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For the second time in a week, State Sen. Alberta Darling, (R-River Hills), has dusted off her “Political Moderate” credentials with support for a seniors’ drug prescription plan that Scott Walker wants to scrap.

I reported a week ago that Darling, along with fellow probable Republican State Senate recallee Randy Hopper, had issued a joint news release backing the preservation of the plan.

But it’s all a game and here’s how it’s played:

Politicians under pressure go to the party leadership – - because a tough vote is coming, or in this case, a costly, nettlesome and potentially fatal recall election is looming – - and beg for a dispensation.

‘Cut me a break here,’ goes the plea. Or ‘you don’t really need my vote on this one.’

More often than not, the besieged politician gets the hall pass they need- – and being a veteran, party loyalist helps position the favor-seeker.

On this one, Darling can take a baby-step back towards the center – - on about as safe an issue as you could find: getting seniors access to affordable, live-saving, life-extending pills so they don’t have to choose between medication and groceries.

Plus, Darling gets to look reasonable and compassionate, and her campaign people can busy scheduling the photo ops.

I can guarantee you will see Darling in a TV commercial with smiling, kindly, grateful elderly praising her for trying to save the program- – even if, six months down the road, there isn’t a state budget yet, or a budget with the program retained.

But it’s too little too late for the Senator from River Hills.

Darling voted for the union-busting bill, and as the Walker-approved Senate Republican co-chair of the budget-writing Joint Committee on Finance, Darling will vote for, lobby for and fight for hundreds of cuts by Walker to popular programs that will penalize working families and lower-income Wisconsinites.

One staged burst of interest in a politically-safe program totally devoid of controversy will not be enough to remake her image as a “compassionate conservative” and keep the Recall Wolf from her door.

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