that's funny you say that, because i have always said, how "low" will the republicans go. i have seen over the years, the gop filed with lies, corruption, scandals. look, that was bribery, even on a small scale, anything to influence voters, is illegal. so again, how low will the repubs go???

Obama grew out of it and openly admits his youthful mistakes. Romney "forgets" and recently fired a man because he was gay.

@JRH -- Explain to me slowly and in simple words how handing out free subs differs from the BBQ for votes scandal? And what did the GAB have to say in either case, since this article involves the Waukesha DA rather than the GAB?

Yet Obama gives billions of dollars to Unions to get his Obama Care passed " the 87% of Americans who don't belong to a union will now foot the bill for a $60 billion giveaway to those who do" ( Wall Street Journal"

@Randy1949 -

Read the opinion letter. The un-refuted findings of fact indicated that this was an invitation only party for campaign workers and supporters. The intent was to reward the invitees for their dedication and hard work put in on the Romney primary campaign. There was no evidence presented that the sandwiches were distributed as an enticement to vote. Dems claimed that they had both video evidence and a witness that would prove otherwise, but failed to deliver both, despite their promises to do so. Compare to an election night campaign party. Clearly those in attendance most likely voted and did so for the candidate who's party they are attending. Often, drinks and snacks are served at these parties. Yet, the GAB, nor any DA's office has ever come out and said that these return parties are contrary to WI election law, have they?

Contrast this with Smokes for Votes, wherein a person was enticed with a few cigarettes, told to go and vote, and only after having voted would they then receive the entire pack of cigs. Same with Cigs for Sigs, wherein a person was told that if they signed a recall petition, they would receive some cigs, but only after they signed. Clearly, the Smokes/Cigs were being given, and the intent behind the giving, was to entice the person into voting/signing.

BBQ for Votes is a little more tricky, but clearly the intent behind giving the BBQ, although not a direct requirement to receiving the BBQ, was in the hopes that the person would get on a van to go and vote. This was undisputed by Jobs Now! during that investigation. In fact, the Milwaukee County DA failed to prosecute that case because it thought that there was a lack of actus reus, giving something of value greater than a $1, not mens rea, intent. What an absurd finding that goes against common sense, unlike the Waukesha County DA's decision.

This has nothing to do with partisanship, only a common sense analysis of the factual situations presented.

@JRH -- Interesting. You mean to say that the Cousins Sub shop where the video was shot was closed for the day and only those with an invitation could come in and partake of a sub served by Mitt and Paul? It didn't really look that way.

@Randy1949 -

Read the opinion letter. While the Cousin's wasn't closed to the general public, it was being used for the private invitation only party at the time the video online was filmed. An invitation that was previously emailed to specific and select campaign workers and supporters verifies this fact. Originally, Cousin's was going to cater a party at Romney campaign HQ's, but the party was relocated to the restaurant after more people RSVP'd than originally expected and Cousin's offered the use of their dining room. While the DA admits that a member of the general public could have snuck into the private party line and been given a free sub and soft-drink, this was never intended by the campaign or Romney/Ryan and was more so a failing of Cousin's to properly segregate the private party from the general public. There were also 100 sandwiches that were ordered, paid for, and prepared for the event by the Romney campaign. Over 20 sandwiches were remaining, left in Cousin's possession, after the party had ended. The DA concluded that not only was this consistent with the stated intent but also indicative of the fact that not many, if any at all of the general public managed to infiltrate the line and get a free sub.

Contrast with the facts established in BBQ for Votes. The block parties were general admittance to anyone who would show up. Job Now! admitted that the overall intent was it's hope that people would get on a van that they provided that would then take those people to the polls in order to vote. Although voting wasn't a requirement in order to get the offered free BBQ, as it was in the Smokes/Cigs scandals, it's was the organizers intent that it would induce people into actually getting on a van and voting.

I honestly hope that you can see the factual differences between these cases.

If unions were handing out free food Ryan would have the arrested. A bribe is a bribe. I work for the city and if i took anything free i would be fired.

It didn't. It's a state law.

yes, the trillions of dollars of debt, all started when george and dick, turned surpluses into deficits, starting two warts, costing taxpayers, trillions. and, it seems the only ones benefiting from it all, hilaburton and defense contractors. the billions keep on filing into the deficit. then, the righties are giving their ole' pals from corporate america, wall street, special interest groups, huge tas breaks, adding to the deficit, atleast $80 billion yearly. now, the righties have broken their agreement on defense spending. they are planning to spend much more on missles, while they cut/slash programs to feed the poor. their plans are to spend five times more than china spendds on defense. it plain to see, the repubs want to take away every vital social program, to buy more missles, keeping their defense contractor buddies very happy, you know the ones who are bankrolling them......

You are correct Bren, you almost never hear the phrase "Democrats filed a complaint with the Government Accountability Board".

***************************
James R Hoffa
1:46 pm on Friday, May 25, 2012
"Contrast this with the Smokes for Votes, Cigs for Sigs, and BBQ for Votes scandals, all committed by those on the left, even though I'm sure that the leftists will undoubtedly still try to claim a factual and intent similarity. "
*************************

********************
Bren
3:12 pm on Friday, May 25, 2012
"This is no different from "smokes for votes.""
*********************

Hoffa is proven right once again...

@Bren -

Under your grossly mistaken argument of factual and intent similarities between 'Subgate' and the "Smokes for Votes" scandal, then wouldn't election night campaign parties also fall in violation of Wisconsin election laws?

After all, I'm willing to bet that most if not all who attend the election night parties are people for voted for the candidate throwing the party and that guests of such parties typically receive something of value greater than $1, as usually those spaces are rented at a substantial cost to the campaign, yet alone any food, beverages, or celebration regalia that may be passed out. Not to mention the entertainment value of the priceless speech of either victory or concession given by the candidate, unless of course your last name is Kloppenburg and you declare victory when a concession was actually in order ;-)

And yet, I've never once seen police throwing the cuffs on candidates at the election night parties - have you?

You honestly don't see the difference between something like this and the "Smokes for Votes" scandal? WOW!!! I honestly hope that you are never selected to serve jury duty, and if you ever are, you admit that you have a problem with distinguishing difference between clearly differing factual situations!

I think this a non-issue. I seriously doubt that a skimpy sandwich, cigarette, campaign button, etc., is going to sway anyone's opinion.
Seriously.

The cigarettes weren't intended to change anyone's opinion, they were being traded for absentee ballots which could be filled out by the Dems...

Obama only had the $831 billion stimulus package to buy votes. I think that is more than one dollar.

the righties think it is a non-issue. but it is...anything to influence a voter, even on a small scale is illegal....period. that's not the first time i heard of illegal practices in an election by the righties. i hear tell, that over in pennsylvania, republican House Speaker, john perzel pleaded guilty to conflict of interest, conspiracy and theft charges.he was the mnastermind of a scheme to spend "millions" of taxpayer funds on computer technology for the benefits of gop political campaign. tell that to a rightie, they will answer, that's a non-issue". trying to bribe, or coherse a voter, even if it is a sandwich, is illegal....that's a fact.......

To quote Helter Skelter, "we're miles above you."

Sad is right.They are no different than the Repulsivcans on the birther issue and countless others.. both parties can be irritating .

the billions in stimulus package, where to stimulate the economy, which dick and george, left in ruins. their corporate buddies, and defense contractor pals, were flourishing, while the economy was crumbling, then they handed over the keys to the Oval Office....why is it, when ever our currernt president does anything to help the american people, repubs look at it, as though he is trying to buy votes?. don't put a spin on it, or point the finger, this article is about romney and ryan, trying to influence, coherse voters........

I agree! ; )

It is illegal.

Reverse this, make the participants Democrats, and the hyenas would be howling for YEARS. We have never heard the end of ACORN, even though they did nothing wrong. Please stuff it righties.

not only will the fact that romney tried to influence voters, his past will also make certain of a romney defeat. a guy who made his mega millions, buying and selling american companies, stripping them to the bone, making millions in profits, then filing bankruptcy. outsourcing tens of thousands of american jobs, and getting those bush/repub tax breaks. ruining the careers and livliehoods of many. a guy who proudly claims, he was glad to be in a position to fire people. the repub congress, broke their spending agreement on defense, they are planning to spend five times more than china does on defense, romney claims, they should spend even more, while he whins about the deficit....he is courting many members of bush's cabinet. in fact, he is considering two of bush's budget directors for the VP position. trying to get the ole' gang will be back together, you know, the ones who helped create the debacle.

Where's that? In your dreams?

you should talk, the greedy corporations, wall street, foreign and domestic special interest groups, are bankrolling the gop. do they expect/demand any special favors in return. giving mega millions in "contributions", then recieving grants, subsidies, and huge contracts in return. is there any wonder why, the gop has always been against any reforms, restrictions, guidelines, for corporations, and in particular wall street? i wonder if the mega millions in "contirbutions" have anything to do with it??? we can go on all day, about the right and the left. but, the fact is, the romney and ryan, were caught redhanded, trying to influence, coherse voters, even on a small scale, it;'s illegal. the hoagies and smokes, are pale in comparison, of what would go on, if that guy gets into the Oval Office.

And why not. He is so good looking in an Eddie Munster sort of way. In fact, thanks to his P90 workouts, he's morphing into Jerry Lewis.

It worked just fine. The crooks were exposed.

it's going to work in november...........

That's because Obama is "different." Remember, he has a transparent administration!

why are you wisconsin republicans so angry? especially with the President of the United States. shouldn't you be angry with walker? the whole world, is seeing the chaos this guy is creating. i know of atlest 900,000 people in wisconsin, who signed there names to a petition, to oust walker..a guy with his reckless policies, has ruined the livliehoods and careers of many. his reckless spending cuts, have resulted in thousands of job losses. he is trying to take away, workers collective bargaining rights, and up in wisconsin, i know, there are tens of thousands of unionized workers. the ones who are writing, these angry blogs, i'd bet, you either have a family member, friend, of someone you know, who is affected by this guys reckless agendas. on top of the many reason to recall this guy, add to the list, fraudulent activities. right in the middle of a recall election, the "friends of scott walker", are red-flagged by banks and credit card companies. they are illegally withdrawing unauthorized funds from credit card accounts. that is "fraud". so there you have it, that is scott walker and his coherts. any wonder why, people are demanding his recall??

I have been told that a whore will not give a kiss for one dollar. Not that I would personally know.

Honest......

I'm telling the truth here!

(please don't let my wife know. PLEASE!)

Mario,,,
They think that everybody in these United States are willing to act like their constituants ,, Bribery they say? Look who's talking.

The same could be said about cigarettes and barbecue. Few people would sell their vote for something like that, no matter what political party you're talking about. However, it happens to be the law in Wisconsin. I can give Mitt Romney a pass for not knowing that, but shame on Paul Ryan.

@Randy1949

People just need to make sure there is no BBQ sauce on their chin, or stain on their shirt or blouse when they walk into the polls. Kinda like the ink stained Iraqi citizen finger.

ROMNEY A CROOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yes, complain about all the chaos, scott walker is creating in your state, while the whole world watches. i guess his teabagger agendas, are working up there in wisconsin. a blue-collar state, with honest, hard working blue-collar workers. many wisoconsin workers, have be unionized for decades. along comes walker, and tries to take away their collective bargaining rights.was his broken campaign promise, to create 250,000 jobs, or to get rid of 250,000 jobs?. because his reckless spending cuts, have resulted in the loss of tens of thousands of wisconsin jobs. along with that, right in the middle of a recall election the "friends of scott walker", are being red-flagged by banks and credit card companies, for illegally withdrawing funds from credit card holders. taking illegal,unauthorized withdrawals from credit cards, even from cardholders in other states. so add to the list, of reasons to recall this guy, 'FRAUD'

Looks like @nototherepubs can just go on and on all day long. Must be typing away in his/her parents' basement while searching for job in this Obama economy. Oh, that's right, it's still Bush's fault almost four years later...

Well, Mickey, how much cooperation has President Obama had from the GOP when it comes to reforming the tax and trade policies that reward offshoring? Have we been able to effectively regulate the Wall Street Banks that brought on the financial crash?

And yes, it is still Bush's fault. He took us into the hole that we're still climbing out of. At least we're climbing.

Right. It is inexcusable. Romney thinks he is above the law. Ryan using his position to bribe the circuit court judge I bet. They are both criminals and should do hard labor in the state pen.

The recent stories about Romney's bullying I found disturbing. Instead of the dog on the roof story being an isolated incident, suddenly there is a second incident of abuse (temporary disfigurement) and the potential revealed of a pattern of behavior. Firing someone isn't easy, but Romney has said, "I like to be able to fire people." Who says that?

Jon Huntsman. There was a man and a candidate I could respect.

@Bren -

Funny how you hold Romney accountable for the misgivings of youth/past now that he's a mature adult, but are completely silent about how Obama, in his own book, admitted to getting stoned out on pot, coke, crack, and heroin and drunk on alcohol, and treating those around him horribly.

Once again, another Bren double standard all in the name of good old fashion partisan politics!

can you imagine, if somehow, this guy gets into the oval office??? i can invision soup lines forming, and he'd probably cut/slash that, too.......

Mitt Romney touts his 'business' experience, but the way he did business doesn't bode well for those whom he would consider 'deadwood' and in need of streamlining for the profit, er, good of the country.

There's no denying that Bain sucked the life out of vulnerable companies and screwed over the little guys to give the big guys nice rewards. Romney's tax policies do basically the same thing -- cut entitlements to pay for further tax reductions for the lucky few.

@nototherepubs, well, at least we'd get soup under a Romney administration vs. nothing under Obama.

Really, Mickey? Nothing under President Obama? I'd rather have affordable healthcare and Social Security than what Mitt and Paul Ryan plan to give us.

Would you care to provide a link to which 'entitlements' were so dramatically increased? Preferably one with figures.

What does that have to do with Romney breaking the law.

Randy, perhaps Jo believes she/he is referring to stimulus spending (which in fact began at the end of the Bush presidency). Of course, those of us who keep apprised of such matters are aware that, other than having to keep the economy from collapsing, Obama's federal spending is the second lowest since WWII.

the country is collapsing in your head