, guess its going to talk more time to murder more of our servicemen IMHO if you send them in harms way and do not allow them to fight (without calling a lawyer) Obama is committing murder. If the wars are unjust is not Obama killing the Women and kids caught in the crossfire? Is Obama not Commander in Chief?

    I love that fact that we had a terror attack at FT. Hood and Obama does not want Congress to look into that. Why?
    Obam,a must wait until 2012 before we can vote him out. Mason and the other Democratic hacks we can unelect in 2010.
    Be so nice when Governor Walker kills the last head of KRM

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  44. Mason sitings? He must be visiting Racine from his home in the Madison area. That's why they call him "Cory the Carpet-bagger."

    Barrett, Mason, and Lehman are all job destroying, tax and spend Doyle types. None of them will be in Madison after the '10 election.

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  45. I'll say it again, this is not about dem's and repub's, it's about the battle between tyranny and freedom. If the dem's can't control something they will destroy it. My answer to the dem's is NO you will not get any more taxes out of me. I will vote and campaign against any and all politicians that raise ANY tax including that clown in the mayor seat in Racine. Enjoy it while you can Dickert.

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  46. 6:59

    Yes The Mayor must go. As well as any member of City Council that votes for this budget.
    With luck we can remove the Mayor thinking we can get one or two others out of office.

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  47. I really think this is a sinking ship. Cory and Lehman are in real danger of losing their cushy jobs. They need these photo ops with Barrett. With the way Doyle bailed ship I don't think anyone is going to trust any person that runs as a Democrat.

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  48. The rason liberals are blaming Bush
    for everything is because Obama has yet to become a Man or a leader. WORD TO OBAMA AND ALL YOU OTHER LOSER LIBERALS, quit blaming Bush for what you say you INHARITATED this is getting old, and real American are getting sick of this, stand up be a man and a leader and practice what you preached durning your campagin.

    Oh wait I guess he cant he has 12 to 14 blue dog Democrats that love our Country and see right through his lies, oh no I called Obama a liar. oh what will you liberals do to me now.

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  49. 6:33 What will liberals do to you now? Try (unsuccessfully, I'd guess) to educate you.

    First of all, we'll tell you that you can't spell (rason, inharitated, cant, durning)... and your overall argument is just as flawed.

    Bush did a long list of stupid things in eight years, and basically destroyed the reputation of the U.S. overseas, while inflicting tremendous pain on us at home (economy, soldiers, jobless). It's unrealistic to expect anyone to fix all he broke instantly.

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  50. Anon 6:33 either 1)is a poor speller, or 2)is a lefty troll posting to get a rise out of his breathren.

    If Anon 6:33 is a poor speller, AL at 7:15 is an elitist. Everyone understands exactly what the post means and many here agree. After all don't our friends at WEAC teach kids to just express themselves in spite of their spelling shortfalls?

    If Anon 6:33 can spell and posted to make conservatives look less educated, the ruse has not succeeded.

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  51. 7:54 ... Oh, yeah, it's gotta be liberals posing as conservatives to make them look stupid!

    OR, conservatives are just stupid.

    Occam's razor comes to mind! (If you're a conservative and don't know what that means, look it up.)

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  52. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  53. AL at 8:44pm has done an excellent job reinforcing the comment made at 7:54pm that he/she/it is indeed an elitist.

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  54. My mispelling was to prove a point
    about you Dem's you will do anything to get off a subject, not one of you said anything about me
    trashing your President on standing up and being a man or even a leader, whan a point is proven you always waver down a different path, and that is why Fos 6 News leeds all leberal news media put together (fair and balanced reporting.)

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  55. Seeing as my comment was removed I'll make it again.

    Number of posts about Scott Walker's Campaign by the Racine Left Post, zero.

    On day 1 of of the Barrett campaign we get a post along with the Cory Mason John Lehman personal fan club.

    Tell us again about objectivity.

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  56. Anon 4:01 Make your comment as often as you like.

    Let me spell it out for you:

    Barrett came to Racine on a day he was making news, and we were told about it in advance. Has Scott Walker been to Racine?

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  57. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/storm-racine/2009/11/20/milwaukee-mayor-tom-barrett-vs-mps-and-the-people

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