Wisconsin state Democratic Rep. Fred Clark, who’s running in a recall election against state Republican Sen. Luther Olsen, was caught on tape insulting a woman, and threatening her with violence.
After the woman, referred to in the phone recording as Mrs. Stapleton, hung up on Clark after he asked for her support in the recall election, Clark denigrated her. He wasn’t aware, however, that Mrs. Stapleton’s answering machine was still recording his voice.
“Ok,” Clark said. “I feel like calling her back and smacking her around.”
The Republican Party of Wisconsin jumped at Clark’s threat quickly, and pointed out how this comment might reflect his behavior in the state Senate. “This disturbing and inappropriate comment gives us an unfortunate glimpse of what Representative Clark is like when he thinks no one is listening,” said John Hogan, the director of the Committee to Elect a Republican Senate in Wisconsin’s GOP, in a statement.
“Domestic violence is a devastating problem in our state, and abuse is on the rise,” Hogan said. “To be able to so freely threaten violence against a woman, even in jest, shows a tremendous lack of character.”
Hogan went to point out how he thinks Clark’s behavior may play out with voters later this summer during the recall elections.
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“Coupled with his record of killing jobs and increasing spending, the mounting evidence of Fred Clark’s recklessness and lack of common sense will be flatly rejected by voters at the polls this summer,” Hogan said.
Clark’s office did not respond to The Daily Caller’s request for comment.
Full Transcript:
[Answering machine picks up the call, then Sue Stapleton picks up phone]
Sue Stapleton: “Yes”
Fred Clark: “Hi, this, uh, Ms. Stapleton?”
SS: “Yes it is.”
FC: “Hi, this is Representative Fred Clark.”
SS: “Ok.”
FC: “Yes, I just want to give you and John a call again tonight. You may know I’m running against Luther Olsen here in the recall election in the 14th Senate District.”
SS: “Yeah, isn’t that a crime.” [hangs up]
[Answering machine still recording]
FC: “Ok. I feel like calling her back and smacking her around.”