Right-Wing Media Freak Out Over Union Protests In Wisconsin
Responding to Wisconsin state workers' protests against Gov. Scott Walker's (R) proposed legislation that would strip state workers of their collective bargaining rights, right-wing media have characterized the protests as "riots" and "uprisings" and attacked the protesters as "thugs" who could "get violent."
Please upgrade your flash player. The video for this item requires a newer version of Flash Player. If you are unable to install flash you can download a QuickTime version of the video.
WI State Workers Protest Against Proposed Anti-Union Bill
WI Public Workers Rally Against Proposal That Would Strip Most Of Collective Bargaining Rights. The Wisconsin State Journal reported on February 17:
With a key committee vote out of the way, Republican leaders plan to soon pass a bill that would effectively strip collective bargaining rights from most public workers in Wisconsin, suggesting only modest changes to the proposal introduced by Gov. Scott Walker.
Key GOP lawmakers offered minor adjustments Wednesday night to the legislation, crafted during hours of closed-door meetings throughout the day, but those tweaks don't affect Walker's collective bargaining overhaul -- a sweeping plan that brought thousands of protesters to the state Capitol for three consecutive days of demonstrations.
[...]
Walker and Republicans said they would not alter their plans despite the thousands of protesters who continue to flood the state Capitol. The crowd only got louder Wednesday as some pounded drums, others played bagpipes, and many chanted, "Kill the bill" and, "Recall Walker now!"
Some protesters never left. Hundreds came with sleeping bags or blankets and spent Tuesday night in the Capitol rotunda while hoping to speak at a hearing about the bill. Public testimony stretched from 10 a.m. on Tuesday to about 3 a.m. Wednesday and beyond, with Democratic lawmakers listening to people through the morning. [Wisconsin State Journal, 2/17/11]
Right-Wing Media Label Protests "Riots," Attack Protesters
Beck Characterizes Union Protests As "Riots" And "Uprisings." On the February 16 edition of his radio show, Glenn Beck stated of union protests: "You are about to see this president start embracing the uprisings in this country. You are going to see him embrace the teachers unions and all of the unions that are marching on the streets." Beck later characterized the protests as "riots in the streets." [Premiere Radio Networks' The Glenn Beck Program, 2/16/11]
Beck Cites WI Protests To Claim That "Evil [Is] Spreading Around The Globe." On the February 16 edition of his Fox News show, Beck stated that protests in Madison, WI, as well as in the Middle East and Mexico are part of "evil spreading around the globe." [Fox News' Glenn Beck, 2/16/11]
Malkin: Protesters "Stormed" Capitol For Demonstration; Teachers Used Students As "Kiddie Human Shields." In a February 16 post about protests in Wisconsin, Michelle Malkin wrote that the SEIU "and its allies stormed in for a sleepover protest" at the state Capitol building. She later wrote of teachers staging a protest: "Kiddie human shields become kiddie sacrificial lambs." In a later post, Malkin called the protesters "union thugs." [MichelleMalkin.com, 2/16/11, 2/16/11]
Malkin On Fox: Protesters Engaging In "Thuggery." On February 17, Malkin took her attacks on the union protesters to Fox & Friends, stating, "If this brave Republican governor can stand up to the immense amount of power and thuggery, essentially, by these unions, it bodes very well for other states." [Fox News' Fox & Friends, 2/17/11]
FBN's Byrnes: Protests Could "Borderline ... Get Violent." On the February 16 edition of Fox Business' Varney & Co., Tracy Byrnes stated that protests in Wisconsin are "actually, borderline gonna get violent, it sounds like." Byrnes later stated, "I for one hope they lose. I hope they lose. I hope they stick their ground and the unions lose in the end." [Fox Business' Varney & Co., 2/16/11]
Obenshain: Wisconsin Teacher Protests Are "Reminiscent Of Greece." On the February 16 edition of Fox News' Hannity, Republican strategist Kate Obenshain stated: "We see something that's going on, say, in Wisconsin, where they have the rallies for the teachers, where teachers are yanking kids out of the classrooms and calling in sick -- totally lying - which is reminiscent of Greece and England." [Fox News' Hannity, 2/16/11]
RedState: "Leftist Union Bosses Also Know They May Be Losing Their Grip On Taxpayers' Throats And They Are Desperate To Keep It There." A February 17 post on RedState discussed the union protests in Wisconsin, as well as others in Ohio and Indiana, and stated: "As labor activists strategize for 'class war,' Leftist union bosses also know they may be losing their grip on taxpayers' throats and they are desperate to keep it there. They're not going to let go easily either." [RedState.com, 2/17/11]
If her vacation takes her to Wisconsin she must be broke! I'm sure the vacation department of Wisconsin will make up that lost $100 somehow. Maybe the unions can foot the bill for her, they plan on spending $30 million on lobbyists.
Re: Malkin, what can you expect from someone who works for a network that explicitly hates 'anchor babies'? The self-loathing is strong within her.
Actually, I think the voting public is tired of spending money that isn't there. I read one article where the union said they would SPEND $30 million to stop this bill. And another article where the Governor said he could save the state $30 million if the bill is passed.
So, if the union stopped whining, they could put that $30 million into the retirement plans of thousands of workers. Instead they want to spend it on lobbyists. Good sound thinking from union leadership (sarcasm). Why does the UNION HATE RETIREES?
But, you know what? This is exactly why so many democrats were booted out of office. People are tired of them spending money that isn't there. People are tired of the ever-increasing debt that our grandchildren will have to pay off. And the last elections saw the fruit of that exasperation. Too bad for your side, now sit back down and watch how democracy works in a FREE society.
Give.
Me.
A.
Break.
That's right, we're subsidizing the disinformation of FauxNoise.
I was so happy to hear that finally, teachers are getting a break on their taxes for the money they spend in the classroom.
I am retired now, so I cannot take advantage of the deduction, but I am so glad it's there for the ones still hard at work. You would have NEVER seen this in the former administration.
For a while. But without customers with money, their advertisers will lose out eventually.
If everyone's making $7 an hour then no one will be able to buy very much.
Not once did the governor of the state senator say part of the problem is when wall street takned, so did the pension funds for all these states, not to mention anytime the state may not have contributed to the find for the year or maybe even borrowed money from the fund. This is union busting at its finest.
I could not even imagine how I might make ends meet if I took a 10 per cent pay cut. It is amazing how these right wingers and imbiciles like Beck can pick and choose the good protests versus the bad protests, but Foz in particular has been union bashing for years, so I am not surprised.
When the Archdiocese of Wisconsin puts out a statement supporting the workers, the Governor really has a problem: http://www.archmil.org/News/StatementRegardingtheRightsofW.htm
Are the RWer's going to go after the Catholic church too?
ohhhh but that's a DIFferent kind of anger.
Wow, we have President Obama posting on this website. What a treat for all of us. Maybe we can buy an autograph?
Tea Party Protests = Good Ol' US Democracy in Action!
Union Protests = Violent, Evil Uprisings!
I remember studying US history and learning how politicians routinely called in the National Guard to fire on striking union workers. I thought, "Thank God those days are behind us." Wow, I underestimated conservatives. (And before we remind ourselves this is just one governor speaking and not the entire conservative movement, look at the quotes above from heavy hitters in the movement.)
Also I find it amusing how some of thees protest signs compare the governor to Hitler or Mubarack. Some have crosshairs on a photo of the him, & yet no outrage or even concern about the "violent rhetoric". Also, it's reported that some protested at the goveernors house! Yet on Maddow last last she was appalled that people were portesting at Dr Tiller's replacement in KS. Rachel said you protest at people's house if you are trying to intimidate people not persuade people. Union workers also stormed the property of of B of A exec, Greg Baer's home, while his terrified 14yr old son was home by himself.
Which one is it people; you can't have it both ways! It's only violent or wrong if it's against your ideology or does the ends really justify the means?
for the record, Unions are what is destroying many or the jobs in this country. There's nothing "democratic" about being forced to join and pay for an organization you don't necessarily agree with in order to work. You lose your baragaining power as an individual so that someone you don't even know can make decisions fgor you. Just doesn't sound right to me!
That certainly seems to be what you are arguing. Although, after hearing how you believe should be taken literally, except of course when you don't, your hypocrisy is not suprising.
How disconnected from reality do you have to be in order to think that negotiating power is LOST through collective bargaining. That is someone that does not understand managment or labor. That kind of ignorance is almost impressive. If collective bargaining lost bargaining power, why would management not be for it, genius?
They take you money, make decisions for you and use your money to fund projects or politicians you may not agree with.
How on earth am I arguing violence is acceptable only on one side as you claim? I pointed out the Left are the ones who are screaming about the language yet don't see it from their side. The left are the ones who try to tie it to a talkshow host before any facts are in. the left are the ones who cry if Obama is compared to Hitler yet compared Bush & now Gov Walker. I am not being hypocritical as I have never called for violence. I'm just stating the obvious.
Your "dad" had no problem accepting the good pay and bennies that the union got for him, did he?
What hypocrisy.
Are they acceptable tactics to you now that a group you support is using them?
That is absolutely correct. Ummm, which side is the Union on? The peasant side or the royalty side? Because from YOUR example of union processes, they seem to be the royalty side. Thanks for proving the point NoNannyNeeded is making.
If your Dad was truly a member of the phone company union, you guys made out like bandits when your Dad was on strike! I know CWA members. One spent the whole summer on the beach a few hours from our hometown. He'd travel back to collect the mail and do his time in the picket line, then go back to his family, living in a travel trailer on the beach!
My cousin worked for the CWA for 37 years, and went on strike a couple of times during that time period. He never suffered.
Being in a union protects you from greedy, selfish employers.
The governor's mansion is in Madison, gives tours, and is very much like the white house (on a much smaller scale). There are protests many days in front of the white house, as this is also not the first time that people have protested at the governor's mansion in Madison. "Dr. Tiller's replacement"'s house is not paid for and run by the government. She, unlike the governor, is a private citizen.
The bit about Greg Baer seems to have occurred in May of last year... in Washington... having nothing to do with the protests in Madison.
I agree with epkklk851 and Mikehick1976, Unions are not necessarily bad. Anytime one can get power, things can go wrong, but unions have really helped those of us who are not born with a silver spoon.
Why assume that these protesters are violent, are kidnapping the students, or aren't protesting on their own time. They are taking sick leave, it's not like they just up and walked off the job. Sure all of them doing this at once (and the fact that many subs support them) means that some schools are having to close down, and will probably then have to add some extra days at the end of the year, but they are in fact "on their own time", they are just lying about being sick.
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_021711/content/01125106.guest.html
What bargaining power?
The reason we have unions is because individuals have no power. Grow up-- or get a REAL job and learn something about how the world works.
Why is that totalitarian regimes always start with eliminating labor unions? Whether they are extreme left- or right-wing, they go after unions first.
Communist Russia, Nazi Germany - get rid of the unions.
Central and South American death squads? Go after the unions.
I hope the Wisconsin National Guard didn't attend the School of the Americas...
So, it'll be fun to watch them help out the Gov.
From the examples you gave you must be talking about nations. So, using YOUR premise, President Obama is leading that "totalitarian regime" which wants to rid you of corrupt unions. Why aren't you whining about President Obama hating unions. Since he is the leader of THIS nation and NATIONS are the ONLY "regime" examples you gave that fit your whine criteria.
Again, this has nothing to do with the deficit. If deficits and state budget issues were really concerns, they would consider revenue raising proposals, such as taxes. They would have also sounded the alarm when a Republican was last in the White House. Instead, we find in today's United States the sad state where those on the lower rungs of society are always asked to make a sacrifice while those in the top tiers are not. Anothe example: When Wall Street was given a bail-out, hardly any concessions were sought by the right. When the auto industry was seeking a bail-out, all we heard from the right was how the auto workers need to make concessions.
Overall, unions have done great things for the working people in this country, including ensuring a decent standard of living, pension and health benefits. To bash hard-working teachers, firemen, sanitation men, etc. because they are public employees is pathetic. And I don't want to hear how government employees are all lazy and inefficient. Some are; most aren't. I've worked in the private sector my whole adult life. Some workers there are lazy and inefficient; most aren't.
This is not a deficit or budget issue. This is an issue about how the Republicans and the right wing have lost their souls but, at the same time, are controlling the message in our media.
PATHETIC.
My grandmother was an old-fashioned Republican, who used to say that unions were a "necessary evil" because the employers brought them down upon themselves.
One time she was working for a company that was facing an IAM organizing effort, and she scolded the bosses-- she blamed THEM for making it happen!
Ah, the good old days of sane Republicans.
http://archives.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/
John
Righty Paul Ryan even equated these people to Egypt, which makes me think that he either doesn't know that the Egyptian protestor's succeeded or is hoping that no one here in the USA watched Al-Jazeera-english on this internetty thing.
The ED Show was live tonight and worth a watch. (although I'm not sure when the podcast is available). Now the funny part is that Jack Welsh of GE posted a tweet of outrage. How did ED get away with FACTS!
I so look forward to voting for Walker's recall.
Just one randomly picked example from yesterday. Just as with the other mainstream media (as evidenced daily in the WH Press Briefing that MMFA apparently never watches)the blame is always on the Democrats for a lack of bipartisanship:
http://archives.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1102/19/smn.03.html
So that's what's going on in Wisconsin, but this isn't just about Wisconsin. The stakes are high for other states facing some very serious budget problems.
Senior White House correspondent Ed Henry explains.
ED HENRY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Randi, House Speaker, John Boehner raised the stakes on Friday by charging President Obama and his allies are whipping what he called "Greece- style protest." And the Republican leader said this is undermining bipartisan efforts to solve these budget crises. Not just in Wisconsin, but all around the country.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CROWD (chanting): Kill the bill! Kill the bill!
HENRY (voice-over): Think this is just a narrow budget fight in one state? Think again. BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Some of what I've heard coming out of Wisconsin where you're just making it harder for public employees to collectively bargain generally seems like more of an assault on unions.
HENRY: The President knows Wisconsin is just round one in the national battle for control of the budget message. So he sent his outside political team, "Organizing for America," to help build even larger crowds. And union officials are vowing to keep up the fight in key 2012 political battlegrounds.
(on camera): And this is beyond Wisconsin, it seems.
ARLENE HOLT BACKER, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, AFL-CIO: Absolutely. It is beyond Wisconsin. It is quite frankly, throughout the country. Whether it's in Ohio, New Jersey, New Hampshire, you see these attacks on workers.
HENRY (voice-over): Labor officials charged teachers in Wisconsin are being unfairly targeted for deep cuts. They get smaller raises, pay more out of pocket for pensions and health care, and lose collective bargaining rights for both.
Wisconsin's Republican governor Scott Walker staring at a $3.6 billion state deficit says he needs to cut somewhere. And he's getting air cover from House Speaker John Boehner, who like the President knows Wisconsin is really just a proxy for their own showdown coming March 4th when funding for the federal government runs out and a possible shutdown is looming.
REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R-OH), HOUSE SPEAKER: He was elected to lead, not to sit on the sidelines.
HENRY: Boehner aides privately tell CNN, they believe Democrats are trying to stop Walker because they're worried he and other governors will be able to quote, "Pull a Chris Christie" as in the Republican in New Jersey who faced down unions.
GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE (R), NEW JERSEY: We have two choices. It's either stand up and do the right thing, to speak the truth, and speak it bluntly and directly, or to join the long parade of leaders who have come before us and failed.
HENRY: White House aides note that in his interview with the Wisconsin station, the President did say leaders at all levels will have to make tough choices.
OBAMA: Everybody's got to make some adjustments to new fiscal realities. We had to impose, for example, a freeze on pay increases for federal workers.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HENRY: But Republicans say the President started this week at a White House news conference saying he wanted quote, "Adult conversation with the Republicans to figure out how to pay for all these government programs."
And now he's ending the week trying to expand the protests that may make it harder for both sides to come together -- Randi.
KAYE: Thank you, Ed.
When is MMFA going to get off the Far Right obsession and get back to exposing the mainstream media for doing the same thing just like they used to?
John
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/3096434/#41643090
Bill Adair of Politifact was asked about two statements President Obama made. One had been already rated a False by Politifact and the other not rated. Adair called it a "sly use of words"
Guthrie and Todd then announced that the Truth O Meter is "equal opportunity" as Guthrie put it so they asked Adair about something Boehner said and then something DONALD TRUMP of all people said at CPAC ???
John