Cullen feeling heat after bolting caucus
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Tim Cullen
JANESVILLE — Sen. Tim Cullen of Janesville was bashed from the left and the right after he announced Tuesday that he is leaving the state Senate Democratic Caucus.
Cullen is considering whether to continue to be a Democrat or become an independent.
A right-wing radio talk-show host in Milwaukee, Charlie Sykes, attacked Cullen on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the advocacy group One Wisconsin Now, attacked from the left.
Cullen said Wednesday the attacks from both sides are a sign that he's doing something right.
As for his constituents in the 15th Senate District, Cullen said they won't be disadvantaged by his bolting from the caucus.
"I don't think it'll hurt at all. It's yet to be known how much it helps. I still have lots of colleagues who have confidence in me in both parties," Cullen said.
Cullen took the drastic step of leaving the caucus after the Senate majority leader, Mark Miller, offered what Cullen considered only a meaningless committee chairmanship.
Miller awarded every other Democratic senator a committee leadership position. Cullen said that insulted him and his constituents.
The Democrats gained control of the Senate as the result of victories in the recent Senate recall elections.
Cullen said he gave Miller numerous chances to rectify the situation before going public Tuesday, but Miller would not budge, and no caucus member came to his defense.
Cullen said he is hearing now from Democratic senators, who are saying, "Oh my gosh, this is awful."
"My answer is, 'Where were you the last seven days?'" Cullen said.
At least one senator hopes Cullen will rejoin the caucus.
Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Middleton, said he hopes Miller and Cullen will work things out.
"Hopefully, Sen. Miller will do that, and Tim will be able to do that," Erpenbach said. "If you're the leader of a caucus, Tim Cullen's the kind of guy you want on your team.
"This move doesn't change what he stands for, what he believes in, how he's going to vote, anything like that," Erpenbach added. "He's a very talented guy. He's very smart, and our caucus needs him."
Erpenbach's name came up in a statement issued Tuesday by One Wisconsin Now, a progressive advocacy group. The organization's executive director, Scot Ross, accused Cullen of trying to take away Erpenbach's chairmanship of the health committee and lashed out at Cullen, saying in part:
"One wonders on what planet Tim Cullen resides, where he thought the unprecedented uprising against (Gov.) Scott Walker's attacks on Wisconsin was done to put a millionaire, 20-year insurance company executive and opponent of ObamaCare in charge of the committee overseeing health care reform in the state Senate."
Erpenbach on Wednesday said the accusation is not true and that he called Ross to tell him so.
Cullen said the One Wisconsin Now statement was full of falsehoods. Cullen said he has not opposed ObamaCare and believes the president has gone farther toward the worthy goal of health coverage for all than anyone since President Teddy Roosevelt.
"I look at that stuff and say, 'These are people who are paid to throw flames.' It's not anybody that I relate to," Cullen said.
Cullen said he will take up to several weeks to decide his political direction. He is consulting with friends, relatives and will be at the Rock County 4-H Fair late Thursday and Friday afternoons to hear from constituents.
Cullen said he has always stood on the walkway in front of the Democratic tent at the fair, and he intends to continue that practice. He's still a Democrat, he said.
He said he will decide well before the Nov. 6 elections whether to change that status.
Cullen is not up for re-election until 2014.
Jul 27, 2012 at 1:19 p.m.
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Senator Cullen said "the One Wisconsin Now statement was full of falsehoods". Anyone who has ever been targeted by One Wisconsin Now already knows their disregard for truth firsthand. I'll bet Senator Cullen never thought he'd be one of their targets. Politics is like romance. You sometimes need to break up with someone to find out what they really are. Now Senator Cullen knows One Wisconsin Now for what they really are.
Jul 27, 2012 at 11:19 a.m.
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laughoutloud, I'm wondering if you'd care to share your experiences with Cullen's lies with the rest of us? I've always found him a personable and trustworthy politician that I admired for not just following rank but actually working with people (everyone) to come to a consensus to get things done.
Tired of things not getting done? Tim isn't one of the reasons.
Jul 27, 2012 at 9:36 a.m.
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Are you denying that Charlie Sykes is a right winger? If the shoe fits......
Jul 27, 2012 at 9:12 a.m.
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booch 11 great catch, again the media is soooooo slanted it is just sickening and getting worse.
Jul 27, 2012 at 8:31 a.m.
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Funny that Charlie Sykes is labeled "right-wing" while the group on the left, one Wisconsin now, is labeled as an advocacy group.
Jul 27, 2012 at 8:19 a.m.
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Adjectives such as courage and fortitude don't fit Cullen. Tim Cullen is playing a game, trying to make people think that he is somewhere in the middle. Cullen is one of the 14-Wisconsin State Senators that embraced running from Wisconsin into the cover of Union Bosses in Illinois for nearly 3-weeks. The word that describes persons that sell their bodies to the highest bidders is forbidden by the Gazette censors, but that is exactly what they did, brought out by handlers to be paraded out in front of the media and now say different? Total (bleep). I censored myself not wanting to give the Gazette Staff any pleasure......bleep, bleep, bleep!
Jul 27, 2012 at 8:02 a.m.
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I do not believe a single word from Cullen's mouth. He has lied in the past and will continue. Let the voices in his head tell him he is doing the right thing. You have reduced your power in the Senate by not caucusing with the Dems.
Jul 27, 2012 at 7:46 a.m.
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Cullen said Wednesday the attacks from both sides are a sign that he's doing something right.
Well said Mr. Cullen
and eyeball I agree completely with you, the 2 party system is a joke.
Jul 27, 2012 at 7:44 a.m.
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I, for one, think that Cullen is doing the right thing here. His job is to ensure that his voice heard as loudly as possible above the cacophony of the other politicians - as his voice is our voice. If his party won´t put him in a place to accomplish this, then it is time to leave the party - he hasn´t left yet; but has made it clear if they won´t give him a voice, there is not place for him. (or at least I hope that is the sentiment)
Jul 27, 2012 at 7:16 a.m.
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Run Tim, Run
Your room at the Clocktower Inn is ready for you.
Jul 27, 2012 at 6:57 a.m.
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Bolting the caucus... no big deal. Bolting the state...never get my vote again.
Jul 27, 2012 at 5:31 a.m.
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I see the Gazette Staff have about as much independence and backbone as Cullen, what a shame. Whimps and cowards flock together.....
Jul 26, 2012 at 10:42 p.m.
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Shouldn't take too much for the dems to pull him back in place. A few protests at his house, some vicious signs, and some drum rings should do it.
Hopefully, Cullen has the fortitude to withstand the pressure and make his own choice.
Maybe he is trying to redeem himself for running away, but maybe he will try to sit on the fence as an (I).
Jul 26, 2012 at 8:14 p.m.
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Oh stop with the whinning comments already. He's not taking anything and not going anywhere. Would you be saying the same if a republican broke ranks??
Jul 26, 2012 at 6:50 p.m.
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This situation demonstrates how disfunctional our government is. Why are only 2 points of view allowed. Also, it appears that the folks who control the parties hold the politicians hostage on a level seldom displayed to the public. I guess our elected officials are not allowed to cooperate without permission from a higher power. I wonder if the Dems will withhold election funds from Cullen if he doesn't rejoin the caucus but still remains a Dem.
Jul 26, 2012 at 6:06 p.m.
Jul 26, 2012 at 5:42 p.m.
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I wasn't shown any respect, poor me. I'll just take my ball and go home.
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