Six Questions David Crowley Refuses to Answer in Wisconsin Governor Race
He won’t tell voters his plans unless they elect him first.
Back in 2010, then-Speaker of the House Rep. Nancy Pelosi famously said of the 2,409-page Affordable Care Act, "We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it."
Now the Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial candidate, David Crowley, works from the same playbook. Either he refuses to say what he means, or he doesn’t know what he would do if he became governor; he hopes voters will simply elect him and find out. No questions, please!
Here’s a classic from Nancy Pelosi: “We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it...” https://t.co/bk8Djj7Jy9
— Catch Up (@CatchUpFeed) December 20, 2024
Republican Tom Tiffany thumped Crowley pretty hard on October 21, in Wisconsin’s only gubernatorial debate. Maybe that is why Crowley didn’t meet with the gaggle of reporters waiting for both candidates immediately after the debate. Tiffany did. Where was Crowley? Did he have something better to do than get free media coverage?
Meeting with media after a debate is tradition. Skipping it leaves the strange impression that Crowley was afraid to face the media. He is also apparently afraid to give voters straight answers about where he stands on certain issues. Here are six times Crowley failed to answer debate questions. Let’s break down his responses to one kitchen-table question on education, then list the rest because listening to Crowley speak in circles is exhausting.
1. What would Crowley spend on K–12 education, where would the money come from, and is there a point where money is no longer the problem?
Let’s examine Crowley’s entire answer, no words removed, and assess how smoothly he can fake competency.
Crowley: Well, I think that you have to [distribute] the money in making sure that we're having standards and making sure that we're actually raising the bar for all of our public schools.
Meaning: The state gives schools money. Schools should do better.
Crowley: You have to work with our teachers. You have to work with our school boards because there isn't a cookie-cutter solution for each school district.
Meaning: Here, the cheese starts sliding off the cracker as he steers away from addressing funding.
Crowley: What works in La Crosse, what works in Madison, may not work in the Green Bay, may not work in Monroe. So, we have to bring communities to the table when it comes down to actually tackling education. Because it's not just about making sure that the teachers are there. Because teachers— they've had to become the guardian, nurses, the behavior health specialist, you name it. We need to make sure that all of our schools have the resources and the personnel to make sure that our children are in safe spaces and getting the type of education they deserve.
Meaning: Crowley tried to run down the clock by stating the obvious—school districts have different needs—and mentioning four Wisconsin cities. He, of course, added that schools should have things and kids should get good educations.
Trying to wrestle a straight answer, the moderator then asked: "How much more money, and where does that come from?"
Crowley: Well, I think it comes from making sure that we're taxing individuals, like who are funding, you know, Congressman Tiffany's campaign. We have three billionaires in this race who have spent to the tune of about $40 million. Those are the types of dollars that can be invested in education all across the state of Wisconsin. But again, it's about working with the legislature. I want to put together, long term, a blue-ribbon commission that's going to bring academics, that's going to bring local units of government, state government, labor leaders, CEOs-you name it. The last time we've taken a holistic view of taxing and spending in Wisconsin was in 1986, when Governor Tommy Thompson was first governor. We need a long-term solution, not just quick fixes.
Meaning: Crowley's first instinct is to raise taxes, then form a commission—that is government-speak for we will study the issue in a boardroom. Might even serve coffee and doughnuts. Then we’ll tell you we did something. He added that it has been a while since the state looked at taxes and spending. Not true. The state budget process considers these issues annually. Crowley again fails to answer the question.
The moderator pressed: "I'll give you one more chance. You don't have a threshold, though, for where taxes will go up and what that income level is?"
Crowley: This is about making sure that we're working with the legislature. They're the ones who have the power of the purse. And so, as I'm crafting my budget, I look forward to working with them.”
Meaning: At first glance, Crowley sounds like he trusts the Republican-led legislature to implement his radical leftist plan, but it is just another cagey answer that reveals nothing.
"Do voters deserve to know that ahead of the election?" The moderator gives the school funding question one more try.
Crowley: I think voters want to make sure that they have somebody who's going to work for them. I think that's the premise of this entire election. Who is your governor going to work for? I'm going to be the governor that is going to make sure that everybody has a seat at the table. I was told that if you don't have a seat at the table, you're on the menu. And many people in this state don't feel like they've been able to lend their voices to the solutions that's going to work for them because you have politicians like Congressman Tom Tiffany, who feels that they have to do the bidding of folks like the billionaires and Donald Trump.
Meaning: Elections are when voters look for a representative. Perhaps Crowley attended the Kamala Harris School of Political Dodging. He again states the obvious in an attempt to waste time. The debate is only an hour; surely the moderator must move on. Crowley plans to involve people. Because his opponent is bad. Rich people are awful. And ugh! Donald Trump, am I right?!
Indeed, the moderator moves on to another question. Crowley manages to tell voters nothing at all about his genuine intentions. Using the same tactic, here are other questions Crowley failed to answer.
2. Would Crowley keep the current statewide school voucher program intact?
Crowley said he would keep the Milwaukee voucher program but would not define his plan for the rest of the state. His daughters attend Milwaukee schools.
3. What specifically is Crowley’s plan for transportation funding?
When asked about adding tolls to certain roads, Crowley said he would consider doing it. But he failed to offer specific funding ideas. Instead, he told voters why they need roads.
Crowley: We rely on good, good bridges and good roads. We rely on great public schools. We rely on getting access to public health and healthcare whenever we need it, wherever we are. Right now, this is a prime example of— this is why we need a governor who's going to work for us, who's going to be focusing on doing what's right, not what they're told to do.
4. You beat Democratic Socialist Francesca Hong by fewer than 4,000 votes. She recently told us in an interview, "I think it's important that David lets our supporters know he shares our values." So, to those who voted for Miss Hong and are questioning whether to support you, what specific values of the Democratic Socialist Agenda do you share?
“I'm not familiar with the DSA platform to be answering that question," said Crowley. The Milwaukee County executive leans socialist in his tax policies, but Crowley does not want to connect himself with socialism officially.
5. You're proposing a constitutional amendment asking voters to enshrine a right to abortion in the state constitution. Would you sign legislation that legalized abortion with no gestational limits?
The moderator asked Crowley for a direct answer four times. He tap danced around, offering no clarity. It is still a political liability to admit willingness to support abortion up to birth. Because Crowley didn’t say no, voters should read his answer as: yes, he would not object to abortion at any point. Crowley had a chance to advocate for another position and didn't.
6. Milwaukee County, where you are county executive, does not participate [with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainers] and refuses to work with ICE. Why is that, and would you attempt to ban sheriffs from working with ICE?
Crowley says he doesn’t think local police and sheriff's departments should be working with ICE, but he would not specify whether he would ban them.
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