Politicians provide all kinds of services to their constituents — and if you’re lucky enough to live in Wisconsin state representative Fred Clark’s district, being “smacked around” by your legislator might be one of those perks.
From the story:
A rolling tape on an answering machine has caught an unsuspecting Rep. Fred Clark, D-Baraboo, saying he wanted to “smack around” a woman from his district after she hung up on him.
Clark, who is challenging Sen. Luther Olsen, R-Ripon, in a recall election, was making campaign calls last week when he reached the Baraboo home of Sue and John Stapelman.
The answering machine took the call at first, but Sue Stapelman then picked up. The machine’s tape kept recording.
After Clark introduced himself, he told Sue Stapelman that he was challenging Olsen in the upcoming recall election.
Stapelman responded: “Yeah, and isn’t that a crime.”
She then hung up on Clark, but her answering machine kept the line open and continued recording.
Clark did not know he was being recorded when, after a short pause, he said to his campaign staffer: “OK. I feel like calling her back and smackin’ her around.”
Is this a political capital offense? Probably not. But given the “new tone” we’re supposed to be experiencing, it certainly is embarrassing for Clark — especially now that he’s seeking a spot in the state senate.
Furthermore, Clark seems to keep finding his way into the news for reasons other than his legislative accomplishments. In 2009, Clark slammed his SUV into a bicyclist on a Madison city street, stunning video of which can be seen here.
No word on whether the bike rider was a constituent.