Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) was understandably irritated after learning that he heaped praise on a registered sex offender during his “state of the state” address earlier this week.
“Obviously, it’s frustrating,” Walker said, as quoted by the Associated Press.
During his speech Wednesday, Walker promoted his administration’s record of job creation by pointing to the example of 32-year-old Chris Barber, a newly hired welder.
Donning his welding gloves, Barber even joined Walker on stage (shown in the picture above). He waved as the audience, and Walker, applauded him.
But it turns out that Barber’s unemployment was at least partly the result of the fact that he’s a registered sex offender. He has two felonies and three drunk-driving offenses to his name.
According to the AP, Walker said he assumed Barber’s employer, Brillion, Wis.-based Ariens Co., had conducted a background check, but a spokeswoman for the company said that never happened.
