By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
The presence of Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, Sen. Ron Johnson, State Speaker of the Assembly Robin Vos and Gov. Scott Walker did little to placate some of those in attendance Saturday at the First Congressional District Republican Fall Fest Saturday.
In spite of speeches touting the importance of the race Ron Johnson is in against challenger and former senator Russ Feingold, many in attendance shouted the name “Trump” on and off throughout the event at the Walworth County Fairgrounds.
While the Republicans in attendance at the fundraiser rallied around Johnson as well as Walker and Vos, there were scattered boos when Paul Ryan’s name was mentioned. Ryan reportedly withdrew his invitation to Republican Presidential Nominee Donald Trump Friday after a tape where Trump objectified women in 2005 came to light.
Ryan issued a statement Friday night saying he was “sickened” by the comments and that Trump was no longer coming. Initially, Vice Presidential Nominee Mike Pence was scheduled to appear, but he cancelled before the event started.
It was to be the first time Trump shared a stage with Ryan and Walker, both of whom were slow to embrace Trump’s nomination. Trump was not mentioned by many of Saturday’s speakers, though Ryan addressed Trump as “the elephant in the room” and said he stood by his statement.
“But that is not what we are here to talk about today,” Ryan said. He went on to say the event was meant to support the state’s Republican candidates.
One man in the audience continually shouted “Where’s Trump?” throughout the afternoon, which drew everything from support to shouts of “shut up!” by others. Ryan was speaking about Obamacare when the man shouted “what about Trump?” Ryan responded by saying, “well, I don’t think he thinks Obamacare is working, either.”
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