Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Endorses Walker

Things are not going well for Tom Barrett.

He's flailing around, saying ludicrous things, looking desperate.

Now, there's more bad news for Barrett: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Editorial Board came out against the recall and endorsed Governor Scott Walker.

This could be an effort by the Journal Sentinel to win back readers. It could be an editorial decision based on polling, given that the overwhelming majority of Republicans and significant numbers of independents object to the recall.

Anyway, the endorsement isn't much of one. The Board tosses heavy criticism Walker's way. It's almost like going with Walker on a technicality.

No governor in recent memory has been so controversial. No governor in America is so polarizing. Everyone has an opinion about Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin.

Here's ours: We see no reason to remove Walker from office. We recommend him in the June 5 recall election.

Walker's rematch with Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett was prompted by one issue: Walker's tough stance with the state's public-employee unions. It's inconceivable that the recall election would be occurring absent that. And a disagreement over a single policy is simply not enough to justify a vote against the governor.

A Marquette Law School Poll in January showed that many people in the Badger State agree. In that poll, 72% of Republicans, 44% of independents and 17% of Democrats said recalls should be limited to criminal wrongdoing.

It seems like the Journal Sentinel is endorsing Walker just to be on the same side as the people.

A silly endorsement certainly doesn't alter the fact that the JS reads like Democrat campaign literature.

This portion of the Walker endorsement piece is ridiculous:

As for Barrett, we think he has been a good steward of Wisconsin's largest city. Taxes and fees are up, but that's hardly unreasonable given the depth of the budget restraints. Services remain solid. Barrett and his team have helped shepherd new development in the Menomonee Valley, downtown and in the neighborhoods. The mayor has helped heal the often raw relationship between Milwaukee and its suburbs.

Barrett has been a terrible steward of Milwaukee.

He has done a miserable job.

Watch Barrett and Walker react to the JS endorsement.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's endorsement of Governor Scott Walker is drawing both criticism and praise from the two candidates in the bitter recall election.

Walker's challenger, Mayor Tom Barrett downplayed the news while making a stop to speak at a Milwaukee church. Barrett said, "they endorsed him last time, I think they're slanted. Clearly, their editorial policies have gone to the right."

Governor Walker offered his own spin during a campaign stop in Fond du Lac.

He said, "I don't think I've ever heard the Journal Sentinel called right leaning, I think it just reflects the mass majority across the state."

The Democratic Party of Wisconsin issued a statement following the endorsement. In a statement, Chair Mike Tate blasted Governor Walker saying, "It saddens, but does not surprise, that the state's largest newspaper would continue to support the most divisive, and possibly most corrupt, governor in Wisconsin history."

Journal Sentinel "right leaning"?

Barrett is really losing it.