Let’s start with the basics. A simple definition for a “firewall” is a “Software/hardware used to prevent unauthorized access from a computer system or network of computer systems.”
Now that we know what a firewall is, how many times have we heard the following statement from the Jim Doyle campaign?
"There is a firewall between the campaign and state government."
We heard this statement on March 27th 2006, when it was discovered that Doyle had accepted almost $45,000 from two out of state consulting companies who had recently received a $6.7 million Wisconsin state contract.
We heard this statement on July 7th, 2006, when it was discovered that Doyle’s assistant Marc Marotta held a meeting at his state office with a Philadelphia attorney that was arranged by the Doyle’s fundraiser, Katie Boyce. The Philadelphia attorney donated $10,000 on the same day.
We heard this statement on March 30th, 2006. On this day, Doyle vetoed a piece of legislation that would have set new standards and restrictions for the rent-to-own industry. Mysteriously, Governor Doyle had received $22,500 from the rent-to-own industry before he had vetoed this bill.
Again, we heard this statement only a couple of days ago, July 29th, 2006. This time Jim Doyle had returned a questionable donation of $10,000 because of the timing the donations were given. Burger Boat and friends had donated before the state contract, they were up for, had been awarded. Shortly after Burger Boat received the state contract worth $1.6 million , the money was again donated to Doyle’s campaign.
I could go on and on with these. In fact, if you type “Governor Doyle firewall” into Google, you will receive over 23,000 hits.
How much longer does Governor Doyle believe the people of Wisconsin will continue to buy this line of his?
Even in the face of this overwhelming evidence, there are still some that believe that there is a firewall. All these folks have to do is take a look at the comments made by those that are donating to the Doyle campaign. One such donor, Dick Day, a contractor from the Kenosha area states in Sunday's Kenosha News-
Day said large political donations have simply become a part of doing business.
“You can cook a good steak for the guy, but that’s not going to get you the new engine plant and the pharmaceutical laboratory,” he said.
Clearly, many folks like Mr. Day, are not even trying to hide the fact that they are doing whatever they can to purchase favors from our governor.
So far, our governor has proven that these types of ploys do work and that governor's office can indeed be purchased by the high dollar donors.
Clearly, the firewall that Jim Doyle says is in place is completely broken. If there is a firewall, certainly, most level headed Wisconsinites cannot see it.
We see hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations go into Doyle’s campaign account, state contracts are then being sent out to those who donated.
We see state contracts go out and Doyle campaign contributions start rolling in.
We even see campaign donations roll in, and important legislation that protects consumers is mysteriously vetoed.
I question whether or not there ever was a firewall. This type of stuff has been going on since Jim Doyle ran for governor in 2002. Wisconsin Indian tribes were pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars into Doyle’s campaign. After Doyle was elected, the Indian tribes received very lucrative gaming contracts.
Governor Doyle’s campaign needs to stop stating that there is a “firewall between the campaign and state government”. They have said it so often, that it is no longer believable. Even the most ardent democrat has got to be tired of this statement from the Doyle campaign.
If the Doyle campaign continues to insist on saying this unbelievable statement, perhaps Doyle campaign spokesman Anson Kaye should just make a recording. Every time a reporter calls and questions campaign contributions, Mr. Kaye can just push the “play” button. It sure would save him some time.
In the meantime, Wisconsinites can continue to build a firewall between Doyle and the state capitol building in Madison. This firewall continues to grow.
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