The Milwaukee Post

8 • Milwaukee County Post • May 11, 2018 There's a growing controversy over Republican U.S. Senate candidate Kevin Nicholson's constant, constant, CONSTANT references to his service in the Marine Corps. Nicholson seems incapable of answering any question about anything without bringing up that he was a Marine officer. The TV ads he's running and the tens of thousands being run on his behalf by his sugar daddy, Richard Uihlein, are even more in-your-face about Nicholson being an ex-Marine. Nicholson's campaign strategy seems to be: all Marine all the time. A much talked about moment in the debate a couple of weeks ago between Nicholson and the other Republican running, State Sen. Leah Vukmir, came when Vukmir challenged Nicholson on his lack of conservative cre- dentials. It's a key issue as Nicholson is a former member of the board of the Democratic National Committee and his conversion to Republicanism has been only recent and only vaguely explained. Nicholson, in response to the challenge about conservative credentials fell back on what he always falls back on — he's a Marine. "Those that have said leading Marines in combat during the course of two wars does not qualify as conservative credentials need to look inside them and decide what they think conservative credentials are," Nicholson said during the debate. This jaw- dropper was a real doubling-down by Nicholson on his reliance of an "all Marine" campaign strategy. He literally claimed his Marine back- ground proves he is a political conservative! Does it prove it? More on that in a moment. The bigger question is why Nicholson is so incessant in playing the Marine card. The blunt answer is that Nicholson cites his background in the Marines because he has nothing else to cite. Nothing. Nicholson plays the Marine card because it's the only one in his deck. Consider the "record." Nicholson, who is 40, can't talk about the first 30 years of his life because he was an activist liberal Democrat during them. Nicholson didn't merely vote for Democrats; he was arguably the most powerful young Democrat in the country. Nicholson was elected national chair of the Young Democrats and to the board of the DNC, the organization that runs the party. He says he left the Democrats about 10 years ago but there is no indication he's ever been involved in any Republican campaign or cause. While Act 10 was causing a Wisconsin civil war and everybody in the state was choosing sides, there was no sign of Nicholson any- where. I've been involved in Republican cir- cles in southeast Wisconsin for three decades. I never heard of Nicholson until he wrote an essay that appeared in the Weekly Standard magazine in 2014. Nicholson can't cite any conservative credentials in Wisconsin because he has none. His business record is equally elusive. Nicholson has referred to himself as a "con- sultant." There isn't a more vaguely defined field in the world than that. He lives in Delafield but there seems to be no trace of his getting involved at all in Waukesha County Republican issues or even in his own community. So when asked about conservative creden- tials by a challenger, Vukmir, who is a hero to activist Wisconsin Republicans for her constant and valiant fight to make this state more conservative, Nicholson had to refer to his military record because he doesn't have anything else to offer in the way of creden- tials, conservative or otherwise. But is it over the top? Or, is Nicholson properly emphasizing his service to our nation as a legitimate reason to elect him to the U.S. Senate? The answer is that it is a credential but it is not a conservative cre- dential. It is a reason to admire Nicholson and his character but it is not a reason to pre- sume that he is a card-carrying member of the right wing. John McCain was a war hero and longtime POW but he's about the least conservative Republican in the Senate. John Kerry served in Vietnam and has been a liberal lion for decades. It is certainly true that many American liberals sneer at military service and condescendingly roll their eyes at men and women in uniform. But Nicholson's years of service to his country do not prove he is conservative. What they prove is his honor. It's a distinction with a difference. Is it working? That's very hard to say. Those of us who have not served in the mili- tary are rightly grateful to Nicholson and every other man and woman in uniform. But Nicholson is pushing this so hard that it may be bordering on self-parody. Interestingly, the most negative comments I have heard about Nicholson's incessant Marine references comes not from liberal supporters of Democrat Tammy Baldwin or even from Republicans who never served. The criticism I have heard comes from those who have served. One ex-Army guy emailed me that every- body in his shop laughs when a Nicholson ad comes on. Another pointed out that anyone who has been in the military is aware that many of the people they served with aren't conservative at all. These people think Nicholson is over-playing his hand. Perhaps. In the primary he is running against a mil- itary mom in Vukmir whose patriotism can't be challenged. On the other hand, if Nicholson wins the primary he'll be running against an incumbent in Baldwin who not only never served but is best known for sell- ing out our injured veterans at the Tomah VA Hospital by aiding in the opioid cover-up. One thing is certain: Nicholson won't have to worry about anybody knowing he was in the Marines. (Mark Belling is the host of a daily WISN radio talk show. His column appears weekly in the Milwaukee Post. Send your personal correspondences to Mark Belling at Clear Channel Communications, c/o WISN, 12100 W. Howard Ave., Greenfield, WI 53228). MARK BELLING STANDING UP for MILWAUKEE Nicholson's strategy is all Marine all the time OPINION Last week's question As more women come forward about Tom Brokaw's unwanted advances, plus Bill Cosby's convictions, have your views of people you might have respected changed? Or, as talks among Japan, South Korea and North Korea advance, who do you credit for it? I totally give President Donald Trump the credit for North Korea. He has the courage and strength to try and do something with them because George W. Bush and Barack Obama were unable to or didn't want to try any- thing. It's amazing how much he has accomplished in the short time has been president in spite of no coopera- tion from Democrats and some Republicans and constant bashing and distorting of what he says from most media and papers and so on, and peo- ple who think they are comedians and know-it-alls. It's tragic what's going on in this country — no respect and no nothing. It's time people wake up before we have nothing left to fight for. — Marilyn Fedran Milwaukee *** With South Korea, that's just the way British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain was duped in 1938 by Nazi Germany.We should not fall for it. — Tommy Sukkert South Milwaukee *** I give credit for the present talks between South and North Korea, and Japan to Russian President Vladimir Putin. He has some sort of nefarious plan to lull us and our allies into a false sense of security. The Soviet Union is far from dead. Remember, Putin was a colonel in the KGB — that makes him a person to be wary of. — Michael Bourdo Milwaukee This week's question What do you think of President Donald Trump's withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal made under Barack Obama? Editor's note: When responding to the Question of the Week, please include your full name with spelling, phone number and city where you live. Phone numbers will not be published. Anonymous responses are no longer accepted by the publication. Call 744- 6370, Ext. 15 and leave a brief answer. Readers may also send an email with a brief answer to: dmuck@conleynet.com. Question of the week Send your letters to: The Milwaukee Post, c/o Dan Muckelbauer, 3397 S. Howell Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53207, or by email to: dmuck@conleynet.com. We reserve the right to edit letters for style, length and clarity. Letters should be typewritten or printed and include full name, phone number and address. Please keep your letters to no more than 400 words. Letters policy

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