By Scott Bauer
Associated Press
MADISON - A consultant who provided material to Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mary Burke for her jobs plan spoke out for the first time Thursday about accusations of plagiarism, defending his work and accusing Republican critics of being hypocritical.
Eric Schnurer wrote a first-person piece for The Atlantic that was published on its website Thursday morning, two days after Burke lost to Republican Gov. Scott Walker by nearly 6 points.
In late September, Republicans and Walker's campaign attacked Burke over sections of her jobs plan that were identical to proposals put forward by other Democrats across the country. Burke immediately blamed Schnurer, saying he provided the wording in question, and cut ties.
"Was there anything wrong with giving Mary Burke policy specifics that others had proposed, and even implemented, before she had?" Schnurer wrote for the magazine. "Not when that's exactly why politicians hire people like us."
Burke's campaign spokesman did not immediately return a message. Schnurer also did not immediately return telephone and email messages. The head of the Wisconsin Republican Party, which was a vocal critic on this issue, did not immediately return a message.
Schnurer said Republicans who attacked him were being hypocritical, saying politicians regularly use material that consultants provide to multiple campaigns.
The issue dogged Burke in the waning weeks of the campaign. Walker kept a television ad in heavy circulation during which Burke is shown at a news conference stumbling through a definition of plagiarism.
In the article, Schnurer wrote that he recommended to Burke that he be blamed and fired, and also noted that, out of respect to Burke, he agreed to remain silent.
Schnurer said Burke's campaign was meticulous about tracking and noting all changes, but "in the heat of the final changes, someone obviously didn't incorporate the proper text. That's politics. However it occurred, I'll take the blame, because my work ultimately failed my client."
Schnurer said his consulting firm, Public Works LLC, works primarily with Democrats but it has also served three Republican governors, including two likely 2016 presidential candidates. He does not say who those are.
Associated Press
MADISON - A consultant who provided material to Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mary Burke for her jobs plan spoke out for the first time Thursday about accusations of plagiarism, defending his work and accusing Republican critics of being hypocritical.
Eric Schnurer wrote a first-person piece for The Atlantic that was published on its website Thursday morning, two days after Burke lost to Republican Gov. Scott Walker by nearly 6 points.
In late September, Republicans and Walker's campaign attacked Burke over sections of her jobs plan that were identical to proposals put forward by other Democrats across the country. Burke immediately blamed Schnurer, saying he provided the wording in question, and cut ties.
"Was there anything wrong with giving Mary Burke policy specifics that others had proposed, and even implemented, before she had?" Schnurer wrote for the magazine. "Not when that's exactly why politicians hire people like us."
Burke's campaign spokesman did not immediately return a message. Schnurer also did not immediately return telephone and email messages. The head of the Wisconsin Republican Party, which was a vocal critic on this issue, did not immediately return a message.
Schnurer said Republicans who attacked him were being hypocritical, saying politicians regularly use material that consultants provide to multiple campaigns.
The issue dogged Burke in the waning weeks of the campaign. Walker kept a television ad in heavy circulation during which Burke is shown at a news conference stumbling through a definition of plagiarism.
In the article, Schnurer wrote that he recommended to Burke that he be blamed and fired, and also noted that, out of respect to Burke, he agreed to remain silent.
Schnurer said Burke's campaign was meticulous about tracking and noting all changes, but "in the heat of the final changes, someone obviously didn't incorporate the proper text. That's politics. However it occurred, I'll take the blame, because my work ultimately failed my client."
Schnurer said his consulting firm, Public Works LLC, works primarily with Democrats but it has also served three Republican governors, including two likely 2016 presidential candidates. He does not say who those are.