Wisconsin: So why the attacks on Lena Taylor?

[Scuba]

Twice this week, normally left-leaning Blogging Blue has published something very critical of Lena Taylor on their web site.

Yesterday it was What’s wrong with this picture which report that Lena voted for both the concealed carry permit law and the "castle doctrine" law in Wisconsin. (I have not verified this claim."

http://bloggingblue.com/2012/08/04/whats-wrong-with-this-picture-3/

Today it's Lena Taylor & Scott Walker have a lot in common which uses guilt by association with Walker (and other shitstains) because they all are involved with a charter school organization. (Also not verified.)

http://bloggingblue.com/2012/08/06/lena-taylor-scott-walker-have-a-lot-in-common/

Now, I'm not a fan of our minimalist 4-hour training requirement for a concealed carry permit, nor of privatization of our schools, but Lena is strong supporter of worker rights and is recognized as a Democratic Party leader.

So, does anyone know if the claims made by Blogging Blue are correct?

And does anyone know why Lena is being attacked? If the claims are correct, I agree with calling her to task on it, but would advocate doing it without a smear job.

[EC]

1. Here's some info on the schools

http://www.progressive.org/rc032911.html

[Scuba]

2. Thanks, I had not seen this article which shines a bit more light on the topic.

I'll remain a fan of Lena's for the time being.

[midnight]

5. EC... Just read this paragraph and I'm shocked about this funding for charter schools..

"Then there are the inequities that are less visible--like the hedge fund money that supports the brightest, shiniest examples of voucher and charter schools--the Waiting for Superman example. "If you look at how much money is being spent per kid--$30,000 to $50,000 per child," says UW education professor Michael Apple. "They get health care, they get mentors, parental stress help, dental care, college scholarships. If regular public schools did that, they would probably do pretty well, too."


You could knock me over with a feather.... Of course these kids would do better... We need to fund our public schools as much as we do our charter schools...

[milwaukeelib33]

3. I think there's some behind-the-scenes infighting going on

I don't know for sure if BB is correct. But, I think there's some general displeasure from within the party that may be leading to these unflattering blogs. I believe it's centered on the newly redrawn 10th assembly district in which Lena is supporting a candidate that is less than, um, fully against charter schools. By doing so, she's not for Sandy Pasch, whom I believe has many supporters that want her in that seat. IOW, she's not playing nice with TPTB. That's the Lena I love!

[Scuba]

4. Thanks, that makes some sense.

[sybylla]

6. I should have guessed it would come back to the Sandy Pasch race.

It seems like every time I hear of a fight going on inside the party, it comes back to that effing race. Can anyone without a horse in the race explain the whole thing? Cuz, besides the fact that a legie incumbent things she should never face a primary, I'm not getting it.

[dragonlady]

7. One issue seems to be

that some people, including the former incumbent in that district, feel the residents there should be represented only by a person who "looks like them." Other people who look like the residents of the district disagree. Lena is backing a candidate who meets the first group's qualification. Proponents of Sandy think that even though she doesn't look like the majority in the district she is a proven fighter and will do a better job.

[milwaukeelib33]

8. There is no incumbant in the new 10th Assy.

These local races are really confusing, but here goes-

The 10th assy district is on Milwaukee's North side. Before redistricting, it was almost completely within MKE's city limits, and the seat was held by Polly Williams forever. Polly Williams retired a year or two ago, and Elizabeth Coggs took the seat. So, she's technically the incumbent, but isn't running for the seat. Instead she's running for the 6th state senate seat Spencer Coggs vacated to take City of Milwaukee's Treasurers job.

Sandy Pasch's assy district was totally redistricted out from underneath her by the pugs, most likely as retaliation for running against Darling in the recalls. It was moved way west into the red-ring-of-fire. Her current residence in WFB is out of the 10th district seat she's seeking, so she would need to move into the district if elected.

The newly drawn 10th now crosses east of I-43 and encompasses Shorewood all the way to the lake, greatly changing the demographics of the district. Once an overwhelming African American district now includes the affluent north shore, politically active 'burb.

AA leaders have come out not-so-subtly, expressing the desire for the seat to remain held by an AA. Pasch supporters say she's been a good team player and deserves to remain in the Assembly.

Other issues at play are school choice and concealed carry.

Lena Taylor, whose state senate district overlaps the 10th, has come out in support of Millie Coby. Coby has taken heat for supposedly receiving money from pro-school choice groups. Interestingly, Polly Williams, who held the seat forever, worked in favor of getting school choice implemented. So, it's not as though this district comprises an electorate that rejects school choice.

As further evidence, another candidate running, Ieasha Griffin(known for running once as "Not the white man's bitch), has boasted of her choice school education.

Pasch on the other hand, supports strengthening public education. Because of this pretty major contrast, Sandy has piled up endorsements of teachers, labor leaders, and much of the "new wave" of party up-and-comers.

IMO, this is the issue that has Lena under heat. She is well received in the area and her endorsement carries significant weight. I'm sure the party power brokers finagling behind the scene aren't too happy about her working against Pasch.

I don't live in the district, but find this race very interesting and am following it rather closely. It's a major clash of values and demographics. I can see the points both sides are making. A very interesting race!

[Homer12]

9. Lena is in the hands of the voucher school lobby

This is another thing I do not like.

[sybylla]

10. I'm guessing you're right about the school voucher thing being the bigger issue.

Thanks for the excellent summary!

Choice isn't the same thing as vouchers, BTW. I can "choice" my kids into another public school district anywhere in the state. Voucher schools are a Milwaukee phenomenon that takes money from other public schools across the state to pay for a completely unaccountable education while filling the pockets of religious and business organizations - all of which pisses people off everywhere.

If the program was willing to prove itself a success (through the same tests public schools are subject to) in truly educating at risk and minority students, it might be different. But as functions now, it's a big problem. Which is why Lena faces a potential backlash.