Walker Says GOP Should Not Send Trackers To Democratic Events Without Identifying Themselves

Gov. Scott Walker says he’s asked the state Republican Party not to send people to private Democrat fundraisers without identifying themselves.

The party recently assigned an intern to attend a fundraiser at a private home in Waukesha for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mary Burke. Burke’s staffers discovered the intern’s identity when she tried to ask Burke a question and shoot video of the candidate’s answer. Asked Monday about the deception, Walker said he does not want a repeat.

“I passed on my disfavor with that,” he said. “To me, it’s legitimate – as you know, I’m often covered at events like this with people videotaping me. I have no problem with that … But I do think it’s crossing the line if people are misrepresenting who they are.”

Walker also said he did not know about the decision to send the tracker ahead of time.

“Not at all, and if I had, I certainly would have commented on it, and that wouldn’t have happened,” he said.

Burke’s campaign welcomes Walker’s words and says it does not employ deceptive trackers itself. The liberal group American Bridge is tracking the governor’s campaign doings, but says the trackers identify themselves by name and organization if asked.

The state Democratic Party also praised Walker’s promise.