Van Hollen did do something, paper insists

AG didn't do nothing, assures Journal-Sentinel fact checking team

I thought Democratic candidate for attorney general Scott Hassett was a bit over the top in the manner he went after incumbent Republican AG J.B. Van Hollen in the "sexting DA" affair too but Jeez, can't you let a guy indulge in a little hyperbole now and then? How about Van Hollen didn't do any of the things that Scott Hassett would have done as attorney general? I'm reasonably sure that was Scott Hassett's point.

And the PolitiFactWisc team performs a little editorial chicanery of its own. What Hassett's statement reads is this: "Even more troubling [than Kratz's antics] are reports that JB Van Hollen knew about this case for nearly a year and did nothing about it." But the PolitFactWisc version truncates that to, "JB Van Hollen knew about this case for nearly a year and did nothing about it." So it was "reports" that Van Hollen did nothing which Hassett was referencing.

Was Hassett being cute by throwing in "reports" and then directing his ire toward the alleged inaction revealed by those "reports"? Of course he was being cute, yet it is — and was meant to be — one step removed from making his own factual allegation against Van Hollen.

But it's no more cute than the PolitiFactWisc crew deliberately excising that germane consideration from Hassett's statement.

PolitiFactWisc's reiteration of the sexting DA's ongoing imbroglio's timeline is useful but it sure seems like a lot of trouble to go through to "check a fact" that wasn't really being presented as one, especially when you need to manipulate the claim you purport to be checking.

Photo: AG Van Hollen models an ostentatious concealed carry outfit.

Wisconsin AG debate shaping up to be a doozy

One thing that might be said for Democrat Scott Hassett, who is challenging the incumbent Republican Wisconsin attorney general J.B. Van Hollen in the November election, is that he is not timid:

Van Hollen Launches Statewide "Blame Victims First" Tour (.pdf)

Hassett's campaign also called controversial Calumet County District Attorney Kenneth Kratz an "admitted sexual predator" — which I'm not certain is an entirely supportable characterization at this point — and that Van Hollen let the said admitted sexual predator "walk free."

Then there are the guns and the gays and the Commerce Clause.

Scott Hassett and J.B. Van Hollen meet for un petit dejeuner du midi on Thursday, October 7 at the new Marquette University law school, an encounter moderated by the eminently capable Mike Gousha.

Good news, bad news for the Butterburger® Five

Obstruction charges dropped, disorderly conduct ones instated

But could they have been brandishing?

Earlier: To appropriate the "pro-life" argument

Madison Capital Times stirs the sexting DA pot

Furiously:

Did Van Hollen cover for sexting DA?

[Wisconsin] Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen should welcome and cooperate fully with an independent investigation of charges that he attempted to protect a political ally who stands accused of gross misconduct.

To do otherwise would invite suspicion that Van Hollen engaged in activities that would merit his removal as attorney general and sanctions that would almost certainly include the suspension of his license to practice law in Wisconsin. That suspicion would destroy the credibility of the attorney general.

There is no question that Van Hollen has the right to be presumed innocent* until an investigation is completed.

Holy moley. And it goes on like that. I guess they are not big fans.

Yet today's Capital Times editorial admonishes voters to ignore negative campaign ads — "flying mud" — in the governor's race!

Seems they're pretty good at flinging it themselves.

This should be an interesting encounter on Oct. 7.

* That's generous of them, at least.