ICYMI: Wisconsin Democrats Believe Voters are “Not Smart”

[Madison, WI] – In a Wisconsin Counties Association roundtable with state legislative leaders, Democrat Senate Minority Leader Janet Bewley declared that voters who disagree with a local sales tax increase are “not smart.” When given the chance to clarify, she doubled down. Finally, Democrats are being honest about their true feelings about Wisconsin voters who disagree with their “government-knows-best” approach.

“Democrats have always believed that they are smarter than everyday Wisconsinites — now they’re just saying it out loud,” said Republican Party of Wisconsin Chairman Andrew Hitt. “Wisconsinites deserve to hear from Tony Evers, Mandela Barnes and Josh Kaul on whether they agree with the perspective of one of the top state leaders in their party.”

Watch the clip here or read more from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel below.

Democratic Senate leader Janet Bewley says voters are ‘not smart’ to reject tax increases
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Patrick Marley
March 3, 2021

The top Democrat in the state Senate said during an online forum Wednesday that voters in her northern Wisconsin district will likely oppose raising their taxes because they’re “not smart.”

Senate Minority Leader Janet Bewley of Mason declined to retract the statement during the Wisconsin Counties Association event when a Republican asked her whether it was wise to describe her opponents as dumb.

[…]

“So If the voters turn it down, doesn’t that mean they don’t support what you’re advocating for?” Vos asked.

Bewley responded: “Perhaps that means that they’re not smart, you know?

“If they can’t provide it, don’t we have some collective responsibility to help those communities that depend on volunteer emergency services?”

Vos questioned her sentiment.

“Janet, do you want to rethink that?” he asked. “I mean, I disagree with people a lot, but I don’t think people who disagree with me are dumb. You’re basically saying your constituents who disagree with you are dumb.”

Bewley didn’t pull back her statement, saying she was reacting to his praise earlier in the forum of Walworth County’s decision to put all of its sales tax revenue toward property tax relief.