Dylan Brogan
Johnson, Ryan and Walker on stage at Fall Fest
“Jackass.” That's what one Trump supporter shouted at U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan after his speech at Fall Fest, held Oct. 8 at the Walworth County Fairgrounds in Elkhorn. The insult ended a bizarre afternoon filled with dismay, anger and confusion for many loyal Republicans who attended Ryan’s yearly fundraiser for the First Congressional Republican Party of Wisconsin.
Earlier in the week, it was announced Donald Trump would headline the event. It was supposed to be the first time Ryan (R-Janesville) would campaign with the GOP presidential nominee. All the state’s Republican heavy hitters were also slated to join Trump in a show of unity including Gov. Scott Walker, longtime U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Menomonee Falls) and U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson.
But late Friday, the Janesville native — the highest ranking Republican in the country — uninvited Trump after being “sickened” by comments he made in a 2005 video released by The Washington Post. The move left GOP leaders rallying the party’s faithful to vote Republican in November, while avoiding any mention of the man at the top of the ticket.
“It's all political. [Ryan’s] got to do what he can to get votes,” said Lloyd Romie of Elkhorn. “It's the media stirring up this Trump stuff. It's not right they are deciding this election.”
What sparked Ryan’s dissing of Trump were lewd comments the nominee made to host Billy Bush during a taping of Access Hollywood 11 years ago. Although Trump was not on camera, a hot microphone captured Trump bragging about using his celebrity status to grope women. “When you're a star they let you do it. You can do anything. Whatever you want,” Trump said in the leaked video. “Grab them by the pussy.”
But Kim Kubena of Delafield dismissed the comments as “locker room talk” made a decade before Trump entered politics. She called the remarks a distraction and was disappointed Ryan caved to “political correctness.”
Dylan Brogan
Trump supporters were disappointed that their candidate was uninvited from Paul Ryan’s Fall Fest.
“Find me one perfect person in this country? People say things that are politically incorrect all the time,” said Kubena. “The whole tool of political correctness is part of a socialist, communist agenda. We need to bring back freedom of speech.”
Mike Goril of Lake Mills was peeved that Wisconsin Republicans were giving Trump the cold shoulder. The blow was, temporarily, softened by news that vice presidential candidate Mike Pence would be attending the rally on Trump’s behalf. It was only after wading through a Secret Service screening that Goril learned Pence wasn't coming either.
“Any Republican that does not support their presidential candidate is a traitor to the party. They are electing Hillary (Clinton) by default,” said Goril. “If Trump is elected — and I hope he is — there's going to be long-term ramifications for Mr. Ryan.”
Tom German of Brillion said he was “floored” when he learned Trump wouldn't be at the event.
“I guess the party has to distance itself from those comments. But the comments are nothing like what Bill Clinton has done,” said German.
A young man standing right behind German was wearing a T-shirt — made to look like the famous Hope poster of President Barack Obama from the 2008 campaign — that showed President Bill Clinton’s face with the word “rape” written below.
Nick Iles of Waukesha was offended by Trump’s comments in the leaked video: “I'm not sure how you couldn't be.”
But Iles is still standing by Trump. “Both candidates have said and done lots of bad things. But ultimately Trump’s policies will be better for America in the end.”
In a tweet, Walker described the comments as “inexcusable.” Johnson called them “indefensible” in a statement. Ryan scolded Trump for objectifying women. None of them uttered his name at the rally. Yet no senior Republicans in Wisconsin have rescinded their endorsements of Trump.
“We have 31 field offices all over the state that are there to help every Republican,” Brad Courtney, chair of the Republican Party of Wisconsin, told the crowd, trying to reassure Trump supporters that the party wasn't abandoning the candidate. “The polls are quite close. We have 31 days and that's an eternity so please, please, please volunteer.”
But a handful of people in the crowd of roughly 500 Republicans weren't going to let their leaders off easy.
“Every year Paul Ryan has a Fall Fest,” began Sensenbrenner, who is seeking his 20th term in Congress this fall. “Every year people come to the Fall Fest to show their appreciation and support of Paul.”
“Not no more,” proclaimed a heckler.
“Okay. If you're not going to be for the whole ticket— ” said Sensenbrenner before being cut off again.
“I'm for Donald Trump,” the heckler shot back, which was greeted by scattered cheers in the crowd.
“Why don't you listen to what I have to say rather than interrupting me. There’s something [called] courtesy involved here,” said Sensenbrenner, winning back the crowd.
Sensenbrenner went on to defend Ryan’s leadership in Congress. He also reminded voters that the next president is likely to have a decades-long influence over the U.S. Supreme Court.
“President Hillary Clinton will appoint three or four more Ruth Bader Ginsburgs. That will last for a generation,” said Sensenbrenner. “A Supreme Court will frustrate anything any Republican president will do simply by judicial fiat.”
Ron Johnson told the crowd that the election was about “saving this country.”
“Wisconsin’s a firewall. We’ve got to save this Senate seat,” said Johnson, referring to his own seat. “We have to make sure the 10 electoral votes of Wisconsin don't get turned over to Hillary Clinton. We need to do everything we can to win this election here in Wisconsin.”
Nevertheless, Johnson didn’t refer to his party’s top candidate by name. Neither he nor Sensenbrenner mentioned Donald Trump while offering grim predictions of what a Clinton presidency would bring.
Paul Ryan admitted there was “a bit of an elephant in the room” when he finally took the stage.
“It is a troubling situation. I'm serious, it is,” said Ryan. “I put out a statement about this last night. I meant what I said and it is still how I feel. But that's not why we are here today.”
Ryan ended his speech by saying “we will deliver our 10 electoral votes.”
To whom exactly, Ryan didn’t specify. Regardless, Donald Trump deemed Fall Fest a success via Twitter before the day was done: “Thank you to my great supporters in Wisconsin. I heard that the crowd and enthusiasm was unreal!”
