Gubernatorial candidate Kathleen Falk hosted an ">online town hall Sunday night that participants could access either through Facebook or Livestream.
Though billed as a "live strategy session to end Walker's war on women," it was, for the most part, a campaign pitch by Falk and supporters Rep. Chris Taylor (D-Madison) and Rep. Christine Sinicki (D-Milwaukee) on her behalf. Nearly 80 viewers signed on to watch, and about 20 to 30 people participated in a live chat that ran at the same time as the live stream. The chat drew a number of trolls who lobbed insults at Democrats and progressives and threw out conservative talking points.
"Planned Parenthood is only around to KILL black babies!!! My babies!!!!" said Pam Owens Stevens of Racine.
Then there was her friend, Raydene Edenhofer, also of Racine, who posted: "What is with these 'liberal' women anyway. One of them speaking was acting as if she is all about women yet she dresses like a man...the other looked drunk and looked like a man...."
In the town hall portion of the live stream, one participant asked why Walker had launched his war on women. Sinicki said it was to divert attention from his failed job-creation policies, and Taylor said Walker has believed in these policies for a long time. "He is truly an extremist, and he has been his whole life," she said.
Falk communications spokesman Scot Ross says the event attracted 164 "unique visitors," and the campaign considered it a success. He said it's the first time he is aware of a campaign in Wisconsin using this type of online forum.
The campaign plans to do other online sessions, including one on jobs and the environment.
