Wisconsin Internet News

The following is a press release from Dave Westlake, a candidate for U.S. Senate.

Dave Westlake, candidate for U.S. Senate, wants to know when his opponent on the Republican ticket plans to show up to his job interview before the voters.

In an August 25th article published by WKOW-TV, Madison’s ABC affiliate, Ron Johnson claimed to be approaching his campaign as a job application and interview. To date, the people of Wisconsin have received plenty of notice of the millionaire’s interest in filling a Senate seat. But, with the primary election just two weeks away the endorsed candidate has granted voters no substantive, public opportunity to interview him.

“In any hiring situation, an applicant who submits a resume but refuses outright to show up to a job interview is immediately disqualified,” says Westlake. “Yet that’s the kind of disdain for voters we’re seeing here,” the West Point graduate and Army Veteran adds.

“My opponent has an established pattern of avoiding venues in which he might have to deviate from set talking point. He’s repeatedly refused to debate, and he’s canceled numerous sessions with groups who want to ask him hard, substantive questions.”

Westlake asserts that this sort of evasion isn’t by accident. “Strong candidates welcome debate. They see it as a chance to demonstrate superiority. In running from debate, my opponent is signaling that he has no confidence in his ability to stand up to intense public scrutiny. He’d rather be seen from a safe distance where he hopes voters won’t notice some pretty serious flaws—including a lack of preparedness. That’s the beauty of a 30-second television spot,” Westlake notes. “It’s one-way, shallow communication.”

Westlake maintains that voters should have the opportunity to compare and contrast the candidates in the Senate race. “Wisconsinites have the right to evaluate how well each of us knows the Constitution, responds under pressure, and thinks on our feet. They should have the chance to evaluate how our principles stack up, how consistently we hold to our positions, and how skillfully we defend our ideas. All of these things are significant when determining who’s best suited to represent the people of Wisconsin and lead in a challenging time.

You can’t have it both ways,” Westlake contends. “You can’t credibly tell voters that you’re submitting to an interview process while repeatedly refusing to show up to the interview. From day one of this campaign, I’ve actively engaged in the interview process with Wisconsinites. I’ve listened to concerns and answered tough questions from one end of this state to the other. I’ve been thoroughly vetted in numerous settings, and I’ve offered to debate. My opponent simply cannot make the same claim. He’s demonstrating a regrettable willingness to shortchange
voters—and that’s just plain dangerous for Wisconsin.”