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Sanders: The Buck Stops with Walker
Sanders for Wisconsin, August 19, 2010
Sanders: The Buck Stops with Walker
Seeks accountability for Republican campaign’s offensive posts
MIDDLETON – Henry Sanders, Vice Chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin Black Caucus and candidate for Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor, today sent a message to Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker demanding an apology to the people of Wisconsin. The call comes after Walker’s campaign staff distributed an insensitive online video to thousands of Wisconsin citizens late Monday. Walker has failed to condemn the staffers’ actions, and offered no apology in the four days since the incident.
Below is the text of Sanders’ message to Walker:
Dear Scott:
In my years of experience as an executive, I have learned that I am responsible for the people I hire. When someone on my team makes a mistake, the buck stops with me. I am disappointed that you do not seem to have learned the same.
On Monday, two of your senior staff used a popular internet tool to distribute a video that can generously be called insensitive. This action offended many Wisconsinites. It was disrespectful to our President, who was visiting our state at the time, and an embarrassment to you, your party, and all of Wisconsin.
In tough times like these, Wisconsin needs real leadership. We need a leader who is focused on creating jobs. We need a leader who deals with the challenges of today, not someone who is playing the same old and tired political games with divisive, childish attempts at humor.
Leadership is about having real plans and taking accountability when someone on your team makes a mistake. So far, you have failed to demonstrate that you possess either of those traits.
You have failed to condemn their actions and you have failed to apologize. This is simply unacceptable from a man who thinks himself qualified to be our next Governor.
Now is the time to lead, Scott. The buck stops with you! I think you know what you need to do – man up, accept responsibility and apologize to the people of Wisconsin.
Sincerely,
Henry Sanders, Jr.
Nonprofit executive, community activist, and small business owner Henry Sanders, Jr. lives with his wife and daughter in Waunakee, WI. Sanders is the founder of Madison Area Growth Network and Propel Wisconsin Innovation – nonprofit organizations dedicated to job growth – and Capacity-360, a small business that connects other small to mid-sized businesses with capital and other resources. Democratic Party leaders and grassroots activists favored Sanders by a 2-to-1 margin in the Democratic Convention poll. His 18-point plan for job creation in Wisconsin, “Progressive Recovery”, can be viewed online at http://www.henrysanders.org.
