Scott Walker Recall: 'War On Women' Fight Becomes Big Issue In Election

WASHINGTON -- Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett (D), who is running in his party's primary to face off against Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) in the June recall election, is out with a new ad blasting the governor for his "war on women."

The online ad highlights Walker's recent decision to quietly repeal the 2009 Equal Pay Enforcement Act, which made it easier for victims of wage discrimination to have their day in court.

"Scott Walker has torn our state apart waging an ideological civil war in Wisconsin, and Walker's war extends to women," Barrett said. "No decision underscores that more than Walker's move to take away enforcement teeth of the state's equal pay law. As the father of three daughters I am deeply concerned with the effect that this will have not only on my daughters, but also the women of Wisconsin."

WATCH:

"Thus far, Tom Barrett has dealt with tough issues in one of three ways: Remaining silent, blaming others, or in this case, outright lying," replied Ciara Matthews, the Walker campaign's communications director. "Tom Barrett’s campaign message has become borderline irrational in his attempt to win a seat that Wisconsin voters have twice denied him because of his failed leadership and utter lack of ideas or solutions."

On Monday, state Rep. Kelda Helen Roys (D-Madison) challenged state Sen. Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend), the author of the equal pay repeal bill, to a debate on women's rights. Grothman has not yet accepted.

Grothman recently said that the pay gap that exists between women and men is there because "money is more important for men." Women, on the other hand, are too focused on childrearing, he said.

The "war on women" in Wisconsin has moved to the national debate, as the Obama campaign has called on GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney to explain whether he backs Walker's actions on equal pay. One of Romney's surrogates is state Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills), who cosponsored Grothman's bill repealing the Equal Pay Enforcement Act.

Barrett's main competitor in the Democratic primary, former Dane County executive Kathleen Falk, is also focusing her attention on women voters, saying they may be key to the race.

"Of these undecided voters out there -- and there's a lot -- they're primarily women, and they're primarily independent," Falk said during a recent interview with WISN-TV. "They're looking for a candidate that knows how to run government and that will bring us together."

The Barrett ad comes out on Equal Pay Day, which is the day when a typical woman's earnings catch up to those made by her male counterparts in 2011.

Transcript of the ad:

Screen: "Scott Walker's war on women escalates" DailyKos, 4/9/12

Tom Barrett: Senator Hanson, who in 2009 got legislation passed dealing with equal pay for equal work.

Screen: "Scott Walker repeals Wisconsin Equal Pay Law" The Raw Story, April 6, 2012

To ensure that women would be treated fairly in this state. Pow! He goes after that.

Screen: "Scott Walker launches all-out attack on women from behind closed doors" MSNBC, The Ed Show, April 6, 2012

Legislation to make it more difficult for women to have the most intimate conversations with their health care provider. Pow! He goes after that.

Screen: "Walker signs slew of controversial legislation, including anti-abortion and sex-ed bills" Wisconsin State Journal April 7, 2012

Legislation that was on the books that made sure that young people got sex education that reflected the real world. Pow! He goes after that.

Screen: Photo of Scott Walker and the protests at the Wisconsin State Capitol.

All part of this idealogical war. A war against women. A war against working people. A war against Wisconsin values.

Screen: Tom Barrett will END Scott Walker's War on Women

Screen: Join WomenForBarrett.com (Photos of State Rep. Terese Berceau, Congresswoman Gwen Moore, State Senator Lena Taylor and Former Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton.

UPDATE: 1:06 p.m. -- Falk also released a pay equity ad on Tuesday, going after Walker for cutting funding for health centers operated by Planned Parenthood:

Related on HuffPost:

Comments

[Will K atourist]

11:19 AM on 11/05/2012

Listen to what women, who know him, are saying about Mitt Romney:

Jane Edmonds
http://www.c-spanvideo.org/clip/3871707

Susana Martinez, governor of New Mexico
http://www.c-span.org/RNC/Events/Susana-Martinez-at-the-2012-Republican-Convention/C3731659/

Condoleezza Rice, former Secretary of State
http://www.c-span.org/RNC/Events/Condoleezza-Rice-at-the-2012-Republican-Convention/C3731661/

Mia Love, Congressional Candidate from Utah
http://www.c-spanvideo.org/clip/3839875

Bev Gray, business owner
http://www.c-spanvideo.org/clip/3839860

Kate Obenshain, former chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia
http://www.booktv.org/Watch/13912/quotDividerinChief+The+Fraud+of+Hope+and+Changequot.aspx

Nikki Haley, governor of South Carolina
http://www.c-spanvideo.org/clip/3847756

Deb Fischer, candidate for US Senate
http://www.c-spanvideo.org/clip/3873413

Kerry Healey, former Massachusetts Lt. Governor
http://www.c-span.org/RNC/Events/Kerry-Healey-at-the-2012-Republican-National-Convention/C3830822/

Does this sound like a “war on women” to you?

Are these women victims?

Or, is truth the victim?

Compare Romney’s administration to the Obama Administration’s treatment of women:

“The White House Boys’ Club: President Obama Has a Woman Problem”
http://swampland.time.com/2011/09/21/the-white-house-boys-club-president-obama-has-a-woman-problem/#ixzz2BApoAkUS

Don’t be fooled by Obama’s beautiful, lofty oratory.

[jbl624]

03:38 PM on 06/06/2012

WI Senate results:
According to late results, Lehman (D) leads Wanggaard (R) by a margin of 36,255 votes to 35, 476. The results are still unofficial and Wanggaard has not yet conceded, but Lehman declared victory. If Lehman's win is confirmed, Democrats will have a 17-16 edge in the chamber.

779 vote lead, I smell a re-count!

[rufatoof]

03:22 PM on 04/20/2012

Sorry, but you are wrong, almost no one in this election cares about the "war on women". This state is already polarized on other issues, and running harsh adds about something doesn't make it a "big issue" in the election. It is a sideshow at best.

Maybe in other states it will make a bigger difference, but in WI, the field is already full and anything anyone says already looks like a political stunt. Those who want to listen will, those who don't won't, and there is almost no one left undecided.

[giftsthatpurr]

09:02 PM on 04/21/2012

Disagree. Women care.

[rufatoof]

01:37 PM on 04/22/2012

Maybe, but I have yet to meet one woman here who have changed their mind because of this. Those who already hated him got one more reason to, and those who have supported him have written it of as desperation by the left and see it as an attempt by the unions to distract from the real issues. Not saying one is right or one is wrong, I am just saying that I am not seeing it change peoples minds.

And if it isn't changing peoples minds, it is not a big issue in the campaign.

[Allen Staves]

11:25 AM on 04/19/2012

Scott Walker and other Republican misogynists are desperate in their attempts to control women, while at the same time they themselves are dependent on women for validation in front of other men. Walker himself married a woman that's almost old enough to be his mother. The misogynists dependence on mother figures is disempowering and adds to their resentment.

[ukan]

08:21 AM on 04/19/2012

I wonder, what his woman has to say on this issue?

[Allen Staves]

11:28 AM on 04/19/2012

Nothing. She belongs in the sheep pen.

[ukan]

08:17 AM on 04/19/2012

How many womens voted for Walker? They all should introspect and work hard on recall process and also support the recall process of such governers in other states.
DISEASE should be treated ASAP!

[Bootinureye]

07:12 PM on 04/18/2012

When the fake outrage lefties and the spoiled Unionistas fail at this recall attempt, what BS will they invent next to deflect from the lefts ineptness?

The best weapon against the left is the non pc truth and a strong dose of pharmaceutical grade laxative. They pass easier with both.

[Mark Zalewski]

06:40 PM on 04/18/2012

I truly hope the Republican leaning women of Wisconsin will wake up and smell the kielbasa. The direction that party is headed on defies logic. Alienation of 50+% of the voting block seems like a strange and suicidal philosophy for a candidate to embrace, and yet, so long as they wrap it in America flags and call it religious freedom folks are sucking it up. President Obama and the Dems are the lesser of two evils in WI and beyond. I would like all like-minded women of WI to practice what your Republican Party preaches, abstinence, unless you are actively trying to conceive, then by all means go for it. Otherwise, hold out until Scott Walker is defeated, or your husband shows you his voting ballot with some other candidates name checked. Or make your spouse sign a pledge. Walker can't possibly win if women turn away.

[juliet marilynne]

12:00 PM on 04/19/2012

ahhhh the 'lysistrata strategy'. always a classic.

highlights the question: who needs WHAT more?

8D

[djackmoss]

02:18 PM on 04/18/2012

What happens in Wisconsin doesn't STAY in Wisconsin--what's happening in Wisconsin is likened unto a cancer that is spreading throughout this country...attacks on women is just one more strategy in the GOP'S overall goal in destroying the middle class...Oh yeah, money is more important to men?! As opposed to being FATHERS, and women are "too focused" on child rearing?? As opposed to being financially and economically involved in their family's welfare??

[SantaMonican]

11:22 AM on 04/18/2012

Way to go, Scott!

Now you've given republican women more reasons to recall you.

[Fearless Fred]

11:00 AM on 04/18/2012

I am truly embarrassed that you good people of Illinois had to be subjected to the lies and self-aggrandizement of our soon-to-be rejected governor Walker. We, the TRUE people of WI will not take any "credit" for the garbage that he fed you!

[gincho]

10:34 AM on 04/18/2012

Oh how I do so want to see the end of Walker!!! He is the worst governor that has ever hit Wisconsin - we need him OUT so we can start cleaning up the mess he's made.

[pollclaire]

10:25 AM on 04/18/2012

The numbers are in, and it turns out that Walker's agenda has saved the average property tax payer $11 on their property tax bill.

Unfortunately, he did it by serving as a proxy for out-of-state billionaires who embrace an anti-democratic 1890s agenda.

[shivabeach]

10:16 AM on 04/18/2012

The polls say Walker is even with his dem rivals. Are the people of Wisconsin sleeping? As workers you stand to lose almost everything you have now, Union or non-union. As women you stand to lose your rights, the ones that supposedly god gave you and is now taking away.

[They Call Me Mr Snark]

09:57 AM on 04/18/2012

Grothman is the same guy that called the protesters at the capital sl0bs.

[Allen Staves]

11:40 AM on 04/19/2012

Grothman will also be recalled. He will soon be gone.