Muskego Chamber Exec Comes Under Fire from Mark Belling

Apparently someone has it in for the Chamber of Commerce in Muskego. Otherwise it escapes me why someone would take the time to comb through Walker recall signatures to tell radio host Mark Belling, who occupies a chair at the WISN 1130 studios from 3 to 6 p.m., to tattle on Executive Director Tina Weiss.

Apparently, Weiss signed a recall petition around the time she was hired on at the Chamber of Commerce last year. Oh, the horror.

His point was that the chamber is a conservative, pro-business organization, and Weiss' action of signing a petition to recall Walker is in direct opposition to promoting business growth.

Belling's rant, in which he called Weiss a "crybaby weinie lefty" also included several "stupids" when referring to Weiss. He also used the phrase 'runs the chamber' in describing her position, which isn't entirely correct, either. She reports to the chamber's board of directors, and cannot operate independently of it.

I am a conservative, but not everything is about politics. Weiss told Patch that she didn't feel her signature on the petition would've mattered in her job at the chamber, and no one asked in her interviews what her political leanings were. (Probably because it's unethical to do so.)

First-hand accounts of working with Weiss have shown her to be very skilled in social media, something that the chamber was in need of when she came on board, and all her efforts with the chamber have been pro-business.

Since then, I know that any business on social media sites are promoted, events are talked up, and the work she has done in putting together the second annual Jammin on Janesville (along with coordinators Tammie Brings and Cassandra Wurster) have elevated the events to a level of sophistication that will help keep it a signature of Muskego's summers for many years to come.

I don't find her to be political in the least, and I would ask anyone in a union job if they were to lose their position because they voted for a contrary candidate if that would be right, or even legal.

Perhaps what annoys me the most is that it's likely Belling has never been to Muskego. (Fun fact: WISN was also not sure where to find the potential lake park a month ago, so they called me for directions. Wow. I'm surprised they didn't end up in Mukwonago...you know, we sound so much alike.) He has also never really talked to the people he has denigrated, and probably is pretty proud of the fact that numerous malicious phone calls and emails resulted from his show.

The lead-in posted on the WISN website to the topics he covered is also telling. "Muskego official signs recall petition" it reads. However, Weiss is not elected, does not serve in political office (hence not an "official") and isn't even a voting member of the chamber board. She is an employee. Whoever felt the need to "narc" on her might want to consider what it would feel like if you were asked at work who you voted for and if you signed any petitions.

And to those "brave and anonymous" callers and e-mailers to the Chamber of Commerce who called Weiss names I can't mention here, isn't there a game of 'ding dong ditch-it' that you could be playing?