Milfred and Hands assess a rookie Republican lawmaker’s encounter with right-wing activists in this week’s episode of “Center Stage, with Milfred and Hands,” the State Journal’s podcast from Wisconsin’s politically sensitive center.
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Milfred and Hands won’t defend State Rep. Elijah Behnke, R-Oconto Falls, for saying on hidden video that his party should “cheat like the Democrats or bend the rules.” When the rookie lawmaker joked about wanting to punch the governor, who is more than 30 years his senior, it smacks of elder abuse.
“Tony Evers – you hit him, you might knock him over with a feather,” Hands says. “What would your parents say about that?” I’m sure his parents raised him not to beat old people.
A self-described “North Woods slob,” Elijah appears solidly in the Trump wing of the Wisconsin Republican Party as a troublemaker willing to entertain conspiracy theories.
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Yet Behnke repeatedly tells a group of right-wing activists – one of whom recorded his words on a smartphone – many things they didn’t want (but need) to hear. Behnke, for example, relies on the courts to resolve election disputes.
“He actually agrees with us there for a split second,” Milfred said. “The courts have to decide that. And they decided that. Biden won.”
Behnke repeatedly asks activists for proof of fraud and appears frustrated when they don’t provide any details.
Behnke’s “swamp creature” rebuke of Assembly Speaker Robin Vos isn’t too far off, given the top Republican’s long and checkered tenure clinging to power.
“Apparently the only people who like Robin Vos less than diehard progressives are diehard Trump supporters,” Hands says.
Behnke looks like a guy who wants to outrun the 2020 election, even though Trump’s staunchest supporters never will. In a way, despite all of Behnke’s baggage, it’s reassuring for our democracy. Behnke seems to take his job seriously, even though he has a lot to learn about state government and public representation.
Follow State Journal cartoonist Phil Hands as he draws his latest cartoon on US Senator Ron Johnson’s decision, R-Oshkosh, to run for re-election.
“Center stage, with Milfred anotD Hafromfeatures Scott Milfred, the newspaper’s editorial page editor, and Phil Hands, the State Journal’s political cartoonist. They offer their views from the sensitive center of Wisconsin politics. They also serve on the editorial board of the State Journal.
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