This is a fascinating story. I learned this week that former WSAU, Wausau morning show/talk show host Pat Snyder, now a candidate for state assembly, was accused of mocking a Wausau school teacher on the air, to the point where she moved out of state. Pat responded that he had no such recollection of such an incident. This exchange was done with the local newspaper editorial board and after Pat said it never happened the paper received a letter from one Charles Patten, who wrote:
"I used to work with a teacher who was effectively driven out of town by Snyder. For her, his radio bullying was personal. At the height of the 2011 protests in madison, she wrote a gentle, sincere letter to the Wausau Daily Herald calling for listening, mutual respect and compromise. In response, Snyder and his right-wing radio croniies criticized her, mocked her and dug into public records to reveal on air her personal income. My colleague was saddened and frightened -- saddened because her message of conciliation was so summarily ridiculed, and frightened because her personal life was so thoughtlessly aired. He fear was real.
And so the Wausau School District lost a diligent, dedicated, well intentioned teacher, who moved to a state where, in her words, "They don't hate teachers..."
The Daily Herald then provided this Editor's note:
The Wausau Daily Herald has been in contact with the teacher who is the subject of this letter. Now living in Minnesota, she verified the account and said the radio discussion was one contributing factor in her family's decision to leave the community. Pat Snyder said he has no recollection of the specific incident and said that he did not mock a local teacher on the air.
Pat doesn't remember it because it didn't happen on his show. This is a segment from my show. I've included the links to the podcast so you can judge for yourself, but I don't believe I mocked or ridiculed her. In fact, I don't believe you'll find mockery, condescnsion or scorn. I point by point address her points. As for her personal life being "thoughtlessly aired." She's a teacher. Her income is a matter of public record. In fact, a listener sent it to me during the segment. The listener found the information at Gannett's(the Wausau paper's parent company) datamine site. Her point was teacher's "don't do it for money" so I felt the fact her salary, with fringes is $80k was relevant.
Wisconsin doesn't hate teachers and I don't hate teachers. She chose to speak publicly. That's her right. It's my right to respond. If you're going to wilt completely at criticism, then you shouldn't speak publicly. And moving out of state because of this episode is laughable. I thought Minnesota was "The Land of 10,000 Lakes." Apparently it's "The Land that Doesn't Hate Teachers." I wonder from which Native American language that's translated.
I should also point out that I have no regrets in making these comments, now that I listen to them a year and a half later. And while I wanted to set the record straight on who said them, I don't believe any conservative candidate for public office should feel they should have to run from them.
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