March 17, 2015

Scott Walker hires a strategist who supports same-sex marriage and abortion rights and tweets with obscenities.

Jessie Opoien writes in The Capital Times:
In a party that's still ironing out its approach on social issues, [Liz] Mair is a rarity in her support of same-sex marriage and (with some exceptions) keeping abortion legal. Walker has taken some heat from social conservatives for hiring pro-choice staffers in the past.
As for the tweeting language:
After Walker's breakout Jan. 24 speech at the Iowa Freedom Summit, Mair tweeted (language edits courtesy of the Cap Times, not Mair): "Also, political reporters: As a general rule, Walker doesn't use notes, teleprompters, etc. He actually knows what the f--k he's saying."

Days later, on Jan. 30: "I f--king told you people Mitt Romney won't run for President again. #dontbelievethehype."...

"I f--king ran much of the oppo v Obama in 2008 and I've never voted for him, nor would I," she added....

Just a few days ago, Mair tweeted about presumed Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton's email scandal, "Hillary may have a higher IQ than Bill and objectively be smarter, but man when it comes to optics and basic politics, she's pretty dumb."

Asked to explain, she added this: "The f--king press conference today and her whole handling of this email stuff? Are you paying any attention?"
Opoien amusingly relates this to Walker's ultra-bland Twitter style. She gives a few examples like: "Church, hot ham & rolls, then off with Matt to get some new dress shoes" and "Got hot ham & rolls at Fattoni's deli after church. Now watching playoff game (Wish Packers were playing)."

54 comments:

Ann Althouse said...

I'm expecting Laslo to do something with "hot ham & rolls."

Bob Ellison said...

She sounds like a twit. Maybe Walker hired her in order to fire her.

Anonymous said...

She worked for Walker during the 2012 recall election.

HoodlumDoodlum said...

"Hot ham & rolls" is almost without question a euphemism, but for what...?

Simon said...

If there's one thing I can't stand it's fucking obscenity.

Obscenity and needless adjectives, two things that I can't frakking stand.

Amexpat said...

She's wrong about HRC having a higher IQ than Bill. And she's wrong to promote herself instead of her clients.

traditionalguy said...

She's good for another few weeks news stories about the Amazing Walker campaign. She is a female blasphemer like General Patton was to communicate to troops.

Now what about fucking amnesty?

traditionalguy said...

But she eats the hot ham and rolls after church. That makes her into a German Martin Luther type enjoying life like God designed it to be enjoyed.

Sebastian said...

Gotta be a Jeb plant.

m stone said...

I see it as a reflection of Walker's inclusiveness in selecting advisors. He won't be chided for picking lily-white Tea-Party types or same-mindsetters with people like Mair around.

Anyway, she is not making policy with her remarks. She has a different point of view and Walker is open to new voices.

Chicago politics vs. Wisconsin politics.

Sigivald said...

Hot ham and rolls?

This is ... a thing?

garage mahal said...

Walker is white-hot Tea Party in a tub of tapioca pudding.

clint said...

Interesting. Lots of plusses:

- Emphasizes Walker's boy-scout language choice
- Ideological diversity in staff == non-ideological candidate
- Smart and capable campaign advisor
- Any press attacks would seem likely to backfire and emphasize these plusses.

"Amexpat said...
She's wrong about HRC having a higher IQ than Bill."

But she's wrong in a way that might persuade some in the middle to support Walker -- which is the metric by which a political consultant's value should be judged. She's implicitly comparing Walker favorably to Bill Clinton -- who won over a number of the swing votes Walker will need in the general. By saying it implicitly, she makes it much harder for opponents to counter.

The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...

More proof that Walker gets it. Jeb is going to get his head handed to him.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Obama hired a chief of staff well known for using obscenities.

But, that's not important right now.

MadisonMan said...

Who doesn't like a hot ham sammy? Well, my daughter doesn't (the only ham she likes is prosciutto).

Can she out-curse Rahm?

Of course, he curses because of short man syndrome. Not sure why she curses.

Wilbur said...

Although my non-work speech is occasionally peppered with an f-bomb or two, I consider this highly inappropriate in a tweet or anything work related by someone in her position.

It's usually indicative of another personal issue the bomber may have.

Michael The Magnificent said...

Hot ham and rolls? This is ... a thing?

It's a pick-up-on-the-way-home-from-church thing on Sundays for lunch, usually accompanied by one or more kinds of potato salad.

averagejoe said...

Sounds like he's bringing in someone who can speak to progressive democrats in their own language. I think there's an adage about wrestling with pigs that will prove true in the long run. I'd rather see Walker's spokespeople show wit, wisdom and word-play, not crassness and vulgarities.

MadisonMan said...

It's a pick-up-on-the-way-home-from-church thing on Sundays for lunch

From the Pick-n-Save, or from the Pig?

I don't think Hot Ham and Rolls are a thing in Madison. I've never seen them (not that I've been actively looking) at Sentry. Maybe they're at HyVee, but I don't go there.

jr565 said...

I'm opposed to both, but for me the deal breakers are acting like a liberal on the economy and acting like a liberal on foreigin policy (which would also disqualify Rand Paul)

Oso Negro said...

You must be SO PLEASED!!!! Scott Walker AND Gay Marriage! A match made in......Wisconsin.

mccullough said...

She sounds like Rahm Emmanuel during the 90s when he worked for Clinton.

BarrySanders20 said...

Not at Fattoni's she's not. Not anymore anyway.

Fattoni's closed, but the former owner who sold the deli to Fat Tony, who discovered he couldn't run a business, maybe because he was eating all the stock, is opening back up later this spring.

sinz52 said...

Liz Mair describes herself as a "libertarian Republican."

Liz Mair:
"Republicans had better watch it with the social issues positioning and chatter. This stuff is like crack to the national media, it makes for great attack ads, and much of it is about as appealing to key demographics (check out the Cuccinelli single women numbers, ladies!) as very large, very fresh dog turds (mmmm! Nummy!). Frankly, it also affects your campaign financing-- a lot of donors inherently freak out when they see people veering into some of the territory Cuccinelli did, so it's unwise on a couple of different counts, actually."

n.n said...

Only homosexual marriage? What about other trans and unconventional relationships? Does she support selective exclusion on principle or opportunistically?

Never mind. She is pro-choice. So we know that she is still in the process of reconciling morality, science, and fantasy. How old is she?

I wonder why she's Republican. It seems that the Democrat Party is more compatible with her sensibilities.

richard mcenroe said...

n.n. Long March through the institutions, comrade...

Lydia said...

Pro-choice, pro-gay marriage, pro-amnesty...and she's mocked Iowa. Let's hear it from Des Moines-based conservative radio host Steve Deace:

"How do you not vet people?" Deace asked. "Did they not even look at her social media postings? That’s the stuff that’s killer, that stuff. There’s already local news headlines about it. That’s the stuff that loses you elections. It’s urinating in the face of voters and telling them it’s raining."

Lydia said...

The correct link for Iowa quote.

Anonymous said...

This is part of Walkers appeal to many voters. I admit that while it turns me off to Walker, this sort of thing works well. It worked for Obama, the old wink and a nod, and it'll work for Walker.

Pro-life voters will think he's giving a wink and a nod to them and Pro-choice voters will think he's on their team.

Same with those supporting state approved gay sex. Or those who support traditional marriage.

Ugh.

MadisonMan said...

From Lydia's link:

First, in the Des Moines Register, Mair's tweets mocking the right-wing tint of the Iowa caucuses (a perennial moderate obsession) became news. "Democrats pointed out to the Register that several of Mair's recent tweets bash Iowa," wrote Jennifer Jacobs, "including one on Jan. 22 when she suggests that Iowans are government-dependent for taking 'subsidies' for ethanol."

Iowans ARE dependent on ethanol subsidies.

The truth hurts. It's refreshing to have someone speak the truth.

Anonymous said...

Iowans ARE dependent on ethanol subsidies.

The truth hurts. It's refreshing to have someone speak the truth.


Walker had the opportunity to speak such truth to Iowans when he was there. Instead, he chose to say he would continue the subsidy.

Only Ted Cruz said he would end the subsidy.

traditionalguy said...

The mobys are out in force on conservative sites condemning Walker with every wart or human thought Liz Mair has ever dared to express.

Walker needs to ignore them. Punt, pass and kick the supposed outrage that reveals his RINOness and smile as he says he is the one running for President, not Mair.

n.n said...

richard mcenroe:

Beware the ideas of March.

hombre said...

Well, after all, she worked on Fiorona and Perry's campaigns. With a history like that, how could Walker pass her by?

Republican politicians are almost universally foolish. RINO political advisors are idiots. Witness Bush one's re-election campaign; McCain's campaign; Romney's campaign. Bush two won because Rove sold him as a conservative the first time and the Swift Boaters blew the whistle on the odious fabulist John Kerry the second time.

Conservatives might ignore Mair's views, but coupled with her language, no chance.

There must be Republicans who are hip to social media who don't occur as pompous, liberal assholes.

garage mahal said...

The Iowa GOP is demanding that Walker can Liz Mair. What to do what to do.

Sammy Finkelman said...

Exactly how many Iowans are really dependent on the ethanol subsidy? And you can't even say corn farmers really need it.

The argument for ethanol is that it creates less local pollution, and perhaps is better for some car engines, and maybe doesn't cost too much (it only lowers taxes) but there are better sources or possible sources of ethyl alcohol.

Anonymous said...

Scott Walker and his new pal should read this:

http://thefederalist.com/2015/03/17/dear-gay-community-your-kids-are-hurting/

Mark said...

Sounds like she's going to play the role of James Carville.

I also think her "smarter than Bill" putdown of Hillary is brilliant. Gives people who want to like Hillary but secretly don't a reason to sit it out. It's a pitch-perfect way to reinforce the squick factor surrounding Hillary while still being ostensibly respectful.

RecChief said...

maybe the real conservatives are taking over the GOP at last.

RecChief said...

Amexpat said...
She's wrong about HRC having a higher IQ than Bill.


careful, Hillary!'s minions will track you down and camp outside your bathroom stall.

War on Women!

RecChief said...

garage mahal said...
Walker is white-hot Tea Party in a tub of tapioca pudding.


Dude, that's pretty lame, even for you. Was that just an aperitif while you wait for approved talking points from MMFA or a like organization? C'mon man, up your game. let me help you:
John Doe!
Secret Routers!
Koch Brothers!
No College Diploma!
Right to Work!
Brown bag lunch is someone else's idea!

Lydia said...

Iowa GOP Chairman Wants Scott Walker To Fire Consultant Over Tweets

chickelit said...

Walker pitches a big tent...big enough for Liz Mair. I say welcome her abroad.

traditionalguy said...

Walker will use the Iowa uproar to better place himself as a moderate Reagan realist and also not a flip flopper. She is a foil that can make Son of a Baptist Preacher Scott seem less knee jerk religious legalist.

He already has them. He needs the moderates.

Mark said...

One more avoidable mistake by bush league Walker.

Clyde said...

I think I f--king like her style!

Clyde said...

And she resigned... I guess that's too f--king bad.

Paco Wové said...

Yup. That didn't last long: Scott Walker aide resigns after backlash to Iowa tweets.

Don't fucking mess with Iowans. They'll mess you up, man.

And stay the fuck off Twitter.

Anonymous said...

Walker has a history of not vetting his assistants and thus having to fire them (or "accept their resignation") very soon after hiring.

It's funny how there are so many "I stand with Scott Walker" bumper stickers in this state, yet as soon as the water starts getting hot the Governor won't stand with the members of his own team.

Ambrose said...

Well that sure was quick. I almost missed it, what with the NCAA brackets and the Israeli elections and all ....

chickelit said...

madisonfella said...
Walker has a history of not vetting his assistants and thus having to fire them (or "accept their resignation") very soon after hiring.

Feel free to add it to your litany of Walker's alleged sins. I suggest you phrase it:

"Doesn't stand with pro-SSM supporters" for maximal effect.

Anonymous said...

"Doesn't stand with pro-SSM supporters" for maximal effect

"Doesn't know how to properly vet his assistants before hiring them" is a more accurate way of putting it.

And I'd disagree with your statement that Scott Walker committed a "sin" with this latest gaffe; rather he was just being a dumbass, again.

bbkingfish said...

Morons across America are astounded to learn that people from *IOWA* grow up rather government-dependent. #agsubsidies #ethanol #brainless

— GOP strategist Liz Mair, tweeting on January 22.

The sooner we remove Iowa’s frontrunning status, the better off American politics and policy will be.

— GOP strategist Liz Mair, tweeting on January 24.

March 16, Scott Walker hires GOP strategist Liz Mair.

March 17, Scott Walker fires GOP strategist Liz Mair.

He's so decisive.