Seniority Rules

Mark Neumann contends that party insiders have thrown their support behind Scott Walker out of misguided loyalty, because Walker dropped out of the race for governor in 2006 clearing the way for Mark Green to win the Republican nomination.

It turns out Mark Neumann expected the same party loyalty be bestowed upon him by Scott Walker.

According to Wisconsin Public Radio, in March of 2009, Mark Neumann asked Scott Walker to step aside and let him run for governor in 2010. The party would be better off without a primary he reasoned, but Neumann would be delighted to have Walker run for Lt. Governor.

According to WPR: When Neumann was asked why it should be Walker who again steps aside in 2010--and not himself--Neumann talked about his age. He noted that in eight years, he’ll be 65. Walker, by contrast, is 42, roughly 14 years younger than Neumann.

Mark Neumann doesn’t want party activists to choose their Republican nominee. He wants to reserve that privilege for elite party elders like him.

No wonder he’s running as an “outsider.” Who’d want to let him in?