Bill Clinton supports Barrett at Milwaukee rally

As the recall elections continue to gain national attention and the election day nears, former President Bill Clinton appeared at a rally in Milwaukee on Friday to support Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.   

On Friday morning, Clinton appeared with Barrett and other prominent state Democrats in Milwaukee’s Pere Marquette Park. Walker was also joined in Sussex by a national political figure, South Carolina Republican Gov. Nikki Haley. 

Clinton, introduced by Barrett as a “fella who knows a lot about the middle class [and] balanced budgets,” said Wisconsin voters had a choice in the June 5 elections, between Barrett’s method of “creative cooperation” and Walker’s strategy of “constant conflict.” 

“You need a budget from the next governor that deals with whatever the realities are but where there is shared responsibility and shared sacrifice, not winner take all,” Clinton said. “If you believe in a state budget that preserves investments in education and jobs and you want somebody that has actually created jobs…the only way it works, show up for Tom Barrett.”

Clinton said everywhere he travels in the nation and world that is prosperous has the “creative cooperation” strategy Barrett will bring if he is elected. He described Walker and various other conservatives as politicians who do not want to work with the other side. 

A statement released Thursday from the Republican Party of Wisconsin pointed out that Clinton criticized the 2003 recall election of then Democratic California Gov. Gray Davis, when Clinton said the recall would “spread instability and uncertainty.” 

At the rally, Clinton addressed this claim, saying although he is usually against recalls, they are “sometimes the only way to avoid a disastrous course.” 

The RPW released another statement Friday on Clinton’s stop in Milwaukee, contrasting it to the campaign stops President Obama is making in neighboring states. 

“Clinton’s arrival is clearly meant to provide cover for President Obama’s refusal to campaign in Wisconsin, given that today the President will be attending three campaign events a stone’s throw away in Minneapolis, and then three more in Chicago. The President has made it clear he does not wish to touch Tom Barrett or this baseless recall election,” RPW spokesperson Ben Sparks said in the statement. 

Barrett called Walker the “rockstar of the right” during the rally, as legislation the governor has passed has been applauded by many conservatives nationwide, which Barrett said has brought many funds from outside of the state to keep Walker in office. 

“[Out of state donors] care about a national agenda, and they want Wisconsin to be the experimental land,” Barrett said. “The people of this state deserve to have a governor on their side.”