Scott Walker Caught Breaking Campaign Rules While Running For College President In 1988
Posted: 02/24/2014 3:02 pm EST Updated: 02/24/2014 3:59 pm EST Print Article
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Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) is facing scrutiny for his time as Milwaukee County executive. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen) WASHINGTON -- Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) and the people he surrounds himself with have always been zealous campaigners. Recent emails show that several of his top aides were doing political work on taxpayer time while Walker was Milwaukee County executive -- even though it was illegal -- and Walker himself knew of some of their activities.

But Walker breaking the rules while campaigning goes back even further, to his time as a college student at Marquette University, which the Democratic super PAC American Bridge is trying to remind people. American Bridge has been hammering Walker over the so-called John Doe scandal in recent days.

"There is a pattern in Scott Walker's career where he gets caught knowing about illegal activity and then tries to blame it on others. Walker needs to stop ignoring legitimate questions from the Wisconsin and national press and explain what he knew and when about the illegal activities happening in the County Executive Office literally only feet away from his desk," American Bridge President Brad Woodhouse said.

In 1988, Walker wanted to become president of the school's student government, known as the Associated Students at Marquette University. He was running against John Quigley, a liberal student, in a race that became incredibly contentious. Election rules said that presidential candidates could not begin campaigning until after they registered, which started on Feb. 3.

Walker, however, was caught campaigning on Jan. 24. As the Marquette Tribune reported on Feb. 2, 1988:

Potential ASMU presidential candidate Scott Walker was found guilty of illegal campaigning in a grievance hearing before members of the elections commission Monday night.
By speaking before a meeting of the Delta Chi fraternity Jan. 24, Walker, an arts and sciences sophomore, violated the rule which states, "No campaigning may begin before a candidate is registered," the committee ruled.


At the meeting, according to a student in attendance, Walker asked the fraternity members, "What can ASMU do for the Inter-Fraternity council?" and told them he intended to run for president of ASMU in a few weeks.

As punishment, the campus elections commission prohibited Walker from campaigning until Feb. 4, 7:00 p.m. -- 24 hours after other candidates were officially allowed to begin. In response, Walker said, "I found no fault in their decision. ... All it does is limit me for one day."

Walker also faced two more complaints during his campaign. One, as outlined in a Feb. 11, 1988 article by the Marquette Tribune, alleged that Walker's campaign manager gave a speech titled, "Scott Walker for ASMU President" in a class at 11 a.m. on Feb. 4 -- before he was supposed to start campaigning.

The third complaint, according to a Feb. 24, 1988 Marquette Tribune article, accused a Walker supporter of "inserting platforms under closed and half open doors in the YMCA," even though election rules forbid "any door-to-door campaigning or cold-call campaigning." Walker admitted to "violating campaign rules" and lost campaign privileges at the YMCA. He said the violation was the result of an "over-zealous supporter."

The Marquette Tribune ultimately endorsed Quigley, finding Walker unqualified for the position. After the newspaper came out, editions with the Quigley endorsement were hard to find, leading some to accuse the Walker campaign of stealing them. There is no public evidence making that case. Ultimately, Quigley won 1,245 to 927.

Walker's campaign did not return a request for comment.

Walker never graduated from Marquette, withdrawing after the spring semester in 1990. Although state Democrats have argued that the school kicked Walker out due to the 1988 campaign shenanigans, Walker's spokesman and the school have denied the claim.

Last week, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals released more than 27,000 pages of documents that were part of the now-closed secret "John Doe" investigation into Walker's time as county executive. So far, six of his former aides and associates have been convicted in connection with the case.

(R)

 Frazzled wrote:
I hope so. I'm tired of Republicans just scating by on these important scandals. Just think, if he were elected President, somebody like this could have people in his office that would use the IRS to target opponents or even wiretap news organizations. Good thing we caught it in time.

There is a subdued, almost dispassionate quality to her public appearances, which are surprisingly few. Her voice is not hoarse from late-night rallies. Even yesterday, the day after a hard-hitting debate, she had no public campaign appearances in the state.

Coakley bristles at the suggestion that, with so little time left, in an election with such high stakes, she is being too passive.

“As opposed to standing outside Fenway Park? In the cold? Shaking hands?”

 Ouze wrote:
Scott Walker is notable for winning an election as a Republican in a seat that the Democratic party was so cocky about winning, so smugly-self-assured, they ran an incredibly weak candidate who made every possible effort to lose it (her only success in this race).

My favorite example, from the Boston Globe:

There is a subdued, almost dispassionate quality to her public appearances, which are surprisingly few. Her voice is not hoarse from late-night rallies. Even yesterday, the day after a hard-hitting debate, she had no public campaign appearances in the state.

Coakley bristles at the suggestion that, with so little time left, in an election with such high stakes, she is being too passive.

“As opposed to standing outside Fenway Park? In the cold? Shaking hands?”

Yes, you fething nitwit, those are the people that vote for you. Scott Brown deserved to win that election like few I have seen in recent memory.

Anyway, Scott Brown is a moderate Republican and he will almost certainly get voted out (he's trailing by like 10 points). It's a shame because he's a pretty reasonable guy politically; but that kind of thinking doesn't go far in his party these days.

Spoiler:

Spoiler:

sparkywtf wrote:
The democrats are mad at him, because he signed the bill that got rid of public unions in the state. So they tried to recall him, and he won again.

They are still mad at all the money the school saved on insurance is being used to hire more teachers.

I went to a Wisconsin university when all this was happening. I imagine about 75% of the signatures collected to recall him were from Minnesota residents who didn't bother to vote.

sparkywtf wrote:
The democrats are mad at him, because he signed the bill that got rid of public unions in the state. So they tried to recall him, and he won again.

They are still mad at all the money the school saved on insurance is being used to hire more teachers.

I went to a Wisconsin university when all this was happening. I imagine about 75% of the signatures collected to recall him were from Minnesota residents who didn't bother to vote.

 Frazzled wrote:

sparkywtf wrote:
The democrats are mad at him, because he signed the bill that got rid of public unions in the state. So they tried to recall him, and he won again.

They are still mad at all the money the school saved on insurance is being used to hire more teachers.

I went to a Wisconsin university when all this was happening. I imagine about 75% of the signatures collected to recall him were from Minnesota residents who didn't bother to vote.

He's also a Presidential contender. thats the real reason for the hit pieces. they are trying to Bridgegate him.
Considering the media was so effective at this stuff in 2011/2012 its no surprise they would start doing it again.

 Co'tor Shas wrote:

 Frazzled wrote:

sparkywtf wrote:
The democrats are mad at him, because he signed the bill that got rid of public unions in the state. So they tried to recall him, and he won again.

They are still mad at all the money the school saved on insurance is being used to hire more teachers.

I went to a Wisconsin university when all this was happening. I imagine about 75% of the signatures collected to recall him were from Minnesota residents who didn't bother to vote.

He's also a Presidential contender. thats the real reason for the hit pieces. they are trying to Bridgegate him.
Considering the media was so effective at this stuff in 2011/2012 its no surprise they would start doing it again.

For Christie they have "Bridgegate", for Clinton they have Bengazi. I wonder what Biden's will be?

 whembly wrote:

sparkywtf wrote:
The democrats are mad at him, because he signed the bill that got rid of public unions in the state. So they tried to recall him, and he won again.

He signed a bill that doesn't force union due payments. He didn't get rid of unions.

They are still mad at all the money the school saved on insurance is being used to hire more teachers.

The bill I think also removed the ability for unions to collective bargain on benefits... teachers can still bargain on wages though.

I went to a Wisconsin university when all this was happening. I imagine about 75% of the signatures collected to recall him were from Minnesota residents who didn't bother to vote.

That's possible... the unions and democrats tried really hard to recall him.

 cincydooley wrote:
How about the fact that he's over 70?!? Hillary will be almost 70 in 2016.

For a country that has historically blasted the age of the pope in its media, it blows my mind that their ages aren't even being discussed.

 Co'tor Shas wrote:

 cincydooley wrote:
How about the fact that he's over 70?!? Hillary will be almost 70 in 2016.

For a country that has historically blasted the age of the pope in its media, it blows my mind that their ages aren't even being discussed.

I think Reagan was 68-69 when he was elected. And some pundits (somley conservitve) were making a big deal about hillarys age, despite the fact that, IIRC, Romney is older than her.

 whembly wrote:

 Co'tor Shas wrote:

 cincydooley wrote:
How about the fact that he's over 70?!? Hillary will be almost 70 in 2016.

For a country that has historically blasted the age of the pope in its media, it blows my mind that their ages aren't even being discussed.

I think Reagan was 68-69 when he was elected. And some pundits (somley conservitve) were making a big deal about hillarys age, despite the fact that, IIRC, Romney is older than her.

Mitt and HRC are the same age.

But, Mitt ran last year... HRC is running in '16.

Not that it matters... if HRC, she'll win.

 Co'tor Shas wrote:
I think Reagan was 68-69 when he was elected. And some pundits (somley conservitve) were making a big deal about hillarys age, despite the fact that, IIRC, Romney is older than her.

 whembly wrote:
Not that it matters... if HRC, she'll win.

 whembly wrote:
Scott Walker isn't the same as Scott Brown. o.O