Donning a pair of boxing gloves, Republican Scott Walker says in his latest TV ad that "Tom Barrett can’t sell his record, so he’s throwing punches at me."
But now it's Walker who's taking hits for the commercial. State Democrats have charged the spot is insensitive, given the Milwaukee mayor was violently attacked last year at State Fair Park after he intervened in a domestic dispute and suffered serious injuries.
In the ad, Walker says he believes government employees should pay "their fair share" with their pensions, but Barrett will raise taxes so they don't have to. He also said Barrett supports "radical environmental laws" like Gov. Jim Doyle that will cost thousands of jobs, while he wants to get government out of the way so businesses can create good-paying jobs here.
"I’m Scott walker, and I took on the political machine in Milwaukee,” Walker says as he taps the boxing gloves he’s wearing in front of him. “And I’m ready to go the distance as your next governor."
State Democratic Party chair Mike Tate says the commercial is in bad taste and called on Walker to take it off the air.
"Walker does seem to be mocking the fact that the mayor, frankly, almost gave his life to intervene in a domestic violence situation," Tate said.
Walker was also named among the "Worst Persons in the World" on liberal pundit Keith Olbermanmn's nightly MSNBC program. See the video by clicking here.
Walker’s campaign defended the ad, saying it has nothing to do with the attack, but is a response to Barrett’s negative TV spots against Walker.
"That was not at all what we're talking about,” spokeswoman Jill Bader said when asked if the ad referred to the attack.
Walker faces Mark Neumann in the Sept. 14 GOP primary.
- WisPolitics

The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce has compiled its 2009-2010 Legislative Scorecard, in which it assigns scores to the voting records of state legislators on issues related to the MMAC’s Blueprint for Economic Prosperity.
In the State Assembly, the highest-rated legislators from the Milwaukee area for the past session were Rep. Mark Honadel (R-South Milwaukee), Rep. Mark Gottlieb (R-Port Washington) and Rep. Jeff Stone (R-Greendale), each of whom voted for the MMAC position on 100 percent of the issues in the Scorecard.
Other highly rated local Assembly members included Rep. Donald Pridemore (R-Hartford), Rep. Patricia Strachota (R-West Bend), Rep. Jim Ott (R-Mequon) and Rep. Rich Zipperer (R-Pewaukee).
The lowest-rated local Assembly members on the MMAC Scorecard were Annette “Polly” Williams (D-Milwaukee), Rep. Leon Young (D-Milwaukee) and Rep. Frederick Kessler (D-Milwaukee).
In the State Senate, the highest-rated local legislators were Sen. Alberta Darling (R-Menomonee Falls), Sen. Ted Kanavas (R-Brookfield), Sen. Neal Kedzie (R-Elkhorn) and Sen. Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin).
The lowest-rated local legislators in the Senate were Sen. Tim Carpenter (D-Milwaukee), Sen. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) and Sen. Jim Sullivan (D-Wauwatosa).
“It has been said that the rarest two words in all of politics are, ‘thank you.’ Many lawmakers took political risks to support our MMAC priorities. In fact, some lawmakers face primary and general election challenges this fall specifically because they supported our agenda,” said Steve Baas, MMAC government affairs director.
To view the full MMAC Legislative Scorecard, click here.
- BizTimes Milwaukee

Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan (R-Janesville) is one of three co-authors of a new book, “Young Guns: A New Generation of Conservative Leaders.”
Ryan’s co-authors are GOP House members Eric Cantor and Kevin McCarthy.
In the book, they tout their conservative philosophies and priorities.
The three are featured in a schmaltzy new promotional video, set to music. The video says a “new team is ready to bring America back ... Together, they are the young guns.”
The video was paid for by the Every Republican is Crucial (ERICPAC) conservative activist fund. To view the video, click here.
For more on the book, click here.
- BizTimes Milwaukee

Signifying the importance of the Badger State in this mid-term election, President Barack Obama will make his second trip in less than a month to Milwaukee.
On Monday, Obama will speak at LaborFest in Milwaukee, the annual Labor Day observance held at the Summerfest grounds.
Republican Party of Wisconsin Chairman Reince Priebus mocked the visit: "If he was speaking at ‘Unemployment Fest,’ the crowd would be bigger. And not as happy.''
Obama will be joined by U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, national AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, state AFL-CIO President David Newby, and Milwaukee Area Labor Council Sheila Cochran.
The presidential visit comes close on the heels of his Aug. 16 trip to raise funs for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Barrett and the state party. During that visit, Obama also spoke to workers at Menomonee Falls high-tech battery-maker ZBB Energy Corp.
The trip will be Obama's fifth to Wisconsin since his election.
- WisPolitics.com

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Defense Secretary Robert Gates were among the national politicos on hand for this week's American Legion convention in Milwaukee.
The trio praised Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans while commenting on Obama's presidential speech attempting to turn the page on the Iraq war.
The convention wraps up today at the Frontier Airlines Center in Milwaukee.
See more: http://www.legion.org/convention
- WisPolitics.com

Though he has been taking potshots from the left in advance of the Sept. 14 Dem primary against Chris Larson, Sen. Jeff Plale (D-South Milwaukee) this week received a pat on the back from one liberal organization: the pro-gay marriage Fair Wisconsin.
"I was actually was quite excited about that," said Plale.
Plale, a Catholic often painted as a social conservative by critics because of his ``pro-life'' position, said he strongly opposed the pro-traditional marriage constitutional amendment passed in 2006.
"I think we ought to treat people's assets the same, whether they're gay or straight," Plale said. "To me it's a human rights issue. It's a fairness issue."
Fair Wisconsin executive director Katie Belanger said Plale's voting record is consistent.
"He has stood with the LGBT community time and again throughout his career," she said.
- WisPolitics.com

The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) has scheduled its 20th annual “Milwaukee Night in Washington D.C. for Wednesday, Sept., 29, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Rayburn House Office Building Foyer.
The event will highlight the contributions of the Milwaukee community to the strength and vitality of the entire state. Milwaukee Night also provides an opportunity to thank the legislators, staff members and administrators who work each to help the MMAC achieve its legislative goals.
To register to attend, visit mmac.org/calendar.
- BizTimes Milwaukee

The Greater Brookfield Chamber of Commerce will host a forum for candidates running for the State Senate seats that cover Brookfield on Wednesday, Sept. 8.
Invited candidates from the 5th District are Jim Sullivan (D-Wauwatosa) and Leah Vukmir (R-Wauwatosa).
Invited candidates from the 33rd District are GOP primary opponents Tim Dietrich and Rich Zipperer.
The chambers of Menomonee Falls, Pewaukee, Sussex, Wauwatosa and West Allis/West Milwaukee have been invited to participate in the forum, which will take place from 8 to 9 a.m. at Brookfield City Hall in the Common Council Chambers.  Questions for the candidates will be accepted via e-mail at bcc@brookfieldchamber.com.  Questions must be received by Friday, September 3 to be considered.
The event is free and open to the public.  Advanced registration is requested.  For additional information, call the Greater Brookfield Chamber of Commerce at (262) 786-1886.
- BizTimes Milwaukee

BizTimes.com is ground zero for Wisconsin’s high-speed rail debate.
More than 40 responses have been posted by readers so far to a Milwaukee Biz Blog by Ralph Munro and three other Republican officials from the state of Washington who claim Wisconsin GOP members should bet onboard for high-speed rail.
Later this week, Kay Plantes, former chief economist for Wisconsin Republican Gov. Lee Dreyfus, also called for gubernatorial candidates Scott Walker and Mark Neumann to switch their positions and support high-speed rail.
Readers are encouraged to weigh in with their viewpoints at the end of each blog.

Scott Walker, Milwaukee County executive and Republican candidate for governor, will conduct his “Primary Election Victory Party” on the night of the election, Tuesday, Sept. 14, at American Serb Hall in Milwaukee.

MSNBC political commentator Joe Scarborough said Wisconsin Senate candidate Mark Neumann was a Republican “rock star” when he served in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The state Supreme Court has reprimanded JOHN ZODROW, a former Cudahy municipal judge, for allowing a backlog of some 3,500 citations. The court agreed with a recommendation that Zodrow shouldn't face a more serious punishment despite his willful misconduct because he lost his re-election bid this spring. Click here to see more.

The Wisconsin Board of Veterans Affairs awarded the August 2010 Veteran Lifetime Achievement Award to former Franklin Mayor GORDON R. STARCK. See the press release by clicking here.

Gov. JIM DOYLE Tuesday appointed MARK BENSEN as the new Washington County district attorney. Bensen will fill the vacancy created by the appointment of former DA TODD MARTENS to the Washington County Circuit Court. Click here to see more.

The Rev. SCOTT R. PILARZ, president of the University of Scranton, has been named the 23rd president of Marquette University. He'll succeed Rev. ROBERT A. WILD, next summer. Click here to see more.

Milwaukee Health Services President and Chief Executive C.C. HENDERSON died Friday of an apparent heart attack. He was 63.