On Tuesday afternoon (12/27/11) I set up to collect signatures in a middle school parking lot. There was no school in session, and it is a public school. I put out my signs, and pretty immediately a signer pulled in. I went to collect his signature. Another truck pulled in behind him. I headed over to it, and asked, "Would you like to sign the petition to recall Scott Walker?" I always ask this, as I don't want to assume anything. Right away this man asked me why I wanted to recall Walker. For me this is a red flag. Walker supporters want to waste your time. They think you come from out of state, and think you haven't a clue as to the damage Walker is doing to the state. And they act like you owe them an explanation. At that point I said, "Just one minute - I'll get back to you," so that I could finish up with the first guy. Knowing the man in the truck was there to harass me, I went to my truck and got my video camera. I went to the first signer, and got the clipboard and put it away, so that it couldn't be destroyed. I started going the long way around his truck because I have learned not to walk in front of vehicles because people will try to run you over. I got half way around when I heard him say, "What are you doing?"

Carl: What are you doing?

Bob: I'm video taping you, sir.

Carl: You're really kind of a jerk, aren't you? Aren't you?

Bob: Okay, if you've got questions, the reason I'm doing this? (referring to Mr. Sosnoski's earlier question about his motivation to recall Walker).

Carl: Yeah, I do.

Bob: Okay, the reason I'm doing this is because I don't believe in Scott Walker.

Carl: What! That's not a reason! What's your reason?

Bob: I don't owe you any explanations, sir.

Carl: Well, then, you can't use this tape for anything, you know that.

Bob: I can too, sir. I feel like I'm being harassed.

Carl: You are being harassed. And pretty soon, you're going to be killed! Okay?

At this point, Mr. Sosnoski comes right up to the camera, in Bob's face, and yells, "You hear what I'm talking about, HUH!? You Hear What I'm Talking About?Wahoohoohoo!!!" And makes a motion like he is going to grab the camera, saying "You are really something: you are really something." He reaches in his pocket, and pulls out a cell phone.

Bob continues with his story:

The man backed off and reached in his pocket. At that point, I didn't know if he had a knife or a gun. It was a phone. He called the city police and said I was harassing him. I got into my own truck and locked the doors. I called 911. They told me to wait in the truck. In the meantime, Mr. Sosnoski was pacing around the vehicle. I didn't know if the window was going to get smashed or what the hell was going on. An officer came. He talked with him first, and came over to me. I went with him into his squad car so that he could view and better hear my video. That is where I saw the man's name, Carl Sosnoski. He is known around town, and owns the bar Players in Oshkosh. When I asked the officer if I could get out of the squad car, he told me that he, too, supports Scott Walker. I said that I was sick of being harassed and said I wanted Mr. Sosnoski arrested. The officer said that Scott Walker supporters are getting their signs egged and are also getting harassed. I've always felt that the police are supposed to be non-partisan. I mean, I called for help and the help is on the side of the perpetrator. Even with the video evidence, the officer ended up giving Mr. Sosnoski the most minimal charge possible: a municipal city ordinance violation of disorderly conduct. If I had done what he did, I'd still be in jail.

Bob and I continued to chat a bit. I asked him how he deals with the anger out on the streets. He said, "mostly I'm very friendly. When they give me the finger, I wave and say "Thank you for signing!" so that the guy behind them thinks they signed and then signs. It works pretty well! If they drop the F-bomb, I might let 'er snap, but I try to keep cool as they are mostly cowards."

It was about 4:30, and Bob had to go. It is New Year's Eve, but he has a double shift as a non-union machine operator. He told me that he had never been political his whole life until last spring, and he has been a dedicated activist ever since. I think Bob speaks for a lot of us.

Oh, did I mention? "Fighting Bob" Bergman has so far collected 1411 signatures to recall Walker, and 1403 signatures to recall Kleefish! Those are some kind of numbers!

We're lucky to have this guy on our side.

