Networks Whine Over 'Massive Spending Gap' Between GOP and Dems in Wisconsin
Searching for an excuse to explain what went wrong for Democrats in Wisconsin, the broadcast networks blamed "a record-shattering $64 million poured into" the recall election by "conservative out-of-state groups" supporting Republican Governor Scott Walker.
On Wednesday's CBS This Morning, correspondent Bill Plante promoted Obama campaign talking points on the major Democratic loss: "...what it called the 'massive spending gap'. Governor Walker's supporters raised $31 million to $4 million for the challenger, Tom Barrett....with most of that money coming from out of state – a huge chunk of it from the super-PACs." On Tuesday's CBS Evening News, correspondent Dean Reynolds proclaimed: "Their efforts resulted in an avalanche of ads attacking Walker's Democratic opponent..."
On NBC's Today, correspondent Peter Alexander similarly warned about the influence of super-PACs: "But it may also embolden super-PACs to keep spending. Get this, a record-shattering $64 million poured into the Wisconsin race. A whole lot of it from conservative out-of-state groups that supported Walker."
On Monday's NBC Nightly News, Alexander described how the state "has been flooded with a record $64 million in campaign spending...with Walker out-raising his opponent 7-1." He then declared: "Many voters have had enough."
Reporting on Walker's victory on ABC's Good Morning America on Wednesday, correspondent Jon Karl noted how the Governor managed to "beat back" the recall effort "after the Republican Party and conservative groups poured tens of millions into the state."
One could hardly tell the difference between network reporters and left-wing MSNBC host Ed Schultz, who ranted over the money spent in the campaign on Tuesday's Rachel Maddow Show: "We are looking at almost a $27 million advantage that Walker had over Tom Barrett, and this sets the template for the Republicans and certainly tells the right-wing in this country that, if they can out-fund their opponent, they've got a real good shot at winning."
Politico used the same spin on Tuesday, insisting: "Only one takeaway from Wisconsin: Money shouts."
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Comments
Money 'evil?' How about Obama's $1b 'war chest?'
Submitted by ChrisNH on Wed, 06/06/2012 - 1:21pm.
Leftists were backslapping each other over the assumed $1 billion war chest that Obama would have. They most certainly can't be THAT blatantly hypocritical, can they?
Oh, wait...
ONLY ONE THING TO SAY.....
Submitted by OldJarhead77 on Wed, 06/06/2012 - 3:42pm.
About the fact that Republicans out Raised dems........................................
JEALOUS MUCH!!!
Anna Wintour. Syphilis Maher. Scoobie-Doo Clooney.
Submitted by SickofLibs on Wed, 06/06/2012 - 1:27pm.
So stuff it, whiners.
Ratio?
Submitted by DeweyD on Wed, 06/06/2012 - 1:32pm.
What about the 8:1 liberal news advantage?
$100 Million over the past 18 months
Submitted by IgnatzJFahrquar on Wed, 06/06/2012 - 1:44pm.
from Unions for this whole farce.
Oops, can't let that be reported.
Yeah I was waiting for this
Submitted by mustango on Wed, 06/06/2012 - 1:50pm.
Yeah I was waiting for this story to drop that shoe, and surprised that it abruptly ended without getting there. 31MM + 4MM is way short of 64MM, which means there's 29MM they're trying to pretend is just random noise. But you can make book that most of that is from the "unaffiliated" unions.
100m
Submitted by paulnashtn on Wed, 06/06/2012 - 3:20pm.
actually the 100m is not counted at all, it is union related expenditures, not election related, which is how they avoid reporting the elephant in the room
Following the money
Submitted by ronljl on Thu, 06/07/2012 - 2:23pm.
The mysterous $29M (or some value close to that) I believe was spent on attacking Walker long before the Dem's had their candidate -Barrett. So, once Barrett is selected then the accounting begins. Nice accounting trick. If it's an attack in general, then it don't count.
So, where's the Bamster
Submitted by texastommy on Wed, 06/06/2012 - 1:46pm.
So, where's the Bamster today? Oh, yeah, in Kalifornia at five fundraisers.
The MSM are just a bunch of political hacks. They're too biased to even know they are.
Schmucks.
Anyone have any links?
Submitted by DontFeedTheTrolls on Wed, 06/06/2012 - 1:57pm.
I heard Barrett spent over $60 million to Walkers $31 million, but have seen no links. This sounds right to me, the left usually blames the right for what it has actually been up to.
DFTT,
Submitted by Agnostic on Wed, 06/06/2012 - 2:14pm.
$60 million was the total amount spent - estimated
The media is breaking it down thus:
$29-31 million spent by Walker
$4 million spent by Barrett
$25-27 million by 'Other' - they always seem to mention the Koch brothers but can't seem to come up with too many examples of 'Other'.
An article I read at The Hill
Submitted by Par for the Course on Wed, 06/06/2012 - 2:50pm.
An article I read at The Hill ...
Money doesn't always win...
Submitted by donnyvee on Wed, 06/06/2012 - 2:04pm.
...Just ask California Governor Meg Whitman.
How do they count the money?
Submitted by MichMike on Wed, 06/06/2012 - 2:06pm.
This seems impossible as the unions created this election and made it their "last stand". What were the TV buys for each campaign? How were the numbers put out by the MSM computed. Like all things, there is never an explanation when it comes to the left telling their stories (and lies).
Barrett did not have to report the millions from the unions
Submitted by porgiefirefighter on Wed, 06/06/2012 - 2:06pm.
I live in Wisconsin and the airways, the print media and social media were filled with ads from both sides. To say that one side had an advantage in exposure is a lie.
According to current rules, union money does not have to be reported. Barrett virtually had a bottomless pit of union money. Report union money and this so-called "advantage" that Walker was supposed to have vanishes.
You are
Submitted by fivestring_assassin on Wed, 06/06/2012 - 2:52pm.
correct.....Union Money and In-kind contributions, such as manning phone banks are considered "Union Activities" by the FEC and therefore are not reported as "contributions" as such,,,,,
The Milwaukee Journal stated recently that it believes that Barretts in-kind support by various union organizations amounted to near 24 million dollars
Ths sad part is that these "journalists" are well aware of this but still promote DNC talking points
What COULD be learned from Wisconsin win
Submitted by reelman46 on Wed, 06/06/2012 - 2:20pm.
Many things come to mind as the union thugs were soundly beaten and now its claimed a death contract is out on the Gov.
Funny how voters get no respect unless the apostles of utopian socialism win an election.
There are lessons for Republicans in general AND the national elites who often “cave”:
1…Run on solid conservative values
2…Work hard after elected to achieve those conservative goals (saving the state in this case)
3…Ignore the liberal pawn media drumbeat of doom
4…Do not compromise with the utopian socialists (they never do)
5…Explain carefully to voters what is being done and why (do your homework!)
6…Realize there will be bold lies, demons, smears and threats when dealing with the democrat unions
7…Continue to explain what is done and how its going…at least on a monthly basis
8…Respond quickly to the bold lies and distortions from the utopian socialists (the media will not help you)
Doug Schexnayder, Ph.D. (theconservativecrawfish<
Too funny
Submitted by ricklail on Wed, 06/06/2012 - 2:44pm.
http://weaselzippers.us/2012/06/06/too-funny-afl-cio-chief-tries-to-clai...
This is too funny
Submitted by c5then on Wed, 06/06/2012 - 3:18pm.
They didn't seem to have a problem a few years ago when Jon Corzine (yes the same MF Global genius) spent over $64 million of his own money to effectively buy the NJ governorship. And then a few years after that spent another $100 million to buy the Senate seat from NJ. (or do I have that backwards?)
Anyway, it's perfectly OK when it's the democrat who is outspending their opponent.
Madison and Jefferson and Franklin built a Republic - Roberts killed it!
My thoughts
Submitted by bobsmom on Wed, 06/06/2012 - 6:15pm.
Libs, you CHOSE this battle, enough already. The hard lesson learned for them is, you can’t fight the choice of the people with temper tantrums. The people spoke, you decided not to listen, you reached for the burner again and, zap, got blistered. Done. Over. If Walker had more money than you, it’s because you blew your wad early, and he was smart enough to hang onto his.
Obama v. McCain in 2008
Submitted by Hozeking on Wed, 06/06/2012 - 10:24pm.
http://www.factcheck.org/2008/11/advertising-money-mccain-vs-obama/
Nuff said.
A fact of life libs never learn ...
Submitted by metaphorsbwithu on Wed, 06/06/2012 - 10:28pm.
You don't pick a fight and then whine when you get your butt kicked.
Ah there's that consistency.
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Wed, 06/06/2012 - 10:35pm.
Duh Bumbler had 50 times more money for his campaign then McCain fine and dandy. But Walker having 7 times is just over the top. Huh?
CBS Nightly News
Submitted by CobraMan on Thu, 06/07/2012 - 1:00am.
CBS Nightly News did some pretty good coverage of this very subject. They reported that both the Walker and Bennett campaigns dumped millions of dollars of "outside" money in the form of, what do you call it, issue ads, including the various unions that funded the anti-Walker ads. They actually mentioned the unions by name. In this type of funding, the two candidates were evenly matched.
They also mention as to how Walker, being a beneficiary of a 25 year old law, had access to unlimited amounts of individual donations. There was no individual limit as to how much someone could donate. That's how he was able to raise the 30 million dollar amount everyone is using. They even asked Walker about it and he replied that 75 percent of that money was in the form of small, individual donations from across the state and across the country. He had a lot of support from a lot of people, most of which who were nether "rich" nor "connected." That was how Walker was able to raise 30 million while Bennett was only able to raise 8 million. I guess people just didn't support Bennett like we were lead to believe.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.