Tommy's Belated Discussion Of Now-Demoted Aide's Gay Slur

Republican Senate candidate Tommy Thompson says he has removed Brian Nemoir as campaign spokesman after Nemoir sent around a video meant to undermine opponent Tammy Baldwin on the eve of her nationally-televised appearance at the Democratic National Convention:

I thought it was a mistake, I'm sorry, and he's apologized, I believe," Thompson said. "He shouldn't have done it."

Thompson spoke to reporters in Milwaukee after he appeared at a luncheon of the Rotary Club of Milwaukee.

It was the first time the former governor addressed the issue after an aide, Brian Nemoir, circulated the message, which included a link to a video of Baldwin dancing in 2010 on the Library Mall at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. "Clearly, there is no one better positioned to talk 'heartland values' than Tammy," Nemoir wrote in his email.

Thompson would get more credit had he acted more quickly and separated Nemoir entirely from the campaign.

Four days ago, I noted that 48 hours had already gone by without an apology from Thompson.

It looks to me like Tommy was more interested in straightening out the staffing assignments before he addressed the matter.

Give him a "D-" for handling this like an amateur.