Kathleen Vinehout is going to get hard on this one.......................

[riversedge]

Wisconsin Sen. Kathleen Vinehout wrote reference letter for man charged with child porn possession

http://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2017/09/28/wisconsin-sen-kathleen-vinehout-wrote-reference-letter-man-charged-child-porn-possession/711875001/


Patrick Marley and Jason Stein, Milwaukee Published 9:51 a.m. CT Sept. 28, 2017 | Updated 12:49 p.m. CT Sept. 28, 2017


MADISON – State Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, who announced her run for governor this week, wrote a character reference letter in 2015 for a legislative attorney after he was charged with possessing child pornography.

The attorney, David Lovell, was convicted this summer of five felonies and sentenced to three years in prison and three years of extended supervision.

Lovell had served as a legislative attorney for a committee Vinehout chaired. In a November 2015 letter to the court — written after he was charged but before he was convicted — Vinehout praised his diligence and professionalism.

"He was always responsive, professional, thorough and dependable," Vinehout wrote.

“I was shocked and disturbed when I learned of the allegations against Mr. Lovell. The allegations are completely inconsistent with the skilled expert I worked with for eight years. I never observed him engage in any behavior other than that of a dedicated professional."

The Capital Times on Thursday first reported on the letter. She was the only sitting lawmaker to write a letter on behalf of Lovell, according to the Madison newspaper.

"My mother taught me to hate the sin but not shun the sinner," Vinehout said in a statement.

Vinehout declined an interview request but said in her statement that she did not believe anyone would object to anything she wrote in her letter. .............................................

[The_Casual_Observer]

1. That is an insane person, and so is her mother.

[Phoenix61]

2. There's a pretty big gap

between hating someone and promoting them. What an idgit.

[HelenWheels]

3. Lovell should say he is "born again"

Than all will be forgiven.

[Still In Wisconsin]

4. She's toast... as if there was ever any doubt.

Why should anyone expect a viable candidate for statewide office from the Democratic side in this shithole of a state? Oh, wait, here's an idea, let's run Tom Barrett again. Oh, hell, why not Tom Loftus? Mike McGee?!!? Hell, the corpse of Ed Gein!

[getting old in mke]

5. Corpse of Ed Garvey

is probably more Democratic and would poll higher than Ed Gein

[dragonlady]

6. This story sounds like a great Republican talking point

Let's not accept it. The Republicans reserved the website name "vinehoutforgovernor" even before she announced and they castigate her there for her "disastrous tax-and-spend agenda" (they refer to healthcare for all). I think that shows they are afraid of her.

While acknowledging that she was shocked and disturbed by the charges (long before the case was finished), she pointed out that Mr. Lovell had some good points too. Her letter was accepted by the court. There is no evidence that Lovell actually had contact with or hurt any child. Consider that Scott Walker had close associates who carried on prolonged texting with an underage young man, including exchange of photographs and ultimately a (failed) attempt to have personal contact with him. Did any of that seem to hurt Scott? Let's not make more of this letter than it is.

I'm supporting Vinehout for governor because of her deep understanding of the issues facing Wisconsin, her ability to win in a Republican region, and because among those currently running she's the candidate with the most experience in the battles that go on at the Capitol. While I believe she will be the strongest candidate, I will vote for whoever wins the Democratic primary. I hope everyone reading this will do the same. It does no good for us to engage in trashing any of our potential candidates at this point, but the Republicans would be especially pleased if we do it to Sen. Vinehout.

[dembotoz]

7. sooooo never write a letter of reference for anyone...that fixes that