WI Senate GOP Leader Admits On-Air That His Goal Is To Defund Labor Unions, Hurt Obama’s Reelection

[kpete]

Source: Think Progress

WI Senate GOP Leader Admits On-Air That His Goal Is To Defund Labor Unions, Hurt Obama’s Reelection Chances

A prank call from a man purporting to be petrochemical billionaire David Koch to Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI) a few weeks ago revealed that Walker had crafted his “budget repair” bill in a bid to crush the labor unions. The revelation was at odds with the GOP’s public argument, that removing collective bargaining rights has something to do with the state’s budget deficit.

In an interview with Fox News’ Megyn Kelly moments ago, State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI), one of Walker’s closest allies in the legislature, confirmed the true political motive of Walker’s anti-union push. Fitzgerald explained that “this battle” is about eliminating unions so that “the money is not there” for the labor movement. Specifically, he said that the destruction of unions will make it “much more difficult” for President Obama to win reelection in Wisconsin:

FITZGERALD: Well if they flip the state senate, which is obviously their goal with eight recalls going on right now, they can take control of the labor unions. If we win this battle, and the money is not there under the auspices of the unions, certainly what you’re going to find is President Obama is going to have a much difficult, much more difficult time getting elected and winning the state of Wisconsin.

Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/2011/03/09/scott-fitzgerald-obama/

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VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLJdijPEBJE&feature=player_embedded

[Inuca]

1. He's not that smart, is he?

That's something you think or tell your friends and allies, you do not say on the air, even on Fox.

[HereSince1628]

8. Walker and the Fitzgeralds are very cocky

they can be made to be their own worst enemies. And this is an example of that.

They love being in the limelight of national press. They puff up and preen in it.

And because they are really unprepared for it, that act like the classless buffoons that they are.

Here in Wisconsin, that will not play well.

[eringer]

16. Sherrod Brown Was Right

He said, "As a nation, I look back in history and some of the worst governments we've ever had, you know one of the the first thing they did?" said the Ohio Democrat. "They went after the trade unions. Hitler didn't want unions, Stalin didn't want unions. Mubarak didn't want independent unions."

Its almost prophetic.

[derby378]

24. BOOM! goes the dynamite

You are full of freakin' WIN today. :hi:

[cliffordu]

27. Yep.

[OnyxCollie]

46. The Coalition Provisional Authority didn't want unions, either.

The only laws from Saddam's regime that remained were those that prohibited unions.

[Angry Dragon]

2. He should be arrested and tried for civil rights violations

[tcaudilllg]

32. Agreed. n/t

[Stuart G]

3. Well...to publicly admit this...maybe good for us..eh? nt. K and R

[savalez]

4. Translation: Screw American citizens over for political gain.

Isn't that McConnell and Boner's MO too?

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[BR_Parkway]

11. Obama could use the same reason - there's a budget defict and there's

no other way except to do this. Wonder how fast they'd argue deficts are good again and don't matter

[slay]

22. "Wonder how fast they'd argue deficts are good again and don't matter"

Instantly. This is why I am both shocked and outraged that Obama and Dems don't even ATTEMPT to make the rich - at the very least - pay a fair share, while at the same time telling the rest of us to take pay cuts, benefit cuts, etc. Fuckers.

Well if the rich don't want to play fair, and they obviously don't - then they deserve to pay the price - get their income back in line with the majority of Americans through heavy taxation. Very heavy. If they choose to leave the county - good riddance! The rich are fucking us every which way possible and we have NOBODY on the national stage who will even try to stand up to them. The republicans do their bidding and the Dems are total enablers and don't even TRY to stop them. :grr:

[Blue Owl]

6. Confirming that the GOP only wins by lying, cheating, and stealing

Thanks for the reminder, Scott Fitzgerald!

[aquart]

23. Eff Scott Fitzgerald.

[FBaggins]

7. How much money would the unions lose?

They're operating under the assumption that if you end compulsory membership and payroll deduction of union dues, that the unions will lose the bulk of their financial support.

The sad part of all this is that it seems like our side agrees with them.

So here's the question - what percentage of current union members do YOU think would bail on their union if given the option?

[hay rick]

25. My local is open shop.

We had 43 members and 1 non-member until last week. The non-member signed up.

[FBaggins]

36. Doesn't that imply that there is little to worry about?

Does it hurt for them to take away those aspects of collective bargaining if we don't think that anyone would quit?

Do we really care if they require an annual union certification vote if we think that the vote would go our way?

[rayofreason]

44. Ah, there is the rub...

If you are confident that public employees support the unions, then there is nothing to fear from making the payment of dues voluntary.

If you believe that in fact a large number of public employees secretly detest the unions and only by forcibly collecting dues from paychecks will union coffers be filled, then this is terrifying legislation if you support the Democrats and very appealing if you support the Republicans.

I side with those who argue that unions that serve their members well will earn loyalty, and that compulsion and coercion if needed only demonstrate intellectual bankruptcy and are antithetical to those who value human liberty.

[hay rick]

48. Beware of anecdotal evidence.

I would not want to generalize on the basis of my single positive experience with an open shop.

As for annual certification, that would open the door to all kinds of mischief. Management would have great incentive to talk down the union. Annual certification could also encourage rival unions to seek to displace the incumbent union, at considerable cost to both.

My experience is that locals have good years and bad years, depending on the issues that come up, the current roster of officers, the current management team, etc. Members tend to take the long view, but that could easily change if annual certifications were part of the equation. Imagine, for example, facing re-certification immediately after negotiating a contract that included givebacks. The union may believe that they have gotten the best available deal and acted in the best long-term interests of their members, but the majority of members, with little information about the negotiations and the unassailable evidence of a smaller pay check may take a different view.

The certain effect of annual certification is that it will divert scarce resources- money and manpower- to fight a battle that locals currently don't face.

[Scuba]

9. This will be devastating. Thanks for posting.

[karynnj]

10. What an idiot

I can't believe he is dumb enough to say this in the open. As to the idea that if they keep the Senate, it being harder to win because the unions will have less money, he is nuts. They will need far less money if the people in Wisconsin have seen how ugly the republican motives and actions are. I would guess that there are many union members and their families and friends who are now know that they can not stay home. I don't know how long that wake up lasts - but it should clearly be until the next election. I suspect that money could not buy the strength of feeling that many - including some previously not all that partisan - now have.

[WhiteTara]

12. may he be the first to go. n/t

[JanDutchy]

13. Do the Rep's have shares on Ghaffi's pills?: Act please!

In my - from EU point of view - the republicans are led by people who scores high on the DSM-IV- or -V-scale.

They are the one's who lay the self invented 9/11-implosion on the USA-Constitution and - whorser the Human Rights and the Declaration of it.

Protect and Defend it please!

[Iliyah]

14. For political gains

on the backs of the working class, plus taking away the little that people have in terms of heath care. What a bunch of non-caring assholes.

[Omaha Steve]

15. Didn't realize this was posted in LBN

So it is in video & labor forums now too!

Tanks for posting. K&R!

[ewagner]

17. I think this just sealed the deal

for the "uncommitted" in the state...

This is about National Politics...not what's best for Wisconsin.

Thanks Sen. Fitzgerald...

[Tx4obama]

18. K & R n/t

[ck4829]

19. K&R

[Kingofalldems]

20. GOP wants an absolute oligarchy in the US

And they have enablers skulking around everywhere.

[blackspade]

21. What a douche.

Not only is Fitz a liar, but a conniving snake as well.
Oh, silly me, he's a republican!

[Major Hogwash]

26. Hey Knucklehead Fitzgerald, I'm going to vote for Obama again anyway!!!

Put that in your pipe and smoke it, jackass!!

[Marnie]

28. We already figured that out.

What we can't figure is why, since the NeoNazis blame everything on Obama, he didn't show up in Wi. to help face down Walker and his thugs.

I think Obama needs to give his Churchill/FDR WWII speech and tell the spineless dims that they are at war to save Democracy in this country,and they he needs to stop giving away our freedoms and rights, along with our money, and fight for us.

Unfortunately, looking to the spineless dims and the "he gives in before the first blow is thrown POTUS, is looking pretty damn hopeless.

[L. Coyote]

29. HUGE DO'H!!!

[Doctor_J]

30. Why would they try to hide it?

No one is going to do anything about it.

:shrug:

[JeffersonChick]

31. k&r

[Marthe48]

33. Compared to big business labor pol contributions are small

I found this site, seems informative:

http://www.opensecrets.org/overview/blio.php

It looks like Labor contributes 5% to campaigns, compared to 71% from Business--so out of class hatred, the Republicans are trying to kill a fly with a howitzer.

If most Democrats are like me, they give more time than money. If we overcome discouragement, our sheer numbers and passion will ultimately count more than money.

[Javaman]

34. Don't worry, Obama will now call him...

and try to negotiate a middle ground.

:eyes:

[iwishiwas]

35. We know that for sure now!!

[Blacksheep214]

37. I just turned on the TV box......

and there is a helo shot of Lindsay Lohan going to court, ala O.J. I pray this only was on Los Angeles tv. Lindsay Fucking Lohan!! :grr:

It would appear the uprisings and wars have just faded away. Oh wait, Charlies about to speak and Oh, Oh,a new tweet fron Sarah.

We are Rome, about 1445 AD.

[Politicalboi]

39. I saw it on Mrs. Greenspans (Aka Andrea Mitchele) show

On MSNBC. Isn't Lindsay important? I mean we all must know what she wore for chrissake.

[thereismore]

38. He was salivating so close to Magyn Kelly, he spilled the beans. See? A good lapdog! nt

[Deep13]

40. So are all the spending cuts.

It will kill the recession and cause the electorate to turn against Obama. And with not much affirmative reason to support Obama again and the right wing monopoly on big-money campaign donors; it will work.

[NorthCarolina]

41. Apparently the joke is on Scott Fitzgerald as Obama doesn't seem worried about any loss

of Union support.

[Kingofalldems]

42. Kick again so the subject can't be changed

[L. Coyote]

43. HUGE DO'H!!!

[BrklynLiberal]

45. and yet, the White House refuses to condemn what the WI repukes are doing....

or encourage other Dems to do so...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x600018

[Kingofalldems]

47. Keep this kicked