Ben Manski = Ben Masel? A Voter's Guide

It's easy to understand how voters who are only casual observers of politics could be confused: Ben Manski and Ben Masel: two guys both named Ben, both with last names that start with "Ma" and both running against Democratic party favorites for public office. Neither will spend the kind of money necessary for mass advertising to differentiate themselves. So here's the Waxing America guide to Madison's two political guys named Ben:

Ben Manski, the Green Party candidate in Wisconsin's 77th Assembly District, is running against Democratic Party primary winer Brett Hulsey and Republican Dave Redick. Waxing America guages Manski's chances as 10-1 and Redick's as none. Manski is a product of Madison schools and the UW-Madison, and has been active in a range of causes from Greenpeace to Wisconsin's Environmental Decade, and practices law, specializing in non-profit, coop, and public sector issues.  Helping Manski's chances is the endorsement of Madison's teachers' union, MTI. Not helping is the confusion with Ben Masel.

Ben Masel lost to Tommy Thompson in the Republican primary for Governor in 1990, and ran second to Senator Herb Kohl in the Democratic primary for US Senate in 2006. Masel has already declared his candidacy challenging Senator Herb Kohl in the Democratic primary for US Senate in 2012, and is a frequent poster on DailyKos and a longtime First Amendment and marijuana rights activist.

Both have campaigned at the Westside Community Market, and enjoyed the free coffee and baked goods the Market feeds its vendors, musicians, and political candidates.

Ben Masel, at 55, is considerably older than Ben Manski, 36. Masel is a grandfather, with white hair and beard; Manski has no children and very red hair and beard.

Ben Masel only accepts $1 campaign donations, billing himself as the "Senator you can afford." Ben Manski takes contributions in the usual amounts from most anyone who wishes to donate.

Ben Masel knows that he never will beat Herb Kohl, but has fun trying. Ben Manski actually believes that he could beat Brett Hulsey, and seems to be having some fun trying, but mostly looks and acts serious.

Ben Masel went to San Francisco in the 1967 "Summer of Love" and saw the Grateful Dead play for free in Panhandle Park. No, sorry, that was me.

Ben Masel saw the Grateful Dead play when they were only a few years past their prime. Ben Manski used to play his parents' old Dead records to annoy his friends in high school.  Jerry Garcia died the year Manski could legally drink.

Ben Masel is this guy (but now with beard:                                                            Ben Manski is this guy:

                    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Voters of the Wisconsin 77th AD can vote for Ben Manski or Brett Hulsey or even Dave Redick, but can't vote for Ben Masel this November.

In the September 2012 Democratic primary, all Wisconsin voters will have a chance to vote for Ben Masel for US Senate.  Last time, he pulled in 51,245 votes to Herb Kohl's 308,178, pretty damn good considering that Masel was outspent by a factor approaching infinity.  You never know what could happen if Kohl decides not to run in 2012.

Got it? No longer confused? informed and ready to vote intelligently? Good. Now stop reading blogs and get back to work.

- Barry Orton

Comments

[xoff]

What, no mention of Masel for Sheriff?

[A Voter in the 77th]

Ben Manski also supported Nader for president in 2000. Helping elect Bush. Thanks Ben. You won't get my vote -- ever.

[Purplepenquin]

Actually, people in the 77th...or anywhere...can still vote for Ben Masel if they wish to. He's my usual "write-in" vote when I don't want any-of-the-above, and will probably be my choice for Governor this election.

[sastix]

Wish people understood it was the Supreme Court who installed Bush--not people's votes for Nader. I wish I could vote for Manski!

[Barry Orton]

Not sure when Ben Masel ran for sheriff or in what party. Ben, can you enlighten us?

[Ben Manski]

Hi Barry,

In case you missed it earlier today:

http://votemanski.com/20-local-elected-officials-endorse-manski-wisconsin

And I received two additional endorsements tonight that we'll roll out with others in the next couple days.

Re: "Neither will spend the kind of money necessary for mass advertising to differentiate themselves" . . . well . . . we're bringing money in, so I wouldn't be certain about that.

And re: "Not helping is the confusion with Ben Masel." In some cases, you're right. But in others, well, Mr. Masel has a certain notoriety with younger voters that I can't help but think is to my benefit on occasion.

[Ben Manski]

p.s. - I find it amusing that Ald. Clear spends so much time posting the same criticism on different blogs, always under a pseudonym, and always with the same syntax.

[Ben Masel]

Barry. I ran for Sheriff twice, in 1992 and 1994. First time as an offical write-in, accidentally causing the replacement of the old lever voting machines. Seems the paper rolls for write-in votes hadn't been changed in 25 years, and became brittle. When folks wrote me in, and pulled the BIG LEVER, the roll tore instead of advancing. This led to the machine being taken off line until it the 2 city techs authorized to open the machines could be summoned, but their replacement rolls were ALSO 25 years old. With so many machines down, lines in downtown wards swelled, reaching over 500 waiting at the Salvation Army by the official closing time of 8:00. Turned into quite the party. The Pizza Extreme delivery guy was selling 25 cent slices until the line was finally done voting a bit after midnight. I officially logged around 7,000 votes, but was ripped off of many more.

Next cycle, 2004, I was unopposed in the Democratic primary to again face Republican incumbent Rick Raemisch. Finished with 39,000+ votes, barely losing the City, but crushed in the suburbs. Early returns had me over 70% with 16 wards counted. In those days, ward totals were delivered to the Clerk by hand, so the downtown wards arrived first.

I went to bed with more Dane County votes than Jeff "Death Penalty" Wagner, running for AG, but when the last Middleton ward came in he'd gained over 600, leaving marijuana less popular than death.

[Ben Masel]

More 1994: Joe Wineke acknowledged that my coattails, the voters I'd brought to the polls who once they were there voted against "The Dart in your Eye Lady" Nancy Mistle, provided his 60 vote margin in the Western Dane County Senate seat he'd inherited from Russ Feingold. This was the beginning of the friendship that led to Joe, as State Party Chair, ensuring me a speaking slot at the State Democratic Convention the year I ran against Herb. Mike Tate has yet to commit on my speaking next year.

[Brian (neaguy)]

To the anti Nader poster:
Al Gore told Nader he did not cost him Florida.

So, you can quit believing it, too.

By the way, Gore lost his home state that year, as well.