Dem lawmaker trolls, attacks Abele on air
Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele has just learned the perils of live radio.
On Thursday, Abele was bashed by state Rep. Jonathan Brostoff, a fellow Milwaukee Democrat who called in during the county exec’s live appearance on “The Earl Ingram Show” on WRRD-AM (1510).
Take it away, Jonathan from the upper east side.
“So, Abele,” Brostoff began. “Jonathan,” Abele responded. “You’ve basically built your political career, at this point, largely on intimidating, bullying and trying to buy off any political opposition or anyone else,” Brostoff said. “And there are those of us in the community that aren’t scared of your inheritance, like myself, like others, such as (Milwaukee County Sheriff) Earnell Lucas.
“What lessons have you learned, and how are you going to do better moving forward, knowing that you can’t buy, intimidate or bully all of us?” Brostoff continued. “And there are people that are going to stand up to you.” Well, OK.
Clearly not expecting the early morning attack, Abele stammered, “So, yeah, uh, you have a very interesting view — and you’re entitled to it, of course — of what my intent and goals are.”
Abele, the son of a Boston billionaire, then responded by focusing on his philanthropic work, saying he gives away the “vast, vast overwhelming majority” of his funds. He noted that he gives heavily to arts, education and youth groups.
But Brostoff was not questioning Abele’s charitable work. He was challenging how the county exec spread around his money on political races.
Over the past two decades, Abele has given away hundreds of thousands of dollars to many Democratic and a few Republican candidates.
In addition, he set up an independent expenditure fund called Leadership MKE last year. Through that group, he has spent more than $1.3 million on numerous Milwaukee-area offices, such as mayor, supervisor and sheriff. Earlier this year, he created Leadership WI and dropped nearly $50,000 in Madison’s mayoral race.
Overall, Leadership MKE has a mixed record. Most notably, Abele’s group spent big bucks trying unsuccessfully to unseat Milwaukee County Board Chairman Theodore Lipscomb Sr. and in support of Acting Sheriff Richard Schmidt’s failed election bid.
During the radio show, Brostoff was cut off and unable to follow up with any response to Abele’s remarks. Brostoff was an unpaid adviser to Sen. Chris Larson in his unsuccessful challenge to Abele in 2016.
Given the chance, Brostoff said he wanted to emphasize that he and Abele, both Dems, have a lot that they agree on. But Brostoff said he would have urged the county exec to engage those who disagree with him on policy issues, not attack them with mailers and online ads during election season.
What Abele is doing, the third-term lawmaker said, is petty and counterproductive. Brostoff said he wants to make sure that Abele knows this.
“Democracy is not about having more power than anyone else,” Brostoff said.
Sounds like Jonathan from the upper east side has his material ready for Abele’s next call-in show — if there is one.