How Did AJP Get Walker Footage from WMC Event?

The source of video used in the American Justice Partnership (AJP) ads in support of Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker, in the midst of his tight GOP primary with Mark Neumann, suggest a more formal role for Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC) than the group has indicated.

WMC needs to come clean about its role in getting these television ads on the air during Scott Walker’s floundering campaign for governor. Either WMC gave AJP access to the event to get video of Walker for this ad campaign, or it turned over its own footage.

Footage captured from the February 23, 2010 WMC lobby day business luncheon, in which Walker addressed the audience, is being used in two separate ads paid for by the corporate anti-accountability AJP in a more-than $200,000 statewide television campaign to support Walker’s primary campaign. The ads are featured in the Madison, La Crosse, Eau Claire, Wausau and Green Bay markets.

During the AJP ads, Walker’s video comments are punctuated with thunderous applause. A review of video taken at the same event available on the Wisconsin Eye website reveals tepid if any applause during these comments.

It’s ironic they had to manufacture canned applause to Scott Walker’s recycled and failed tax policies of George W. Bush. Considering that when Walker is asked how he’ll pay for his $2 billion giveaway to the rich and big business, all we hear is silence.

AJP was created by the National Association of Manufacturers and names WMC as a “State Partner” on its website. AJP also claims as “successes” the election of pro-corporate Wisconsin Supreme Court Justices Annette Ziegler and Michael Gableman. WMC spent a combined $4 million+ during those races on a series of roundly-criticized attack ads.