Wis. Dem demands apology for Republican’s ‘communist’ jab

Democratic Rep. Mark Pocan is demanding an apology from a fellow Wisconsinite who described the city of Madison as a “progressive, liberal communist community.”

GOP Rep. Sean Duffy made the remark during a recent interview with Fox News’s Tucker Carlson about the recount effort in his state. 

“We only have one county that’s hand-counting the votes, that’s Dane County, which is the home of Madison, the progressive, liberal communist community of Madison,” Duffy said. “And they’re taking as long as they can.”

Duffy has accused recount proponents of “slow-walking” the process to prevent Wisconsin from certifying its presidential election results. Donald Trump won the state by more than 22,000 votes, and the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported Wednesday that Democrat Hillary Clinton has gained 82 votes so far in the recount. 

{mosads}“It’s a sad state of affairs for these Democrats who don’t believe in democracy and free elections. They want to use politics to undermine the will of the voter,” Duffy added.

“Well, communist communities are like that, as you know,” Carlson joked.

“Yeah, they are,” Duffy replied, laughing.

Pocan, who represents Madison in the House, said Duffy’s description of liberal voters there as “communist” who don’t believe in democracy went too far. 

“His insinuation that my constituents are somehow un-American for exercising their political views is extremely alarming,” Pocan said in a statement on Wednesday.

“The Wisconsin delegation has a reputation for cooperation and respect. For Rep. Duffy to try and drive divisions among Wisconsinites is unconscionable. On behalf of my constituents, I demand an apology from Rep. Duffy and hope the Wisconsin delegation will condemn his comments as they are far from the Wisconsin values we hold dear,” Pocan added.

But instead of apologizing, Duffy doubled down and mocked his critics.

“The PC crowd is humorless. For those offended by my ‘communist’ comment, I’ll send a therapy dog to your ‘safe place’ of choice in Madison,” Duffy wrote on Twitter.

The PC crowd is humorless. For those offended by my “communist” comment, I’ll send a therapy dog to your “safe place” of choice in Madison.

— Sean Duffy (@RepSeanDuffy) December 7, 2016

Pocan replied to Duffy’s tweet by noting how the county singled out by Duffy has seen significant economic growth.

“Humorless is better than being senseless about Dane County providing 73% of new jobs in WI. Perhaps a $175K salary distorts your views,” Pocan tweeted.

Humorless is better than being senseless about Dane County providing 73% of new jobs in WI. Perhaps a $175K salary distorts your views. https://t.co/uEN1hxN7jJ

— Rep. Mark Pocan (@repmarkpocan) December 7, 2016

Pocan, of course, earns the same annual $174,000 salary as Duffy.

It’s not the first time a member of the Wisconsin congressional delegation has demanded Duffy apologize for something.

In January, Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wis.) called Duffy out on the House floor for making a racially insensitive remark about abortion.

Duffy had cited statistics about high abortion rates among African-Americans during a House floor speech and suggested black lawmakers weren’t doing enough to help their constituents. 

“My liberal friends, Congressional Black Caucus members, talk about fighting for the defenseless, the hopeless and the downtrodden. There is no one more hopeless and voiceless than an unborn baby, but their silence is deafening. I can’t hear them. Where are they standing up for their communities, advocating and fighting for their right to life?” Duffy said at the time.

Moore suggested Duffy was simply ignorant about the problems faced by black communities. 

“I don’t expect Rep. Duffy to understand why his comments are offensive,” Moore said in a House floor speech.

Duffy didn’t back down from his comments at that time, either.