Brian Nemoir, the political director for Tommy Thompson's U.S. Senate campaign in Wisconsin, sent out an e-mail to a "handful of select contacts" which included a video of Tammy Baldwin, Thompson's opponent, dancing at a 2010 gay pride parade, and attacking Baldwin for, in Nemoir's view, not having the ability to discuss "heartland values".
Here's the video in question:
Nemoir's e-mail was reportedly sent to various conservative political bloggers as part of a whisper campaign to attack Baldwin simply because she is openly lesbian. It is absolutely disgusting for someone affiliated with an official campaign for public office to attack an opponent simply for being homosexual, and it's sleazy and dishonest to run a whisper campaign under the table by e-mailing talking points to political bloggers.
When asked about his e-mail, Nemoir doubled down, saying, "I think there are issues in this race that are extremely significant that will be generated on a day-to-day basis, and I look forward to coverage of those issues." Apparently, according to Nemoir, the fact that Baldwin is lesbian and danced at a gay pride event two years ago is an "extremely significant" issue.
Tammy Baldwin should be judged by the content of her character, not the orientation of her sexuality. Baldwin is a strong, intelligent woman who believes in honesty and fairness. Lisa Mux, a progressive political blogger who currently lives in Waukesha, Wisconsin, shared this personal story about Baldwin from when Mux lived in Baldwin's hometown of Madison several years ago.
Nemoir's whisper campaign against Baldwin, in my opinion, is even worse than Scott Fitzgerald, the Republican leader of the Wisconsin State Senate, suggesting that Lori Compas's husband was behind her attempt to recall Fitzgerald earlier this year. By the way, here's a picture of Baldwin and Compas from the Wisconsin recalls earlier this year:
Tammy Baldwin believes in REAL heartland values: honesty, compassion, and fairness. Tommy Thompson allows his political director to use "heartland values" as a dogwhistle to attack Baldwin simply because she's a lesbian.
Update: Lisa Mux, one of Baldwin's staunchest supporters, has created this SignOn petition denouncing the Thompson campaign's vile attacks against Baldwin.