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Wisconsin Lt. Gov challenger chides nonvoters (but is he one himself?)

Wisconsin Lt. Gov challenger chides nonvoters (but is he one himself?)

It surfaced today that Mahlon Mitchell, the democratic challenger to Wisconsin’s Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch, admitted on camera that he only got involved in politics in 2008–and it’s questionable if he even voted at that time.

Mitchell, who is the president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin, made his comments after a speech where he chided the crowd saying, “we live in a time when bad politicians are put into office by good people who don’t vote.”

When Rebel Pundit questioned him about never having voted before 2008, Mitchell, 35 years old, nodded in agreement:

“I was just…I’m not really engaged in politics. I’m not really engaged in statewide politics at all. But once, what happened last year, and before that when Barack Obama came on the scene, that got me really really engaged in politics. And I’ve been engaged ever since.”

Media Trackers followed up on Mahlon Mitchell’s voting record:

According to the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board Voter Public Access website, Mahlon Mitchell’s voting record might not even stretch back to 2008 when Barack Obama was elected. According to the Voter Public Access site, a site that states it “has complete data starting in 2006,” Mahlon Mitchell has only been voting since the Fall primary of 2010. In addition to not having a voting record between 2006 and 2010, Mitchell did not even vote in the February 15, 2011 primary that featured candidates for the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch faces Mitchell this coming Tuesday as part of Wisconsin’s recall election.

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Comments

Yes, but I want to know if Mitchell is engaged. Because he didn’t really address that.

LukeHandCool | June 1, 2012 at 6:19 pm

“I’m not really engaged in statewide politics at all. But once, what happened last year, and before that when Barack Obama came on the scene, that got me really really engaged in politics. And I’ve been engaged ever since.”

—Better never than late, in this case.

People who aren’t interested in politics and have no knowledge of the candidates and issues shouldn’t vote, and shouldn’t be encouraged to vote. I have never understood why so many people think everyone should vote, when they don’t think everyone should drive or perform surgery.

And I see no contradiction between Mitchell’s non-voting before he became interested in politics and his exhortation to his supporters that not voting is half as bad as voting for the opposition. That is obviously directed at those who would vote for the right candidate if only they could be bothered to vote at all. He is not saying that voting is itself a virtue; on the contrary, if you’re going to vote for the wrong candidate he’d rather you stay home.

2008 brought a lot of new people into politics on both sides. Nothing wrong with that.

    Estragon in reply to merig00. | June 2, 2012 at 6:37 am

    If you are going to assert the privilege of voting, which affects everyone including non-voters and non-citizens, shouldn’t you be required to pass a basic civics test? You have to pass a driving test to get a license, doctors must be board-certified to practice, lawyers have to pass out on a bar, even beauticians can’t style hair without passing a test.

    But any idiot who can slide to the poll on their own drool can vote?

I’d say Mr. Mitchell hit the Peter Principle…oh, about at his union job…

Great place to stop and tie a knot.

“Mitchell’s non-voting ” is just the tip of the iceberg. I’ve seen two interviews w/ him. In neither could he answer the question, whuch he inartfully dodged – what would you do to bring down the state’s deficit. Heck. He’s a Democrat. Just trust him. mmm mmm mmm

I don’t have a problem with someone who’s uninvolved in politics and decides to get involved because he/she wants to change things, but you have to know what you’re talking about!

To me, this looks like the Dems were fishing around for a useful idiot who’s a minority with an appealing face who they can push around.

For Lieutenant Governor. Imagine.

    Well, it is true that in most states the best qualification for Lt. Governor is the ability to be easily amused without getting too excited and disrupting the adults.

BannedbytheGuardian | June 2, 2012 at 6:59 am

His daughter is called Sie’enna.

I am going to devote 4 minutes to trying to pronounce that.

I’ve got it

Sheena like the Jungle girl. (I think )

BannedbytheGuardian | June 2, 2012 at 7:04 am

No it is Sie’anna.

It must be…. Shyarna.

Shyarna of Milwaukee. No jungle.