Scott Walker's ride still kicking up dust

Scott Walker's taxpayer-financed Harley ride through the state's media markets ended last Thursday, when a police escort led him into the Summerfest grounds for the opening of the festival.

But, a week later, the dust hasn't settled. His taxpayer-paid campaign trip, and his handing out of thousands of dollars worth of free goodies to reporters along the way, have prompted some ongoing media stories asking ethical questions.

Some random thoughts:

Walker writes the editor. Walker writes a "screw you" letter to the editor of the Green Bay Press Gazette, the paper which ran the original story about the freebies. "Regardless of my political interests, I will continue to promote tourism in our region." Walker writes. Because of my political interests ... would be more accurate.

The campaign is working, Walker says, noting that a TV crew from another media market was coming to Milwaukee to do a story on the Mitchell Park Domes. Which raises the question -- who do you think took the TV folks on the tour and did the interview to get some face time in another media market? Think it was the person who runs the Domes or the parks superintendent, or Mr. Tourism himself? I don't know the answer, but wanna bet?

Walker's selective memory. Walker told the Press Gazette that he can't understand the fuss, since he did a similar ride last year and no one raised any questions. Two things: He is now an announced candidate for governor, which changes things considerably. And Walker is shading the truth about last year's event. There were at least two open records requests made for information on the trip, including one from the state Democratic Party. Apparently the news media gave him a pass, but that does not mean the trip didn't raise some eyebrows.

Delusions of grandeur? “The only thing that’s changed is that I have announced my intention to seek a different statewide office," Walker told the Press Gazette. "Now it appears, at least for some, the rules have changed since last year. It’s interesting how people are conveniently looking at it differently now.”

A different statewide office? Was he running for some other statewide office last year? Or does he think Milwaukee County executive is a statewide office? Details, please.

No coverage for hometown hero? Since the Press Gazette story, many newspapers around the state have written about the ethical questions surrounding his trip, and there has been an AP story on the wire. Not a peep from the hometown Journal Sentinel, though. Perhaps someone with a better relationship than I have could ask Managing Editor George Stanley about it.

The seal of approval. Walker says everything is fine and has been approved by the county ethics board. Well, I haven't seen this year's letter, but the one in 2004 from John J. Carter, chair of the board, starts by telling Walker, "You have determined this tour to be county business," then goes on to say it's all fine to use taxpayer money, take staff along, and have a jolly good time. If you start from the premise that Walker gets to decide what is county business and what is campaign, it's pretty easy to see how Carter reached his conclusion.

Walker wins chutzpah award. Walker tries to put the best spin on this whole embarrassing episode (it should be embarrassing, but he seems to be shameless) with a press release telling of all the great results of his trip. For example, someone from Rockford came to the zoo! I don't think that's a first, actually. When I lived in Rockford long ago, everyone knew there was a zoo in Milwaukee, and they had never heard of Scott Walker. I think they preferred it that way.

Previous Xoff post,"Walker plays Santa on taxpayers' tab."

UPDATE. Walker's letter to the Press Gazette did not help. The newspaper has run a new story on the subject, and also wrote about another allaged Walker campaign violation pending before the State Elections Board.