As Goes Wisconsin, So Goes America

Both Michelle Malkin and Sarah Palin have recently drawn attention to the upcoming recall primary (May 5) and election (June 5) in Wisconsin:

Now is the time for all good tea partiers to come to the aid of Wisconsin. . . .

New poll data released on Tuesday show two potential Democratic rivals neck and neck with Walker. Wisconsin politicos tell me his national name recognition has bolstered public awareness and fundraising efforts. He’s currently sitting on a $5 million war chest. Walker supporters believe the Big Labor-fueled fight will be dirty, but with vigilant backing, he’ll survive.

The outlook for the unhinged Left’s secondary targets, however, is not so bright. Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, a tea party candidate who is not part of the GOP establishment, is being treated as collateral damage by the party. Outside of Wisconsin, most conservative activists are not even aware that she may be booted from office for simply doing her job. Kleefisch told me that on a recent fundraising swing in D.C., national GOP leaders were shocked to learn of her plight.

. . .

From Sarah Palin, a rousing call to arms — As Goes Wisconsin, so Goes America; Support Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch:

Governor Walker has left the far Left unhinged, so he’s had to amass a war chest to fend off the lies and dirty dealings in the capitol; and, thankfully, it’s predicted he’ll survive his recall.

But the recall fight that is just as important is Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch’s. Please click this link to help her.

Malkin’s column reports on some of the smear tactics against the Lt. Gov., but you’ll need a strong stomach.

Support Lt. Governor Kleefisch!

UPDATE Apr-19-12: Tim Dake, leader of the Wisconsin Tea Party group Grandsons of Liberty, spoke the other day to Ned Ryun at American Spectator:

In response to the unions' and Democrats' efforts to derail the Walker agenda through the recalls, we created, in partnership with another Wisconsin group and a Texas group, the Verify the Recall online effort. This project was created to provide citizens a method of participating in the recall process and to ensure clean elections. …We no longer trust government agencies to carry out their tasks without bias.

…

Conservatives believe that protecting Walker translates into protecting the conservative agenda and movement. … Lose Walker and his momentum, and the unions and socialism reign supreme; protect Walker, and treat it as a public mandate to forge ahead.

Tim had more to say about the Tea Party movement in general, the GOP, and the 2012 elections:

Since the 2010 elections, two key developments have changed the relationship between the Tea Party and the GOP: attempts by local groups to 'take over' their county GOP chapters—either amicably or hostilely—and counter-attempts by the GOP to co-opt the local groups. A showdown is inevitable. . . .

The lack of an acceptable conservative presidential candidate appears to be, in the eyes of the media, a reflection on the strength of the Tea Party and is therefore a failure of the Tea Party and yet another harbinger of the movement's demise. In Wisconsin, several groups, ours included, have written off the presidential race to focus on the all-important open U.S. Senate seat and the ongoing recall efforts.

Some Ohio Tea Party Patriots may likewise be discouraged about the candidates running for President, but that doesn’t mean we’re not planning on major efforts to Get Out The Vote, for all races -- federal, state, and local. And a top priority for Cleveland Tea Party Patriots is to make sure that Sen. Sherrod Brown and Pres. Obama are held to account – based on their record in office.