Wow. As we reported yesterday, Scott Walker’s new digital media strategist, Liz Mair, was under fire by some conservatives and Republicans in Iowa over past statements she made regarding The Hawkeye state.
And now she has resigned from the Walker campaign because of it…
Only a day after being announced as an aide to Gov. Scott Walker’s political operation, Liz Mair told The Associated Press on Tuesday that she was resigning. Mair took considerable heat for her frank Twitter criticism of Iowa’s early role in the presidential nomination process.
“The tone of some of my tweets concerning Iowa was at odds with that which Gov. Walker has always encouraged in political discourse,” Mair said in a statement to the AP in which she announced her immediate resignation. “I wish Gov. Walker and his team all the best.”
“Morons across America are astounded to learn that people from *IOWA* grow up rather government-dependent. #agsubsidies #ethanol #brainless,” she tweeted on Jan. 22.
Two days later, she fired another missive against the Hawkeye State’s political status.
“The sooner we remove Iowa’s frontrunning status, the better off American politics and policy will be,” Mair tweeted on Jan. 24.
Mair took to Twitter early this morning to explain the decision and defend herself from critics:
1. The "morons" I was referring to in that 1 tweet were Ds who were feigning surprise at an Iowa family having benefited from farm subsidies
— Liz Mair (@LizMair) March 18, 2015
I was not calling Iowans morons. And if you read the tweet, and look at the online discussion around the time it was made, that's obvious.
— Liz Mair (@LizMair) March 18, 2015
2. Obviously, I know when official "ethanol subsidies" ended. But it's a sad commentary on the policy savvy of people covering Iowa…
— Liz Mair (@LizMair) March 18, 2015
…that they don't understand that regulation and mandates, e.g., the RFS, are also subsidies. Regulatory subsidies.
— Liz Mair (@LizMair) March 18, 2015
The reference to #agsubsidies was very clearly a reference to farm subsidies. Context makes that obvious. #farmsubsidies wouldn't fit in 140
— Liz Mair (@LizMair) March 18, 2015
I do find some of the things Steve King says on immigration embarrassing and factually dubious.
— Liz Mair (@LizMair) March 18, 2015
For example, I do not think his 1-100 ratio on DREAMER valedictorians to DREAMER drug mules is mathematically correct.
— Liz Mair (@LizMair) March 18, 2015
I also think the fact that King is held out as the only real force in Iowa and representative of what Iowans think is embarassing for Iowa.
— Liz Mair (@LizMair) March 18, 2015
I was however wrong to implicitly buy into that notion with a couple of quick-fire, snarky tweets.
— Liz Mair (@LizMair) March 18, 2015
Obviously, there are Iowans who disagree w King, including the very many who prefer Mike Lee's rhetoric and tone on immigration.
— Liz Mair (@LizMair) March 18, 2015
There are also Iowans who want the ethanol mandate ditched, and farm subsidies reformed. For the record, I'm w Jeff Flake on farm subsidies.
— Liz Mair (@LizMair) March 18, 2015
Here's something I wrote all the way back in 2007 re: farm subsidies. http://t.co/kwXPy26KBs I know many will disagree w me on this.
— Liz Mair (@LizMair) March 18, 2015
Also, for those who will be writing wrap-up stories re: my involvement with OAR, don't give me a title bump. I was not his digital director.
— Liz Mair (@LizMair) March 18, 2015
As for what’s next, Mair says not to worry:
As for me and what's next, my firm has other clients, including a new one I expect to be starting today. But thank you for the concern.
— Liz Mair (@LizMair) March 18, 2015
I will just finish by saying I think the country needs to have a debate about things like the RFS and farm subsidy reform.
— Liz Mair (@LizMair) March 18, 2015
For my part, yes, I'll try to rein in the snark. I suspect, tho, that for some, that won't be enough bc some don't want to discuss policy.
— Liz Mair (@LizMair) March 18, 2015
She has more over on her timeline, including her thoughts on why Iowa shouldn’t be the first state to vote on the GOP nominee.
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Related:
‘Investigative’ journo Matt Boyle mounts bizarre attack against Walker consultant Liz Mair
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