% >> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
% SIZE IS UP, THE U.S. SENATE
% DEBATE WE JUST WATCHED.
% REPUBLICAN BILL MCCOSHEN AND
% SCOT ROSS ARE HERE.
% WE'LL BE TAKING A LOOK AT SOME
% EXCERPTS FROM THE DEBATE.
% THANKS FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
% >> THANKS FOR HAVING US.
% >> WE SAID YOU WOULD SIZE UP
% WHAT YOU SAW IN THAT DEBATE.
% WE'LL GO FIRST TO YOU.
% WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?
% >> I WAS A LITTLE STUNNED.
% THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES,
% WISCONSIN ON THE MARQUETTE POLL
% ARE INFLATION, CRIME, AND
% EDUCATION.
% WE DIDN'T HEAR ONE QUESTION
% ABOUT INFLATION.
% THAT'S ALSO THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE
% NATIONALLY, FAR AND AWAY THE
% NUMBER ONE ISSUE.
% WASN'T A SINGLE QUESTION ON
% INFLATION.
% WASN'T ANY MENTION OF GAS PRICES
% OR HOME HEATING PRICES OR RENT
% OR GROCERIES.
% THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE
% CARE ABOUT.
% THE FIRST QUESTION TONIGHT WAS
% ABOUT SOME OBSCURE LITTLE PARDON
% THAT THE PRESIDENT DID THIS WEEK
% ABOUT MARIJUANA.
% THEY TOTALLY MISSED THE POINT, I
% THOUGHT.%>> SCOT?
% >> I THINK WE SAW WHEN RON
% JOHNSON ISN'T GETTING SOFTBALLS
% FROM FOX NEWS, HE'S STUMBLING,
% BUMBLING.
% MANDELA BARNES SHOWED BEYOND A
% SHADOW OF A DOUBT WHY HE WAS THE
% BEST TO TAKE ON RON JOHNSON, HE
% WAS CRISP, TAKING ON QUESTIONS
% THE PANELISTS OFFERED.
% >> HOW ABOUT THE CANDIDATES
% THEMSELVES DID AS OPPOSED TO
% POTENTIALLY THE QUESTIONS ASKED
% IN THE DEBATE.
% >> JOHNSON WAS WHO HE WAS, A
% COMMON SENSE CONSERVATIVE.
% I THOUGHT HE ANSWERED ALL OF THE
% QUESTIONS ALONG THE CONSERVATIVE
% INE OF THE SPECTRUM AND I
% THOUGHT HE DID VERY, VERY WELL.
% BARNES, I THINK HE WAS WELL
% PREPARED TONIGHT.
% THIS WAS PROBABLY HIS BEST
% MOMENT IN THE GENERAL ELECTION
% SO FAR, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S
% GOING TO BE ENOUGH.
% >> WE HAVE A NUMBER OF EXCERPTS
% AS WE SAID AND WE'LL GET TO
% THOSE IN JUST A MOMENT, BUT I
% JUST WANTED TO LAY OUT HERE,
% BECAUSE WE'VE ALL BEEN BARRAGED
% WITH ALL OF THESE ATTACK ADS,
% REALLY, AND AMONG THEM ARE THE
% GOP DECLARING THAT BARNES IS
% DIFFERENT AND DANGEROUS.
% AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PARNS%
SPO -- AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNORBS
% FINAL COMMENT.
% THEY'RE NOT SUBTLE IN ANY WAY.
% FIRST TO YOU, SCOT, ARE
% WISCONSIN VOTERS OKAY WITH THAT
% KIND OF MESSAGING?
% >> I THINK IT'S UNFORTUNATE
% WE'VE SEEN THE MOST EXPENSIVE
% AND MOST RACIST AD CAMPAIGN IN A
% U.S. SENATE RACE OR ANY RACE FOR
% THAT MATTER IN THE HISTORY OF
% THIS GREAT STATE.
% UNFORTUNATE THING IS, THEY'RE
% TARGETING LOW INFORMATION
% VOTERS.
% THEY'RE PUTTING MANDELA'S
% PICTURE UP THERE, THEY'RE
% JUXTAPOSING IT WITH PEOPLE
% COMMITTING CRIMES ALLEGEDLY, AND
% THEY'RE TRYING TO LINK THE TWO.
% BUT SOMEHOW BECAUSE MANDELA IS
% BLACK, HE IS GOING TO COMMIT
% CRIMES LIKE THESE OTHER BLACK
% PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THERE.
% I THINK IT'S DESPICABLE AND
% DISGRACEFUL.% SENATOR JOHNSO
N HAS NOT CALLED
% INTO QUESTION THAT TACTIC ONCE.
% UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S WORKED A
% LITTLE BIT.
% BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, BARNES'
% NUMBERS HAVE GONE DOWN A LITTLE
% BIT.
% BUT THE FACT IS, THE PEOPLE OF
% WISCONSIN ARE SMART PEOPLE,
% THEY'RE GOOD PEOPLE, AND I THINK
% ANY OF THEM WHO WATCH TONIGHT'S
% DEBATE KNOW THAT MANDELA BARNES
% IS THE RIGHT PERSON TO BE U.S.
% SENATOR.%>> BILL, WHAT ABOUT
THAT KIND OF
% MESSAGING?%>> WELL, IT DOESN'
T MATTER WHAT
% RACE MANDELA BARNES IS.
% TIM MICHELS IS RUNNING VERY
% SIMILAR ADS AGAINST TONY EVERS.
% WHY?
% THEY'RE A TICKET.
% ONE IS GOVERNOR, ONE IS
% LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.
% WHY?
% BECAUSE CRIME IS THE NUMBER TWO
% ICIAL EU NOT ONLY IN WISCONSIN
% BUT IN THE NATION.
% CRIME IS ON THE RISE IN OUR BIG
% CITIES AND IN OUR SMALLER
% CITIES.
% PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IT.
% THIS IS WHAT SUBURBAN MOMS ARE
% WORRIED ABOUT IN THE 2022 CYCLE,
% IS CRIME.
% AND I THINK IT'S FAIR GAME.
% >> YEAH, BUT I THINK -- THE
% THING IS, IS THAT MANDELA BARNES
% ANSWERED THOSE QUESTIONS BECAUSE
% HE CAME OUT AND HE SAID, YOU
% KNOW, RON JOHNSON, THERE WAS A
% $10 BILLION PLAN TO GIVE IN THE
% AMERICAN RECOVERY ACT, TO GIVE
% LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT RESOURCES
% AND YOU VOTED AGAINST IT.
% THERE WAS $19 MILLION THAT CAME
% TO WISCONSIN FOR LAW
% ENFORCEMENT, YOU VOTED AGAINST
% THAT.
% TIME AND TIME AGAIN, WHEN IT
% COMES TO SUPPORTING US, SENATOR
% JOHNSON VOTES AGAINST DEMOCRATIC
% PROPOSALS BECAUSE THEY'RE
% DEMOCRATIC PROPOSALS, AT THE
% SAME TIME SUPPORTING SPENDING
% THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR REPUBLICAN
% IDEALS THAT HAVE NEARLY
% BANKRUPTED THE ECONOMY.%>> I
THINK THE REASON THOSE ADS
% HAVE BEEN SO EFFECTIVE AGAINST
% BARNES, THEY HAVE MOVED THE
% NUMBERS AS SCOT HAS POINTED OUT,
% THEY USE BARNES' OWN WORDS.
% THOSE ARE HARD TO WALK BACK.
% THAT'S WHY THE POLL HAS SHIFTED
% IN JOHNSON'S FAVOR IN THE COURSE
% OF THE LAST SEVEN WEEKS.
% >> I'M SORRY, GIVE ME JUST ONE
% THING ON THIS.
% DURING THE DEBATE, RON JOHNSON
% SAID, MANDELA BARNES NEVER SAID
% DEFUND THE POLICE.
% I MEAN, HE SAID IT.
% AND THERE ARE TENS OF MILLIONS
% OF DOLLARS OF INDEPENDENT ADS
% BEING SPENT BY RON JOHNSON'S
% ALLIES PAID FOR BY HIS TWO
% BIGGEST DONORS, DIANE HENDRIX
% AND THE UIHLEINS WHO HE GOT A
% TAX BREAK FOR, BUT RON JOHNSON
% SAID THAT MANDELA BARNES DIDN'T
% SAY THAT.
% IF I'M THE DEMOCRATIC LAWYERS, I
% AM ALREADY DRAFTING LETTERS TO
% THE TV STATION SAYING HE SAID
% IT'S A LIE, THESE ADS NEED TO
% COME DOWN.
% >> LET'S GO AHEAD AND GO TO A
% CLIP FROM THE DEBATE WHERE THEY
% WERE TALKING ABOUT CRIME, AND
% I'LL BE TOLD WHETHER OR NOT THAT
% CLIP IS READY TO PLAY.
% BUT I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, CRIME
% AND THIS MESSAGE, OBJECTIVELY
% CRIME IS BAD IN MILWAUKEE.
% >> NO QUESTION.
% >> AND THERE'S SOME OTHER CITIES
% IN WISCONSIN.
% BUT IT'S ALSO KIND OF THE
% ANECDOTE TO THE ABORTION ISSUE
% IN THE SUBURBS, RIGHT, FOR
% FEMALE VOTERS.
% BUT WE DO HAVE THIS CLIP READY.
% NOW -- OH, APPARENTLY WE DON'T
% HAVE THAT CLIP READY.
% BUT AS TO THAT QUESTION, YOU
% KNOW, POUNDING ON CRIME FOR
% SUBURBAN VOTERS.
% >> I THINK IT'S BIGGER THAN
% THAT.
% THIS CYCLE, IT'S CRIME AND IT'S
% EDUCATION.
% PEOPLE GOT TO SEE A DIFFERENT
% SIDE OF THE PUBLIC EDUCATION
% SYSTEM DURING COVID.
% AND THEY DIDN'T LIKE WHAT THEY
% SAW.
% AND YOU SEE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE
% INVOLVED IN THEIR KIDS'
% EDUCATION NOW, WHICH I THINK IS
% A GREAT THING OVERALL.
% BUT THEY WANT CHANGES, RIGHT?
% THEY DON'T WANT CRT IN
% CLASSROOMS, THEY WANT ABCs IN
% THE CLASSROOMS.
% YOU'RE GOING TO SEE MORE ADS, I
% THINK, ABOUT EDUCATION OVER THE
% FINAL 30 DAYS OF THIS RACE,
% PROBABLY AT THE U.S. SENATE AND
% DEFINITELY AT THE GUBERNATORIAL
% LEVEL BECAUSE IT'S AN ISSUE THAT
% SUBURBAN VOTERS DEFINITELY CARE
% ABOUT.%>> LET'S GO TO OUR CLI
P WHERE
% THEY SPOKE TO CRIME.
% >> WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS MAKE
% SURE THAT COMMUNITIES HAVE THE
% RESOURCES THEY NEED TO PREVENT
% CRIME FROM HAPPENING IN THE
% FIRST PLACE.
% THAT MEANS FULLY FUNDING OUR
% SCHOOLS.
% IT ALSO MEANS MAKING SURE THAT
% THERE ARE GOOD PAYING JOBS IN
% COMMUNITIES.
% AND WE ALSO INVESTED
% $100 MILLION IN A LAW
% ENFORCEMENT PUBLIC SAFETY AND
% CRIME PREVENTION INITIATIVES
% THROUGH THE AMERICAN RESCUE
% PLAN, WHICH SENATOR JOHNSON
% VOTED AGAINST BECAUSE ANOTHER
% INSTANCE WHERE HE DECIDED TO
% PLAY POLITICS INSTEAD OF PUTTING
% THE SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE OF
% WISCONSIN FIRST.%>> THE FIRST
THING YOU DO IS
% SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT.
% UNFORTUNATELY LIEUTENANT%GOVE
RNOR HAS NOT DONE THAT.% HE HAS A R
ECORD OF WANTING TO
% DEFUND THE POLICE, AND I KNOW HE
% DOESN'T NECESSARILY SAY THAT
% WORD, BUT HE HAS A LONG HISTORY
% OF BEING SUPPORTED BY PEOPLE
% THAT ARE LEADING THE EFFORT TO
% DEFUND.
% HE USES CODE WORDS LIKE CORY
% BUSH SAID, TALK ABOUT
% REALLOCATE.
% OVERBLOATED POLICE BUDGETS.
% HE SAYS IT PAINS HIM TO SEE
% FULLY FUNDED POLICE BUDGETS.
% SO THAT'S HIS VIEWS.
% >> SO HE SP YOU SPOKE TO SOME OT
% EARLIER, BUT BILL, YOUR REACTION
% TO THAT INTERCHANGE?
% >> YEAH, WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT
% $100 MILLION THAT WENT TO THE
% CITY OF MILWAUKEE?úCRIME IS STI,
% RIGHT?
% WHERE IS THE FULL ACCOUNTING OF
% WHERE THAT MONEY WENT?
% WHAT HAS THAT DONE TO REDUCE
% CRIME IN MILWAUKEE?
% AND WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT FULLY
% FUNDING EDUCATION, WHAT DOES HE
% MEAN BY THAT?
% WE'VE GIVEN MORE MONEY TO
% EDUCATION EVERY CYCLE OVER THE
% LAST 12 YEARS, AND OUR TEST
% SCORES KEEP GOING DOWN AND DOWN
% AND DOWN.
% WE HAD NEW TEST SCORES OUT A
% WEEK AGO AND THE CITY OF
% MILWAUKEE, FRED, FOR MY IN ORDER
% STUDENTS, ONLY 10%, 10% ARE
% PROFICIENT IN READING AND MATH.
% THAT'S A CATASTROPHE FOR OUR
% SOCIETY.
% THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE
% FOCUSING ON.
% >> I UNDERSTAND WANTING TO MOVE
% THE DISCUSSION, BUT YOU KNOW,
% THE FACT IS, IS THAT RON JOHNSON
% IS THE ONE WITH THE CAREER OF
% OPPOSING FUNDS FOR LAW
% ENFORCEMENT.
% IN 2011, RON JOHNSON VOTED
% AGAINST A BILL THAT PROVIDED
% $35 BILLION FOR COPS, FOR
% FIREFIGHTERS AND FOR TEACHERS.
% HE VOTED AGAINST IT.
% SO HOW CAN HE -- HOW CAN HE SAY
% THAT HE'S GOT THE SOLUTIONS FOR
% THINGS?
% HIS SOLUTIONS ARE SOME SORT OF
% CONVOLUTED MELANGE OF RIGHT WING
% TALKING POINTS RATHER THAN REAL
% SOLUTIONS.
% I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE
% DIFFERENCE WAS TONIGHT.
% MANDELA BARNES LAID OUT PLANS IN
% ORDER TO MOVE THIS COUNTRY
% FORWARD.%>> I DON'T KNOW ENDO
RSEMENTS ARE
% THE BIGGEST THINGS IN CAMPAIGNS
% BUT AS IT RELATES TO CRIME, IT
% IS A BIG DEAL.
% WHO ARE THE COPS AND SHERIFFS
% WITH?
% THEY'RE WITH RON JOHNSON.%I
THINK THAT SAYS A LOT.
% >> AS TO THOSE ENDORSEMENTS,
% THAT WAS AN ERROR ON THE BARNES
% CAMPAIGN, RIGHT, THE POLICE
% ENDORSEMENTS HE HAD BUT THEN HAD
% TO WALK THOSE BACK?
% >> YES, YES --
% >> IN HIS CAMPAIGN, ABOUT HOW
% THE FUTURE OF THE NATION IS
% GOING TO DO AND A POSSIBLE END
% TO DEMOCRACY, TWO COPS
% INCORRECTLY PUT ON A WEBSITE,
% YEAH, I -- YES, I THINK HE CAN
% OWN THAT.
% >> THERE'S 13,000 STATEWIDE.
% HE HAD 9.
% TWO HAD TO WITHDRAW.
% >> SPEAKING OF DEMOCRACY, LET'S
% TAKE A LISTEN TO THE EXCHANGE
% THAT THEY WILL ABOUT -- THE
% QUESTION WAS ABOUT THE ELECTORAL
% COUNT REFORM ACT, IT MORPHED
% FROM THERE.% >> WE ALL SAW
WHAT HAPPENED ON
% JANUARY 6.
% WE ALSO SAW EVERY CONSPIRACY
% THEORY PEDALED, WE SAW A SENATOR
% ATTEMPT TO SEND FAKE ELECTORS TO
% THE VICE PRESIDENT, SAYING HIS
% INVOLVEMENT LASTED A MATTER
% OF SECONDS.%THAT MATTER OF S
ECONDS ENDED UP
% WITH A WHOLE DAY ASSAULT ON THE
% CAPITOL.%>> LET ME CLEAR THIN
GS UP HERE.
% I HAD NO IDEA WHEN I GOT A CALL
% FROM THE LAWYER, FROM THE
% PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,
% TO DELIVER SOMETHING TO THE VICE
% PRESIDENT, THAT I HAD A STAFF
% MEMBER THAT COULD HELP OUT WITH
% THAT, I HAD NO IDEA WHAT IT WAS.
% THE FACT OF THE MATTER WAS,
% NOTHING WAS DELIVERED.
% THE WHOLE EPISODE TOOK LIST THAN
% AN HOUR AND I WASN'T EVEN
% INVOLVED.
% >> I'M GOING TO GO TO YOU FIRST,
% SCOT, ON THAT.
% >> I THINK, AGAIN, WE'VE BEEN
% TALKING ABOUT CRIME.
% SENATOR RON JOHNSON HELPED, YOU
% KNOW, HELPED AND PARTICIPATED
% WITH SUPPORT FOR THE GREATEST
% CRIME AGAINST AMERICAN DEMOCRACY
% EVER COMMITTED IN OUR 246-YEAR
% HISTORY.
% THAT'S THE GOOD THING THAT
% MANDELA -- BOTH THINGS WITH%
CRIME.
% HE SAID LISTEN, WHO DO YOU THINK
% HAS MORE EXPERIENCE WITH CRIME?
% SOME GUY WHO LIVES -- SOME RICH
% GUY WHO LIVES IN A GATED
% COMMUNITY AND HAS A $3 MILLION
% GUEST HOME IN FLORIDA, WHO FLIES
% A PRIVATE PLANE, OR A GUY WHO
% LIVES IN MILWAUKEE WHO HAS HAD
% FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO HAVE BEEN
% THE VICTIMS OF CRIME.
% >> WHATEVER PEOPLE THINK ABOUT
% JANUARY 6TH, WHETHER THEY THINK
% MINIMIZE IT OR MAXIMIZE IT, I
% THINK THAT'S BAKED IN.
% I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO
% CHAWNG A VOTE BETWEEN NOW AND
% NOVEMBER 8TH, BUT I WILL SAY I
% THINK THEY BOTH GOT THIS RIGHT,
% ON BOTH PIECES OF IT.
% THE ELECTORAL COU COUNTERACT, TK
% THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NO MATTER
% WHO WINS THE SENATE IN 33 DAYS.
% AND THEY BOTH SAID THAT PENCE
% DID THE RIGHT THING.
% NOT EVERY REPUBLICAN AGREES WITH
% US ON THAT, BUT I THINK BOTH
% JOHNSON AND BARNES GOT BOTH
% SIDES OF THAT QUESTION RIGHT.
% >> SO YOU SAY IT'S BAKED IN, BUT
% WHAT DO YOU THINK VOTERS THINK
% WHEN THEY HEAR SENATOR JOHNSON
% TALKING ABOUT HIS INVOLVEMENT IN
% THAT ENTIRE THING?
% >> I THINK THEY SEE JOHNSON AS A
% FIGHTER, RIGHT?
% AND HE PUSHES BACK.
% WHEN HE GETS TOUGH QUESTIONS OR
% HE GETS THINGS THAT ARE WORDED
% THAT AREN'T QUITE RIGHT, HE
% PUSHES BACK.
% AND I THINK PEOPLE LIKE THAT
% ABOUT HIM.
% THEY MAY NOT AGREE WITH
% EVERYTHING THAT HE SAYS, BUT I
% THINK AS IT RELATES TO
% JANUARY 6TH, PEOPLE HAVE
% FACTORED THAT IN TO HOW THEY'RE
% GOING TO MAKE A DECISION IN
% 33 DAYS AND THAT'S NOT ONE OF
% THE DECIDING FACTORS FOR THE
% UNDECIDEDS.
% FOR YO UNDECIDEDS, THEY'RE FOR
% INFLATION, CRIME --
% >> I THINK I AGREE WITH BILL IN
% TERMS OF SENATOR JOHNSON DOES
% HAVE A BRAND, THE WAY IN WHICH
% HE TALKS BUT I DON'T THINK HE
% CAN WALK AWAY FROM THE FACT THAT
% 140 COPS WERE INJURED, YOU KNOW,
% AND MANDELA, OR LIEUTENANT
% GOVERNOR BARNES WENT AFTER THE
% FACT THAT YOU LEFT THOSE PEOPLE
% HIGH AND DRY.
% AND THE FACT IS, IS THAT, YEAH,
% WILL IT CHANGE A VOTER?
% I DON'T KNOW AT THIS POINT.
% BUT IS IT BETTER TO BE REMINDED
% ABOUT THE TRUMP-LED INSURRECTION
% FOR DEMOCRATS?
% I THINK SO.
% I THINK IT ENERGIZES DEMOCRATS.
% >> FIGURE OUT HOW TO BUY THE
% GROCERIES ON A FRIDAY AND FILL
% YOUR GAS TANK, YOU'RE NOT
% THINKING ABOUT JANUARY 6TH.
% >> THE OTHER MAJOR ISSUE THAT
% CAME UP, OF COURSE, IN THIS
% DEBATE AS WE WOULD EXPECT IS THE
% ISSUE OF ABORTION.
% LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE A LISTEN
% TO THAT.
% >> NOW, THE SENATOR CALLED THE
% OVERTURNING OF ROE VERSUS WADE A
% VICTORY.
% HE CELEBRATED THE DOBBS DECISION
% AND HE SAID IF WOMEN DON'T LIKE
% THE LAWS OF THEIR STATE, LIKE
% THE 1849 CRIMINAL ABORTION BAN
% WE HAVE HERE, HE SAID THEY CAN
% MOVE.
% I CAN'T THINK OF A MORE CALLUS,
% OUT OF TOUCH OR EXTREME POSITION
% TO TAKE.
% IF I WAS IN THE U.S. SENATE, I
% WOULD ABSOLUTELY VOTE TO CODIFY
% ROE VERSUS WADE TO PROTECT THE
% RIGHT TO AN ABORTION AND ONCE
% AND FOR ALL TO PROTECT WOMEN'S
% RIGHTS.%>> WHAT I'VE RECOMME
NDED IS LET
% WE THE PEOPLE DECIDE WITH A
% ONE-TIME SINGLE ISSUE REFERENDUM
% THAT ASKED THE DECISION WE NEED
% TO COME TO DEA IT A DECISION ONH
% IS AT WHAT POINT DOES SOCIETY
% HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO
% PROTECT LIFE IN THE WOMB?
% WE ALL AGREE SOCIETY HAS
% REPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT LIFE
% BUT AT WHAT POINT DOES SOCIETY
% HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO
% PROTECT LIFE IN THE WOMB?
% I WOULD HAVE ONE VOTE LIKE EVERY
% OTHER WISCONSIN CITIZEN.
% >> HE WANTS THIS REFERENDUM,
% RIGHT, IN THE STATE OF
% WISCONSIN, WHICH AT THIS MOMENT
% IS NOT POSSIBLE TO TAKE THIS
% DIRECT REFERENDUM TO THE PEOPLE
% ON THIS MATTER.
% WHAT IS HE DOING?
% >> I DON'T AGREE WITH HIM ON
% THIS ONE.
% SO I THINK WE WILL HAVE A
% REFERENDUM IN 33 DAYS.
% ON NOVEMBER 8TH, THE PEOPLE WILL
% GET TO DECIDE WHO THEIR STATE
% LEGISLATURE AND THEIR GOVERNOR
% IS.
% WHEN ROE WAS OVERTURNED THIS
% WENT FROM A FEDERAL ISSUE TO A
% STATE ISSUE, SO I THINK IT
% SHOULD BE UP TO THE STATE
% LEGISLATURE.
% WHEN JOHNSON SAID IT WAS A
% VICTORY, WHAT HE MEANT WAS IT'S
% A VICTORY FOR STATES' RIGHTS.
% I AGREE WITH HIM ON THAT. I
% THINK HE HANDLED THIS QUESTION
% PRETTY WELL AND I THINK HE'S
% TRYING TO SHOW PEOPLE HE'S OPEN
% MINDED ON THE ABORTION QUESTION.
% >> IS HE?
% >> I THINK HE IS.
% HE'S GOT EXCEPTIONS FOR RAPE,
% INCEST AND THE LIFE OF THE
% MOTHER.
% THERE'S TWO WAYS TO MEASURE
% THIS.
% ONE IS POLLING AND IT'S NOT A
% TOP ISSUE ON ANY NATIONAL POLL
% FOR INDEPENDENT VOTERS, BUT
% GOOGLE SEARCHES.
% RIGHT AFTER THE ROE DECISION,
% GOOGLE SEARCHES, ABORTION WAS
% NUMBER ONE.
% NOW IT WAY DOWN THE LIST AND
% INFLAINNATION IS NUMBER ONE.
% >> THE FACT IS FOR RON JOHNSON
% HAS SPONSORED LEGISLATION THAT
% WILL HAVE NO EXCEPTION FOR RAPE
% AND INCEST.
% 63% OF WISCONSINITES SUPPORT ROE
% VERSUS WADE I'M SORRY THEY
% OPPOSE THE OVERTURNING OF ROE
% VERSUS WADE AND 83% WANT THOSE
% EXCEPTIONS FOR RAPE AND INCEST,
% SOMETHING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
% ARE ALL RUNNING AGAINST.
% THEY DO NOT WANT EXCEPTIONS,
% IT'S VERY CLEAR.%>> IT'S A TO
UGH ISSUE FOR
% REPUBLICANS.%>> IT IS, BUT I
DON'T THINK IT'S
% GOING TO BE DECISIVE THIS YEAR.
% IF THE ECONOMY WAS IN WORSE
% SHAPE, FRED, IT MAY BE A
% DECIDING ISSUE, BUT WITH THE
% ECONOMY IN THE SITUATION IT IS
% RIGHT NOW WITH CRIME ON THE
% RISE, WITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS ON THE
% DECLINE, IT'S JUST NOT MAKING
% THE CUT.
% >> ISN'T THAT JUST A PIVOT?
% >> RON JOHNSON WANTS TO INCREASE
% CRIME BY PUTTING WOMEN AND
% DOCTORS BEHIND BARS.
% I MEAN, THERE YOU GO, THAT'S
% WHAT HE WANTS TO DO, HE WANTS TO
% CRIMINALIZE HEALTHCARE DECISIONS
% BETWEEN WOMEN AND THEIR DOCTORS.
% IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT.
% WITH NO EXCEPTIONS FOR RAPE AND
% INCEST.%>> WE ARE GOING TO M
OVE ALONG TO
% ANOTHER TOPIC OF GREAT INTEREST,
% AND THAT IS SOCIAL SECURITY.
% WE CAN GO AHEAD AND LISTEN TO
% THAT EXAIK.
% EXCHANGE.%>> I WANT TO SAVE
SOCIAL
% SECURITY, I WANT TO SAVE
% MEDICARE.
% THE GREATEST THREAT TO SOCIAL
% SECURITY AND MEDICARE IS THE
% COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL
% DEFICIT SPENDING IN OUR GROWING
% DEBT.
% WE'VE ADDED $7.5 TRILLION OF NEW
% DEFICITS OVER JUST THE LAST
% THREE YEARS.
% THAT THE GRAITEST T THE GREATES.
% DO YOU REALIZE THE DOLLAR YOU
% HELD AT THE START OF THE BIDEN
% ADMINISTRATION IS ONLY WORTH
% 88.3 CENTS.%>> NOW IT'S UNFO
RTUNATE THAT
% SENATOR JOHNSON SAID THAT SOCIAL
% SECURITY IS A PONZI SCHEME.
% THERE WAS EVEN AN INSTANCE WHERE
% HE CALLED SOCIAL SECURITY CANDY.
% THIS IS KEEPING PEOPLE WHO HAVE
% WORKED THEIR ENTIRE LIVES
% AFLOAT, AND THE THREAT TO TAKE
% THAT AWAY FROM THEM DOES NOT SIT
% WELL WITH ME, ALONG WITH MOST
% OTHER PEOPLE.
% NOW WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS NOT
% JUST MAKE SOCIAL SECURITY
% SOLVENT.
% WE SHOULD STRENGTHEN SOCIAL
% SECURITY.%WE CAN DO THAT BY
MAKING SURE
% THE WEALTHY PAY THEIR FAIR
% SHARE.%WE NEED TO MAKE SURE T
HAT
% BILLIONAIRES ARE PAYING MORE
% INTO THIS SYSTEM.
% >> I'M GOING TO GO TO YOU FIRST,
% SCOT, ON THIS.
% >> I THINK LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
% BARNES SAID IT BEST.
% RON JOHNSON CALLED SOCIAL
% SECURITY A PONZI SCHEME, HE
% CALLED IT CANDY, HE HAS DONE
% EVERYTHING HE CAN TO PUT IT ON
% THE CHOPPING BLOCK.
% HE WILL PUT IT ON THE CHOPPING
% BLOCK IF HE'S RE-ELECTED AND
% REPUBLICANS ARE IN CONTROL OF
% THE CONGRESS.
% >> HE SAYS THAT HE WANTS TO SAVE
% IT.% >> YEAH, THOSE WERE HI
S WORDS,
% AND I THINK IT WAS A GOOD
% OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM TO TELL A
% STATE-WIDE AUDIENCE, THIS IS MY
% POSITION ON THIS ISSUE.
% HE WAS PRETTY CLEAR ABOUT IT.
% HE WANTS TO MAKE IT -- HE WANTS
% TO BRING IT AS PART OF THE FULL
% BUDGET DISCUSSION TO MAKE SURE
% IT CAN BE PROTECTED.
% RIGHT NOW IT'S OFTEN
% ENTITLEMENTS, 70% OF THE BUDGETS
% IS OFF LIMITS TO THE ENTIRE
% CONDITIONING.% >CONGRESS.
% >> IT IS SCARY FOR PEOPLE TO
% HEAR THAT.
% >> THERE'S NO CHANCE RON JOHNSON
% IS GOING TO DO AWAY WITH SOCIAL
% SECURITY AND MEDICARE.
% NO CHANCE.
% >> IF YOU TOOK AWAY SOCIAL
% SECURITY AND MEDICARE, THERE
% WOULD BE NO HOSPITALS IN RURAL
% WISCONSIN, NO TAVERNS IN RURAL
% WISCONSIN, NO RESTAURANTS IN
% RURAL WISCONSIN, THERE WOULD BE
% NO SHOPPING CENTERS IN RURAL
% WISCONSIN, THERE WOULD BE NO
% ECONOMY.
% THE RURAL ECONOMY IS INFLUENCED
% SO HARD BY SOCIAL SECURITY, NOT
% TO MENTION THAT PEOPLE WOULD
% SUFFER, IF RON JOHNSON GETS HIS
% WAY AND TAKES AWAY SOCIAL
% SECURITY.%>> SO WE HAVE ABOU
T A MINUTE
% LEFT, AND I WANT TO JUST ASK YOU
% BOTH YOUR OVERRIDING SENSE OF
% THIS APPEARANCE BY THESE
% CANDIDATES IN THIS REALLY VERY
% IMPORTANT ELECTION.
% >> I THINK THE ENVIRONMENTAL
% FACTORS ARE IN JOHNSON'S FAVOR,
% RIGHT?
% HE'S IN THE LEAD RIGHT NOW ON
% FOUR OF THE LAST FOUR POLLS,
% THERE WILL BE A NEW MARQUETTE
% POLL OUT LAST WEEK.
% THE ENVIRONMENT WORKS TO HIS
% ADVANTAGE BECAUSE THE WHITE
% HOUSE GENERALLY LOSES SEATS WHEN
% THEY'RE IN POWER, RIGHT?
% WHO'S EVER IN CHARGE OF THE
% WHITE HOUSE.
% IF THE PRESIDENT'S APPROVAL IS
% ABOVE 50%, THEY GENERALLY LOSE
% ABOUT 7.%IF IT'S BELOW 50, TH
EY LOSE
% ABOUT 37.
% SO THE TRAJECTORY FOR THE NEXT
% 33 DAYS IS IN JOHNSON'S FAVOR,
% AND I THINK HE'S IN GOOD SHAPE.
% >> ANYONE WHO WATCHED TONIGHT'S
% DEBATE SAW THE FUTURE OF THE
% STATE OF WISCONSIN IS MANDELA
% BARNES' LEADERSHIP.
% HE WAS ARTICULATE, HE WAS WELL
% SPOKEN, HE WAS CRISP, HE WAS
% CLEAR, HE WAS DEFINITIVE AND HE
% WAS ON THE SIDE OF THE PEOPLE OF
% WISCONSIN.%RON JOHNSON WASN'T
.
% HE WAS STUMBLING AND BUMBLING.
% >> ALL RIGHT.
% WE'LL LEAVE IT THERE WITH YOU
% BOTH.
% THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING
% US AND FOR YOUR INSIGHT.
% SO TURNING NOW TO FIELD
% REPORTING THAT WE HAVE BEEN
% BRINGING YOU EVERY WEEK, WE ARE
% JUST FOUR WEEKS OUT FROM THE
% 2022 ELECTIONS, AND YET THE 2020
% ELECTION STILL CASTS A LONG
% SHADOW OVER THE STATE.
% MANY REPUBLICANS ARE STILL
% TALKING ABOUT VOTER FRAUD,
% LEAVING DEMOCRATS TO WORRY THAT
% SWEEPING ELECTION LAW CHANGES
% FROM THE GOP WOULD SERVE TO
% DISENFRANCHISE WISCONSIN VOTERS.
% MORE ON THIS FROM SENIOR
% POLITICAL REPORTER ZAC SCHULTZ.
% >> WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN TWB
% W2020.
% >> POWERFUL AND RICH FORCES ARE
% ALIGNED AGAINST ME.
% >> WAS IT RIGGED, WAS IT FIXED?
% >> PEOPLE HAVE DEBUNKED DONALD
% TRUMP'S CONSPIRACY THEORIES FOR
% NEARLY TWO YEARS.
% RACHEL RODRIQUEZ HAS HEARD THEM
% ALL.% >> EVERY TIME YOU THIN
K YOU'VE
% PUT ONE CONSPIRACY THEORY TO
% BED, ONE POPS UP IN ITS PLACE.
% >> SHE KNOWS EVERY STEP IN THE
% PROCESS.
% SO WHEN REPUBLICANS IN THE
% LEGISLATURE STARTED HOLDING
% INVITATION-ONLY HEARINGS TO GIVE
% AN OFFICIAL PLATFORM TO ELECTION
% CONSPIRACY THEORISTS, SHE
% FOLLOWED THEM CLOSELY.
% >> IT WAS READILY APPARENT, YOU
% KNOW, THAT WITHIN MINUTES, THAT
% THE EXPERTS HAD ABSOLUTELY NO
% EXPERTISE IN ACTUAL ELECTIONS.
% >> RODRIQUEZ STARTED FACT
% CHECKING THE HEARINGS OVER
% TWITTER.
% SOON, SHE WAS BEING RETWEETED BY
% THE CHAIR OF THE WISCONSIN
% ELECTIONS COMMISSION.
% AND GAINED AN AUDIENCE LOOKING
% FOR THE TRUTH.
% >> I THINK PEOPLE WERE REALLY
% LOOKING FOR SORT OF A, YOU KNOW,
% THAT OTHER SIDE OF IT, THE
% ACTUAL EXPERT SIDE BECAUSE THAT
% WASN'T HAPPENING AT THE
% HEARINGS.%>> REPUBLICANS HIR
ED FORMER
% SUPREME COURT JUSTICE MICHAEL
% GABELMAN TO LEAD AN
% INVESTIGATION ON THE 2020
% ELECTION.%>> I WILL NOT ANSW
ER ANY --
% >> BUT WHAT HE PRODUCED WAS OPEN
% RECORDS VIOLATIONS, A CONTEMPT
% OF COURT ORDER AND A MILLION
% DOLLAR BILL FOR TAXPAYERS.
% >> MICHAEL GABELMAN IS AN
% EMBARRASSMENT TO THE STATE.
% >> GABLEMAN WAS FIRED AFTER
% ENDORSING THE PRIMARY OPPONENT
% OF ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS,
% THE MAN WHO HIRED HIM.
% RODRIQUEZ SAYS THE CUMULATIVE
% EFFECT WAS THE TRUTH AROUND
% ELECTION CONSPIRACIES STARTED TO
% LOOK LIKE PARTISAN POLITICS.
% >> WHERE THE PROBLEM IS RIGHT
% NOW IS THAT WHEN YOU HAVE ONE
% PARTY, AND IT IS ONE PARTY WHO
% IS DRIVING ALL OF THIS
% MISINFORMATION AND ALL OF THE
% CON SPEAR S AND ALL OF THE
% DOUBT, WHEN YOU TAKE THE SIDE OF
% ACTUAL FACTS AND TRUTH, WHICH IS
% OPPOSITE TO THAT, IT'S GOING TO
% LOOK LIKE IT'S ONE PARTY OVER
% THE OTHER.
% >> I'M GOING TO GET RID OF THE
% WISCONSIN ELECTIONS COMMISSION.
% >> TIM MICHELS IS THE REPUBLICAN
% CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR.
% AND WHILE HE DOESN'T OUTRIGHT
% SAY THE 2020 ELECTION WAS
% STOLEN, HE DOES CAMPAIGN WITH
% THOSE THAT DO.
% AND EVEN SALUTED REPUBLICAN TIM
% RAMTHUN, A FULL-ON ELECTION CON
% SPEAR CYST WHO WANTED TO SOMEHOW
% RECLAIM WISCONSIN'S 2020
% ELECTORAL VOTES.
% >> I SEE MY FRIEND OUT HERE RAN
% A SPIRITED PRIMARY, TIM RAMTHUN,
% WAS VERY BIG ON ELECTION
% INTEGRITY AS WELL.
% >> AT ONE EVENT, MICHELS TOLD A
% SUPPORTER IN ORDER TO WIN, HE
% HAD TO OVERCOME A CHEATING
% PERCENTAGE.%>> WHAT'S THE CH
EATING
% PERCENTAGE?
% PROBABLY A POINT OR TWO, WE'RE
% GOING TO COME OUT --
% >> TIM MICHELS DID NOT AGREE TO
% AN INTERVIEW FOR THIS STORY.
% >> FOR PEOPLE TO CONTINUE
% HARBORING THAT BIG LIE, THAT'S
% NOT GOOD FOR DEMOCRACY.
% IT'S NOT GOOD FOR DEMOCRACY AT
% ALL.
% SENATE BILL 292.
% NOT APPROVED.
% >> DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR TONY
% EVERS VETOED A SERIES OF
% REPUBLICAN BILLS THAT WOULD HAVE
% CHANGED HOW ELECTIONS ARE RUN IN
% WISCONSIN.
% >> THERE WE GO, FOLKS.
% [APPLAUSE]
% >> MICHELS HAS SAID HE WOULD
% SIGN THOSE BILLS, AND DEMOCRATS
% FEAR AS GOVERNOR, MICHELS COULD
% OVERTURN WISCONSIN'S
% PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORAL VOTES IN
% 2024.
% >> IF THEY ARE IN POWER AND
% TRUMP COMES CALLING, ASKING THEM
% TO CHANGE AN ELECTION RESULT,
% WE'VE SEEN THAT THEY'RE WILLING
% TO DO ANYTHING TO GET TRUMP'S
% APPROVAL.%>> BEN WIKLER IS C
HAIR OF THE
% DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF WISCONSIN.
% >> THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS MOMENT
% IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY
% AND IT'S HARD TO THINK OF WORDS
% THAT WOULD BE TOO STRONG TO
% EXPRESS THE STAKES IN THIS
% FALL'S ELECTION.
% >> YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT
% IT, ELECTION INTEGRITY HAS BEEN
% A GREAT TOPIC FOR EVERYBODY TO
% GET SOME FODDER BOTH WAYS.
% >> PAUL FARROW IS THE CHAIRMAN
% OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF
% WISCONSIN.
% >> WHEN I LOOK BACK AT THE 2020
% ELECTION, THERE WERE SOME
% CHALLENGES.
% WE KNOW THERE WERE ISSUES THAT
% ARE THERE THAT WE HAVE TO FIGURE
% OUT HOW TO REGULATE AND HOW TO
% MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN
% AGAIN.%>> HOW CAN YOU LEAD TH
E STATE IF
% YOU'RE AFRAID TO TELL THE BASE
% OF OUR PARTY THE TRUTH?
% >> ROHN BISHOP IS THE FORMER
% CHAIR OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF
% FOND DU LAC COUNTY.
% AND HE'S CONCERNED THE GOP'S
% OBSESSION WITH 2020 WILL HURT
% THEM THIS FALL.
% >> REPUBLICANS SHOULD BE LOOKING
% AT A TIDAL WAVE ELECTION.
% ONE WAY TO SCREW IT UP IS TO
% KEEP FOCUSING ON 2020, AND WE
% KEEP DOING THAT.
% WE JUST CAN'T TURN THE PAGE AND
% FOCUS ON 2022.
% >> BISHOP WAS ATTACKED BY HIS
% OWN PARTY MEMBERS FOR POINTING
% OUT TRUMP LOST IN WISCONSIN.
% BECAUSE ENOUGH REPUBLICANS
% VOTED, BUT NOT FOR TRUMP.
% >> THE ELECTION IS NOT STOLEN
% WHEN GLENN GROTHMAN IS GETTING
% MORE VOTES THAN DONALD TRUMP IN
% THE SIXTH CONGRESSIONAL%DIST
RICT.% THERE WAS JUST A FALL-OFF.
% THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO
% VOTE FOR REPUBLICAN CONSERVATIVE
% PRINCIPLES BUT NOT TRUMP.
% >> BISHOP SAYS WHEN MICHELS
% CAMPAIGNS WITH MICHAEL GABELMAN
% AND TRUMP, HE RISKS ALIENATING
% THOSE SAME VOTERS.
% >> COMING INTO 2022, TIM MICHELS
% HAS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET
% THOSE 50,000 REPUBLICANS WHO
% VOTED REPUBLICAN BUT NOT FOR
% DONALD TRUMP.
% >> SINCE THE LAST ELECTION,
% BISHOP LEFT PARTY POLITICS AND
% WAS ELECTED MAYOR OF WAUPUN, A
% NON-PARTISAN OFFICE.% >> I J
UST REALLY WANT TO FOCUS
% ON THIS JOB AND GIVE IT ALL THAT
% I HAVE.
% >> HE'S STILL A REPUBLICAN, BUT
% HE WORRIES OTHERS MIGHT HAVE
% LEFT THE PARTY FOR GOOD.
% >> BECAUSE OF THE HYPERPARTISAN
% NATURE OF IT NEGATIVITY, WE'RE
% BUSY ALWAYS TRYING TO KICK
% PEOPLE UP.
% I'VE BEEN CALLED THAT BY PEOPLE,
% BECAUSE I DIDN'T THINK THE
% ELECTION WAS STOLEN.
% WELL, IF YOU KICK ME OUT, AND I
% DON'T VOTE FOR YOU, YOU'RE IN A
% LOT OF TROUBLE.
% >> SO WHAT IMPACT WILL THESE
% CONSPIRACY THEORIES HAVE ON THIS
% ELECTION?
% FOR ONE, THERE WILL BE A LOT
% MORE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM WHEN YOU
% CAST YOUR BALLOT.
% PAUL FARROW SAYS IN 2020,
% REPUBLICANS HAD ABOUT 1300
% ELECTION OBSERVERS AT THE POLLS
% STATEWIDE.% >> WE ARE WELL O
VER 5,000 THIS
% TIME AROUND.
% WE'VE GOT A LOT MORE EYES THAT
% ARE WATCHING THE PROCESS.
% TO START THE OTHER ONES UP.GOIN-
% >> PEOPLE LIKE CHRISTOPHER
% BOSSERT, A REPUBLICAN FROM WEST
% BEND.%>> I HAVE CONCERNS ABO
UT
% ELECTION INTEGRITY, AND THE BEST
% WAY TO RESOLVE THOSE CONCERNS
% ONE WAY OR THE OTHER IS TO GET
% INVOLVED.
% SO I CHOSE TO VOLUNTEER FOR THE
% REPUBLICAN PARTY AS A POLL
% WORKER.%>> BOSSERT SAYS HE S
TILL HAS
% CONCERNS ABOUT VOTER FRAUD
% ELSEWHERE IN WISCONSIN, BUT IS
% NO LONGER WORRIED ABOUT THE
% DOMINION VOTING MACHINES USED IN
% HIS HOMETOWN.
% EVEN IF HIS NEIGHBORS ARE
% CONVINCED.%>> I HAVE CONSTITU
ENTS WHO
% BELIEVE DOMINION IS A PROBLEM,
% AND EVEN THOUGH I'VE TOLD THEM
% FROM WHAT I CAN SEE, DOMINION IS
% NOT A PROBLEM, THEY STILL
% BELIEVE IT.
% >> REPORTING FROM MADISON, I'M
% ZAC SCHULTZ FOR "HERE AND NOW."
% >> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
% ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
% OUR WEBSITE AT PBSWISCONSIN.ORG
% AND THEN CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
% AND TO LEARN ABOUT ALL THE
% CANDIDATES IN NOVEMBER, VISIT
% WISCONSINVOTE.ORG.
% JOIN US AGAIN NEXT WEEK AT
% 7:00 P.M. FOR THE GUBERNATORIAL
% DEBATE FOLLOWED BY OUR LIVE
% "HERE AND NOW" ANALYSIS.
% IT'S ALL RIGHT HERE ON PBS
% WISCONSIN.
% THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
% I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
% HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
% ♪
% [MUSIC]
% >> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
% PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
% JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
% WISCONSIN.