Hell to Pay: Baldwin vs. Thompson

Tammy Baldiwn Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), is a candidate for the state's open U.S. Senate seat. She's also an unapologetic progressive, was born and raised in Wisconsin, and a dedicated public servant. Oh, yeah, and she's a lesbian. Now, that's not supposed to be an issue in this race. In fact, the Capitol Hill paper Roll Call reported this week: "Plenty of 'L' words will be used to describe Democratic Rep. Tammy Baldwin in Wisconsin's closely watched Senate race''liberal,' 'left,' 'labor''but 'lesbian' is not likely to be one of them."

Yeah, right. Tammy Baldwin is this week's Hell to Pay candidate, with 45 percent of the vote by Kossacks because Tommy Thompson's campaign has made her sexual orientation an issue. When Thompson's political director, Brian Nemoir, sent out an email blast questioning her "heartland values" and featuring this video of Baldwin at a 2010 gay pride parade, gay-baiting entered this race:

Shocking stuff, huh? There's Tammy Baldwin, celebrating gay pride day in a totally joyful, happy, G-rated way.

Wisconsin Democrats have demanded Thompson fire Nemoir for attacking Baldwin because of her sexual orientation. Thompson told reporters he demoted the Nemoir. He didn't. He also told reporters that Nemoir had apologized. He hasn't, and in fact "he actually told the media that he stands by his attacks on Baldwin."

Thompson apparently doesn't have a problem with gay-baiting. We do. How much Hell to Pay should there be for his campaign's gratuitous attack? It's up to us. Let's see if we can get 150 donations for Baldwin tonight. Can we do it?
Yes, we Can!

Pop open a brew. Pour a glass of wine. Put your feet up. Hang out and play in comments for a while, and get that credit card out.

Ready? Set.

DONATE!

Update: So check out what has found its way into my inbox. Not only has Brian Nemoir not been fired, he's apparently in charge of the debate negotiations for Thompson.

4:35 PM PT: Almost halfway to the donor goal! Can we do it?

4:41 PM PT: wOOt!!!! I hardly got an update done, and we're over the halfway point. Just 43 more donations, but I still think we can hit 150. Who's up for that challenge?

4:58 PM PT: Are you going to make me up that thermometer goal? Are you?

5:02 PM PT: Just ten more donations to go. You guys rock.

5:06 PM PT: We didi It!  Which means I'm upping the goal. Can we get another 50? I think we can.

5:30 PM PT: We can do it, people. We can reach 150, and tell every Republican candidate for office that gay-baiting is not acceptable in American politics any more.

5:38 PM PT: Only 10 more donations to go!

5:42 PM PT: So who's going to do it? Whose donation is going to make it 150?

5:50 PM PT: Almost there!

5:52 PM PT: Yes!!!! You did it!!!