Friday, May 25, 2012
9:46 PM
Guv debate: Barrett goes after Walker on dividing state; Walker calls attacks 'desperate'
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett accused Gov. Scott Walker on Friday of seeking to divide the state, being more concerned about his national reputation than Wisconsin jobs, and failing to be up front with voters about what he knew about allegations of criminal activity in his old county exec office.
But the guv shrugged off his Dem rival's attacks, saying the Milwaukee mayor was trying to rehash old battles that have already been settled and accused him of lobbing desperate attacks at his campaign because the mayor doesn't want to acknowledge that Walker's collective bargaining reforms have saved taxpayers millions of dollars.
He also chided Barrett for a record as mayor that includes rising unemployment and poverty in Milwaukee.
"They want to distract attention because they're desperate," Walker said in the first of two debates ahead of the June 5 recall election. "The things that this election are supposed to be about, the reforms, are things they don't talk about because they're working."
Barrett said Walker has successfully carried out his missions to "drop the bomb" on Wisconsin and to "divide and conquer" the state, saying great leaders seek to bring people together in times of crisis rather than trying to tear them apart.
"They wanted an opportunity to get a governor who would put this state first, a governor who would focus on creating jobs in this state and not traveling around this country trying to enhance his national image," Barrett said.
See more: http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=270935
Labels: 2012_recall_elections
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