2008 Primaries, Branding Politix, Leadership, Views on News • July 10th, 2008

Chopping Wood

by Chris Lato

How convenient.

Rep. Jeff Wood of Chetek decided to kneecap the GOP just in time for the deadline to file nomination papers.

In a calculated move, Wood waited till the last minute to make his declaration, in order to leave the field free and clear for him. The major parties can field a write-in candidate – which the GOP, in particular, would be wise to do.

The theory that Wood cut a deal with the Democrats is being floated around. The Assembly Democrats’ blog entry on this flap doesn’t exactly dispel that notion - notice how Rep. Mark Pocan drops the little bombshell that Wood expressed interest in caucusing with the Dems.

Regardless, Wood has a challenge ahead - there hasn’t been anyone elected to the Legislature who wasn’t affiliated with the Democrats or Republicans in more than 60 years.

(By the way, I suspect some of the same people who will praise Wood for his ‘independence’ also reject the idea that John McCain’s unwillingness to march in lockstep with the GOP is ‘independence’ - but that is a topic for another day.)

The reasons for Wood’s defection, as listed in the newspaper article, suggest disenchantment with both the national and state parties. So the question becomes: is it better to leave the party entirely or try to work from within to change things? Considering Wood was only a card-carrying Republican for less than six years, it appears he preferred to simply cut and run.

The fact that he was a Libertarian who declared himself a Republican to make his first bid for the Assembly is enough to raise questions about Wood’s sincerity and dependability.

Interesting, too, that the only other declared candidate in the district is a declared Libertarian. Part of Wood’s problem is that he’s neither fish nor fowl at this point. Unless the district decides in the current political climate that ‘independent’ is the way to go, Wood is a man without a country.

Wood’s high-minded rhetoric about his defection will likely ring hollow for disenchanted constituents who could fairly wonder if he is guided by conscience and an independent spirit - or political expediency. It is up to Wood to justify his move and be clear in outlining his principles – something he hasn’t done convincingly thus far.

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