Here & Now

Political Panelists Provide National Party Conv. Analysis

Frederica Freyberg:

Finally tonight, convention insight and election foresight with our “Here & Now” political panel, Bill McCoshen and Scot Ross. Thanks for being here.

Bill McCoshen, Scot Ross:

Thanks for having us.

Frederica Freyberg:

So I’m going to start with you, Bill. How would you grade the conventions in terms of giving a boost to their respective candidates?

Bill McCoshen:

Well, I’d give Democrats a “C.” It was more like a zoom chat room for four days last week. They used mostly Hollywood elites and career politicians and I don’t think any of that resonates with average voters, particularly voters in the state of Wisconsin. I’d give Republicans an “A,” a solid “A” because they had real people, real stories. They were talking languages and to people that care about issues in the state of Wisconsin. They spoke their language so I give them a solid “A” for sure.

Frederica Freyberg:

What about you, Scot?

Scot Ross:

I’d give the democrats an “A-” for talking about issues that actually do really matter to people, whether it’s health care, whether it’s dealing with the pandemic, whether it’s the record unemployment, whether it’s about the criminality of the Trump administration. I think all those things are important to people and Democrats talked about those. On the Republicans, I think on substance in terms of truth, I give them an “F.” I think that’s the lowest grade you can give them. And then on talking about issues that people care about, I’d give them an incomplete. That’s what I’d do. Yeah. That’s the way I’d see it.

Frederica Freyberg:

Has what’s happened in Kenosha kind of overshadowed presidential politics for Wisconsin, Bill?

Bill McCoshen:

I think it’s now driving presidential politics. There was a new poll out this morning that had Donald Trump with a one-point lead in the state of Wisconsin, had him tied in Minnesota and leading in Michigan. So I think Kenosha is going to be a big deal. Here’s the reason, Fred. People in Wisconsin didn’t really relate to what was going on in Seattle or Portland. But when it happens in Kenosha in your own backyard that means something to you. And I think it’s a bad sign for Democrats. They didn’t react soon enough, including our governor, who got excoriated by the Kenosha News editorial board yesterday for his lack of action on this thing. And it will play a factor in the presidential race at least for the next couple weeks, maybe longer.

Frederica Freyberg:

Scot, what do you think about that, a bump for Donald Trump from Kenosha.

Scot Ross:

No, I think the news out of Kenosha is that a Black man, an unarmed Black man was shot seven times by police when he was absolutely no threat. This continues to be a problem. These are why these uprisings are happening. It’s happening because as Jacob Blake’s father said today in Washington D.C., there’s one justice system for white people and there’s one justice system for Black people. Democrats and independents are recognizing that and they’re saying enough is enough. On the other hand, Donald Trump just continues to try and divide and stoke this. He wants to do that to get reelected. I don’t think it’s going to work. I think the people are going to do the right thing.

Frederica Freyberg:

Zac pointed out earlier in this program that Republicans spoke to their upset about the protests and law and order, but not to the shooting by an officer of Jacob Blake or the 17-year-old gunman who allegedly murdered two protesters. How is any of this even partisan? Bill?

Scot Ross:

I think it’s partisan because I don’t think any of the Republicans are willing to even criticize the 17-year-old who shot three people including killing two. I think that’s what the issue is here. The issue is here that we need to be coming together. We are not going to be able to do that with Donald Trump and his cohorts. That’s why it’s partisan.

Frederica Freyberg:

Bill?

Bill McCoshen:

I think more than anything, Fred, this issue needed leadership and it needed it a lot sooner. For the governor to wait until Thursday, four days after the shooting to finally arrive in Kenosha, is inexplicable to me. I worked for a governor who would have been there that night or the next morning. I know Jim Doyle, a Democrat, Scott Walker also would have also been there. So I think the lack of action or reaction from leaders in Wisconsin has caused this thing to get worse than it needed to be.

Frederica Freyberg:

With just about a minute–go ahead.

Scot Ross:

Republicans in the legislature haven’t been to work in 130 days whether it’s the pandemic or this. The fact is that Governor Evers had a package of eight different bills he wants to pass. Robin Vos is calling for a task force. Bill, you know as well as I do, task force is where action goes to die.

Frederica Freyberg:

They’re coming in on Monday.

Bill McCoshen:

They’re coming in on Monday. In a situation like this, the governor has got to be there. He’s got to be meeting with local leaders. He’s got to be meeting with law enforcement. Frankly he should have been meeting with black ministers. This needed action immediately and it didn’t get it.

Frederica Freyberg:

I think we need to leave it there. Thanks very much. This turned out, of course, not to be a super fun conversation, but a very serious one, but we really appreciate your insights. Thanks very much for being here.

Scot Ross:

Thank you.

Bill McCoshen:

Thanks for having us.