Former Rep. Dave Obey (D-WI) has endorsed Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett in the special Democratic primary for governor, in the state’s recall election against Republican Gov. Scott Walker.
As WisPolitics reports, Obey also criticized the state public employee unions, who are supporting former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, for attacks they have made against Barrett. Obey singled out a YouTube video that AFSCME has circulated, and since backed away from, containing edited audio of Barrett that would give the false impression of him supporting Walker’s repeal of most collective bargaining rights for public employees.
“If our criticism of Walker is to be credible,” Obey told reporters, “we have to demonstrate a higher degree of accountability and fairness in our dealings with each other in our primary.”
Obey served in Congress from 1969 until his retirement in the 2010 election cycle, and served as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. His former House seat was picked up by the Republicans in the 2010 GOP wave.
