'BERNED': A volunteer for the Bernie Sanders campaign says his group was not allowed at the Milwaukee Public Library but a Hillary Clinton group was.
Posted on 12/17/2015 8:32:46 AM PST by afraidfortherepublic
MILWAUKEE - The Milwaukee Public Library is feeling the Bern over a campaign booking controversy.
Patrick Doyle, a Milwaukee volunteer with Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign, is taking the library on N. Cramer Street to task for apparently allowing library community space for Hillary Clinton backers while rejecting a similar request from the Bernie brigade.
"Join us on Saturday, December 12 at the Milwaukee Public Library (East Branch) from 10am - 12noon for a phone bank session to help expand our volunteer team by reaching out to Milwaukee-based Hillary supporters," the political organization stated on its Facebook page.
"Don't worry if you're new to phone banking, we will have experienced volunteers on hand to train phone bank rookies."
When Doyle requested space for similar activities in support of Sanders, he was told there was no room at the inn for his kind.
"Thank you for your interest in the Meeting Spaces of the Milwaukee Public Library. Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate your request to use Library meeting space to canvass Milwaukee. Please note the "Prohibited Uses listed in our Policy," wrote library official Ahnong Vang Schacherer in an email response to Doyle.
"Prohibited Uses" include "Money-making or commercial activities including monetary solicitation."
Fine, Doyle said. But the library, supported through tax dollars but operating mostly independent of Milwaukee government, cannot open up its space for one political campaign and not another.
Actually, any group doing campaign work at a public library raises some questions about taxpayer resources being used for partisan politics.
Doyle sent Vang Schacherer a response including two dictionary definitions of "solicitation."
"Solicitation was their purpose, and MPL allowed (the Clinton supporters) use of their facilities, yet has denied my request for the exact same purposes. This is wholly unacceptable," Doyle wrote in the email obtained by Wisconsin Watchdog.
"Whether granting the Hillary group was or was not a violation of MPL's policy is immaterial at this point, since precedent has now been set," Doyle added. "Denying use of MPL facilities to another group who seeks to use of same but for a different political contender is favoritism at best and demonstrates an undefendible (sic) bias on the part of MPL."
Library communications director Brooke VandeBerg did not return two phone calls and an email seeking comment Wednesday.
Milwaukee for Hillary ended up canceling its phone bank event, "due to low numbers."
"We hope to see you in the New Year when we resume our volunteer activities," the organization stated on its website. It's not clear whether the Hillaryites will be back at the library.
Reached Wednesday, Doyle was still fuming about the apparent disparate treatment.
"What the (expletive deleted) is this, Stalinist Russia!" he said. "It's dirty and it's un-American."
'BERNED': A volunteer for the Bernie Sanders campaign says his group was not allowed at the Milwaukee Public Library but a Hillary Clinton group was.
LOLOLOL!
FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, this Wisconsin interest ping list.
We conservatives should practice the ‘fair and balanced’ meme. I propose we invite and let Bernie Sanders be the opening Act at the Donald Trump rallies. Why not? Perfect opportunities to preach the socialist/communist ideology as an outreach to mostly conservative crowds. He has to be able to handle a few boos-—but he will have crowds of people there. When Trump comes on they have the contrast and comparison fresh in the minds. I’m jokingly serious about this...
Ha! Is she not feeling the love in Milwaukee?
...and Bernie? Too darn bad!
A cane fight to the death!
Yeah we will feel the burn alright if this fool gets elected.
The burning of more of our tax dollars!
Shouldn’t Bernie be running his campaign on the basis of some sort of collective or something? Funding from the Kremlin? Pennies from the field workers in Cuba? I mean, socialists don’t ASK for money, they just take it. They know how to spend it better than we do, after all...
No, that's what his candidate Bernie the Red wants to establish here. The Sanders/Clinton race is a Communist/Fascist battle.
Some DemRats are more equal than others. But this you should know Bernie-— that library wouldn’t dare invite a conservative speak there so join the out crowd Bern.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.