Fox News contributor Dick Morris went on Fox News today to attack an ad by the Republican National Committee supporting Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's controversial plan to strip most public employees of just about all of their collective bargaining rights. He called the ad “terrible” and “stupid” because it “links [President] Obama to the unions.” Obama, Morris said, is more popular than the unions and that popularity, Morris predicted, will transfer over to them.
Dick Morris also sent out an “urgent message” to the Newsmax email list bashing Wisconsin Republicans who are breaking with Walker over his union-busting plan. Morris wrote:
The well-funded left is trying to pressure Republican lawmakers to “compromise” and cave in to the unions demands.
Sadly, some Republicans are beginning to crack.
One is Republican State Senator Dale Schultz. He is breaking from Gov. Walker's ranks and supporting a “compromise.” He is apparently urging other Republicans to follow his lead.
We must stop waffling Senators like Dale Schultz and urge voters and legislators to stand with Scott Walker. [bolding in the original]
Is this just an example of a conservative commentator giving his honest opinion on the RNC ad and Wisconsin Republicans?
Since it's Dick Morris, you should be suspicious. And in this case, your suspicions may be very well-founded. Morris is promoting alternative ads to the one produced by the RNC. He is asking people to donate money to fund a new radio ad on the Wisconsin situation sponsored by the League of American Voters, an organization that employs Morris as a chief strategist.
Indeed, the letter Morris sent out bashing Wisconsin Republicans who want Walker to compromise asks people to contribute to the League of American Voters ad:
The League won't stop. You can help them - Go Here Now
But they need help.
Right now, they want to increase their efforts by rolling a TV ad campaign across the state.
They also want to target waffling Senators like Dale Schultz, by exposing their positions to their constituents.
But to do this, this League needs continued funding.
Please act today - time is critical - Donate Here Now. [bolding in the original]