A few comments about experiences with Paul Soglin, the Wisconsin State Journal and Jason Joyce at thedailypage.com – all in one day. Sometimes, so much is said that is wrong, one hardly knows whether to respond or not. Today, I can’t resist. There’s just so much material.
It started my morning by responding to a suggestion by Jason Joyce on the thedailypage.com where he basically said that Progressive Dane endorsed elected officials had to vote in lock step against Zach Brandon. I presented several facts to prove not only do we not vote in lockstep, but we don’t vote in lockstep against the nice Alder. And I also pointed out how our good ideas one year get voted down, and the next year, are sponsored by the same people who voted against them the previous year.
Then, I had read Paul Soglin’s latest in his recent obsession spreading untruths about progressives and Progressive Dane. In this case, he that repeated the often repeated myth of the Progressive Dane oath. Specifically he claims:
PD basically demands a loyalty oath from all candidates seeking its endorsement. The absolutist position of PD in regards to candidates is one of the reasons that the present mayor, no longer needing them to establish his left credentials, is not renewing his membership.
I don’t remember raising my hand and taking any such oath. And I’m wondering what Paul knows that I don’t know about why Mayor Dave isn’t renewing his membership, cuz this wasn’t mentioned when he got the call about renewing his membership. And for what its worth, this is the so-called loyalty oath.
Finally, I got around to reading the Wisconsin State Journal editorial about the oath of office elected officials and committee members take. This one baffles me to some degree. Their article on the oath identified me as the sole sponsor of this initiative. And they repeated my name in their editorial, but as I pointed out on thedailypage, I’m not the only sponsor. This is sponsored by Brian Benford, Austin W. King, Brenda K. Konkel, David J. Cieslewicz, Michael E. Verveer, Zachariah Brandon, Judy K. Olson. And typically the first person listed is considered the lead sponsor. So, since the Wisconsin State Journal reporter hadn’t talked to me, you have to wonder how she decided to only list my name as a sponsor. (You also might want to read the City Attorney’s response to the legal issues regarding the oath.)
These are just three examples of why you have to be careful when you believe, and repeat, what you hear on the internet and even in the media. There’s so much spin sometimes it makes you dizzy. Oh, and before I forget, PD didn’t stack the Dem meeting. Several Progressive Dane leaders were busy having our monthly Steering Committee meeting while the Dems were doing their endorsements. It’s getting deep out there, and I’m not talking about the snow. And that spinning, isn’t tires.
