Welder on stage at State of State with Scott Walker is registered sex offender

[n2doc]

A welder who shared the stage with Gov. Scott Walker during his State of the State speech is a registered sex offender with two felonies and three drunken driving offenses.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel first reported Thursday on Christopher Barber's criminal record. Barber was one of several workers Walker introduced during his speech on Wednesday night to illustrate how the state's economy is improving.

Barber was hired by Ariens Co. in Brillion in late 2012. He wore his welding helmet and work gloves on stage with Walker during the speech.

Online court records show Barber has been in and out of jail for much of the past 10 years.
Walker's spokesman Tom Evenson told The Associated Press if Barber's record had been known he wouldn't have been asked to participate.

http://host.madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/welder-on-stage-with-scott-walker-is-registered-sex-offender/article_4f74086a-8451-11e3-a0dc-0019bb2963f4.html

[atreides1]

1. USIS vetted this guy too?

I can't help but wonder what it was that the majority of voters in Wisconsin were thinking when they elected this useless idiot!!!

[jeff47]

2. :facepalm:

Can Walker successfully tie his own shoes?

[pansypoo53219]

3. inside sabotage?

[Lifelong Protester]

4. Keep embarrassing our state, Walker

Can you walk and chew gum at the same time?

[ewagner]

5. Too easy....

Okay...it would be too easy to jump on Walker about this for the obvious reasons...but here's the thing: The guy is trying to turn his life around....he's been "clean" for a few years and as far as his employer "Ariens" is concerned, he's a productive worker....If Walker has any fault here, I think it's because he didn't cite Christopher Barber for who he really is/was, but for some comic book character for a political poster-boy. I think that if Barber has truly turned his life around, then he's done a laudable thing.....but to tout him as an example of Walker's policy successes is just dishonest...The only other thing I would fault is making him appear on the stage with Walker in that ridiculous "joe-the-welder" outfit...I think it was demeaning and probably humiliating to Barber.

[dembotoz]

6. torn on this

while it is fun to joke about the obvious mistake by the walker folks, I am feeling sorry for a man who seems to be trying to turn his life around

is he supposed to wear a scarlet letter on his shirt

[n2doc]

7. No. But he is trying to boost Walker.

So I don't have any sympathy for him. He should have known that this would bring scrutiny.

[dembotoz]

8. i have a friend whose special needs son ended up on the list

and they put ups with some constant harassment based off of being on this list.

they have put up with some real shit dealt to them by the local folks
stuff that had i been there there would have been quite the confrontation

not sure the list is really a good idea

[lutefisk]

9. I agree

And while Ariens is one of Walker's "go to" Republican businesses when he needs a photo-op, good for them for supporting their employee and giving him a chance. That shows some character, at last.