Unions, Health Care and the Middle Class.

It always seemed odd to me how conservative lower and middle class workers jumped on board the union bashing bandwagon. Even though union membership never exceeded 35%, their presence did help both labor and the wealthy share in the nations prosperity during the 40's and late 50's.

But conservatives have an odd built in envy factor that goes into overdrive when they detect somebody is getting something they're not, and that was ripe for manipulation.

Anti-union corporate forces decided to exploit the envy factor in private sector workers, and that's where things went wrong for the lower and middle class:

To be fair, the researchers do note that these are just correlations, and while they seem to harbor some belief that they are causal, they reiterate that more testing would need to be done to connect them definitively.

There's a similar dynamic with health care. The US is the only industrialized country using health care as a weapon against its own citizens to prove how well capitalism works. Capitalism not only failed and killed Americans prematurely (loss of insurance), but the Affordable Care Act proved access helped in the nations jobs recovery.

Imagine what would happen if we really did repeal the Affordable Care Act, and its impact on jobs:

Over the past year, health care has added 495,000 jobs.

For Scott Walker, who love's to whine about how high the non-participation rate is nationally compared to Wisconsin, he left out one important factor; retiring baby boomers who have stopped looking for work. Kind of skews the numbers...:

The number of Americans not in the labor force last month totaled 94,513,000 -- a slight improvement from the 94,610,000 not in the labor force in September.

The number of Americans not in the labor force, still near the all-time high recorded in September, includes retirees.

...reducing individuals’ and employers’ health spending would make the U.S. economy more dynamic, while the ACA’s coverage provisions would free up workers from “job lock” and help protect them as they looked for better, more desirable employment.

Republicans defy growing public support for Unions

You read that right, the public is interested in seeing unions grow again, despite the right wing attempts to return our nation to a slave labor economy.

The south is of course convinced no one wants them anymore, big surprise. But after so many years, they're used to wallowing in their own misery, blaming themselves for everything their politicians did to their way of life. And let's be honest, Republicans don't like unions funding the Democratic Party. That's been made pretty obvious by the favored unions supporting the GOP:   

Gallup: Approximately one in eight working adults in the U.S. (12%) belong to a labor union, equivalent to 8% of all Americans. More broadly, 17% of Americans live in a household where at least one person belongs to a union. 

But, notably, this varies markedly by region, with just 6% of adults in the South living in a union household, compared with 18% in the West and roughly a quarter in the East (24%) and Midwest (23%). Membership is also higher among nonwhites (24%) than whites (13%), and among Democrats (24%) than Republicans and independents (13% each).

Confused? Republicans argue Right-to-Work will Raise Wages and end up creating more Unions.

How do you know Republicans are lying about the benefits of right-to-work?

After listening to primary winner Republican Duey Stroebel on WPR this morning, I was struck by his reasoning.

He's telling us right-to-work will raise wages - which they oppose, and increase unionization - which they also oppose.

Think about it, businesses are telling Republicans they're ready and willing to move to Wisconsin once right-to-work is in place, because I can only assume, they can't wait to pay their employees more and become union shops.

They also expect us to believe that if unions do a really great job serving their members, conservative employees will gladly pay their union dues, instead of freeloading off everyone else on principle.

And finally, shouldn't conservative jobs seekers go elsewhere if they get an offer from a union shop? After all, isn't that what Republicans say we should do when we don't like the offered wages and benefits? No ones forcing us to work at a union shop. Just wondering.

Here's Republican Duey Stroebel, replacing Glenn Grothman, who makes all the above points:

Walker is aware the Nation can hear him lie, right?

Snuggle up on the sofa with steaming cup of hot cocoa, and bask in the warm glow of the (Pants on) fire. Tis the season for bigger, national sized lies from our sociopathic governor.

While Walker and his band of legislative Republican pirates insist a constitutional change allowing the State Supreme Court justices to vote every two years for a new chief justice brings true democracy to their workplace, that same kind of "democracy" doesn't apply to workers voting to unionize their workplace. Whatever "principled" rationalization is convenient at the time I suppose.

Unions are still the super villain holding down corporate dominance. They're so bad that Walker has the balls to compare unions to the Red Threat. But as pictured here, even the unions back then were squarely in the sights of the Soviet Union.

But as PolitiFact pointed out, Walker's play to the base is simply outrageous:

Five experts told us they had never heard of such documents. Several were incredulous at the notion. McCartin, a Georgetown University labor history expert who wrote the book about the strike that Walker cited, said: "I am not aware of any such documents.  If they did exist, I would love to see them."

Svetlana Savranskaya, director of Russia programs at the National Security Archive at George Washington University, told us she "had to listen to the Walker interview twice, so ridiculous is the statement about the air traffic controllers. There is absolutely no evidence of this." James Graham Wilson, a historian at the U.S. State Department, also told us he was not aware of any Soviet documents.
 Reagan's own ambassador to the Soviet Union, Jack Matlock, told us: "It's utter nonsense. There is no evidence of that whatever." Matlock questioned whether Soviet leaders even paid much attention to the firings, saying: "At that point, their big question was whether (Reagan) was going to attack them."

Walker cited no Soviet documents showing that the firings made the Soviets treat Reagan more seriously. And experts, several of whom felt Walker’s claim is outrageous, told us they are not aware that any such documents exist.

For a statement that is false and ridiculous, our rating is Pants on Fire.

Republicans Hate Unions? Joe Liebham says he loves 'em, noting: "News Flash: Trade Unions Donate to Republicans."

Rep. Joe Leibham, running for congress against Glenn Grothman and Duey Stroebel, wants to thank the unions for their money!!!

The Leibham magic spell?

The Trouble with Unions? Taxpayers don't actually fund Democratic campaigns, the union member does out of their wages. When Wisconsinites pay for private trade union services out of our hard earned cash, they end up ironically helping fund...Republican campaigns.

Public unions are bad because they fund Democrats; Private trade unions are good because they fund the Republicans. Oh, and throw in a few of the firefighter and police unions exempt from Act 10 while you're at it.

Liebham even broke it down for us. What a guy...:

Conservative Leaders and the Trade Union's Support:

•    FACT - It is true that the Laborers supported WI Republicans in 2012 and helped them win in an election that Wisconsin turned blue. For 2012, the Laborers also gave $5000 to Paul Ryan and $3000 to Sean Duffy.  You can also find multi-thousand donations to Paul Ryan in 2010,2008, 2006, 2004, 2002.

•    FACT - It is true that the Laborers have donated $300,000 to the RGA (Republican Governor Association) in the last two years. Thanks to donations like these, the RGA started this year with a surplus that is being applied to governor races like Scott Walker's.

•    FACT - It is true that the Laborers supported over 25 Republicans nationwide in the last cycle and helped them win federal elections.

•    FACT - It is also true that the Laborers support the Keystone Pipeline.  Along with the Republican Party, ALEC, AFP, and our primary opponents. LIUNA's support will be as critical to securing the Keystone Pipeline as a single congressman.  

•    FACT - It is also true that the Laborers support Walker's 2011 mining bill. LIUNA's support was important to securing the mine, and nearly all Republicans voted for that mine, including our primary opponents who didn't object to LIUNA back then.
 
•    FACT - It is also true that the Laborers now oppose Obamacare: “If the Affordable Care Act is not fixed, and it destroys the health and welfare funds that we have all fought for and stand for, then I believe it needs to be repealed,” said Terry O’Sullivan.

You gotta love those unions...the good ones.

Corporate Republicans won the War on Labor, now in control of Campaigns.

It took a banner GOP year in 2010 and 2012 to take control of political funding. No union money in 2012? Just a coincidence?

Media Crushes Mary Burke, adopts GOP Act 10 Double Standard!!!

Let me get this right: Mary Burke cannot vote to support union negotiations, repealing collective bargaining rights, and cannot appeal to her base without destroying her political career.

Have I got that right?

But it is perfectly alright for a man like Scott Walker to not just support Act 10, but fight for voter ID, and be receptive to right-to-work legislation that would definitely appeal to his tea party base? No big media deal there.

This total collapse of the media and its in-the-tank approach to the Republican Party agenda is stunning, and explains why so many misstatements by Scott Walker have gone uncorrected. So much for an informed public. Heck, let PolitiFact do the hard investigative work, whenever they get around to it.

See for yourself from this Wisconsin State Journal headline:

We must watch Burke very closely, just in case she stumbles, or even tries to get the votes of her party. Double standard much? Guess so.

The school board believes it can negotiate with the union:

"...lower court rulings to reach contracts with their public employers. Those contracts extend the unions' bargaining authority to reach deals on issues such as vacations and benefits and the ability to collect mandatory payments from employees as long as the legal agreements last, since typically not even laws can break contracts ... the Madison School Board has extended the MTI union contract three times.

Of course transparently right wing organizations trying to privatize education so they make a boat load of money off our kids, like the Bradly Foundation, will spend whatever it takes to litigate and delay opposition, whether its a school board, union or the simple vote of board member and candidate Mary Burke. How dare she...!

State GOP executive director Joe Fadness called Burke's vote a "payoff" to Madison Teachers and other unions that endorsed her."

Of course Walker didn't payoff corporate donors, or appeal to his base with Act 10, rejecting high speed rail, supported an unconstitutional law requiring voter ID, rammed through lose mining regulations, trashed Common Core...etc. No payoff there. Outside billionaire campaign funding is just an odd coincidence the media is tired of covering.

No Union at VW Plant in Tennessee!!!

Tennessee VW workers sent a clear message to union organizers; "we're southerners and we always vote against our best interest, like before."

Apparently those tough negotiations between management and labor is too nerve-racking for Tennesseans to justify better wages and benefits, especially at a union friendly company? These people are really scary.

From the Wall Street Journal: The vote was held amid public campaigning against the union by Republican politicians, including Gov. Bill Haslam, and conservative activist groups. Conservative political groups, including one backed by antitax activist Grover Norquist, put up anti-union billboards around Chattanooga. A small but determined group of workers who oppose the UAW also worked to tilt their colleagues against the union, an effort that ultimately proved successful. But more workers were persuaded to vote against the union by the UAW's past of bitter battles with management, costly labor contracts and complex work rules. "If the union comes in, we'll have a divided work force," said Cheryl Hawkins, 44, an assembly line worker with three sons. "It will ruin what we have."

Other UAW opponents said they dislike the union's support of politicians who back causes like abortion rights and gun control that rub against the conservative bent of Southern states like Tennessee. Still others objected to paying dues to a union from Detroit that is aligned with Volkswagen competitors like GM and Ford. "I just don't trust them," said Danielle Brunner, 23, who has worked at the plant for nearly three years and makes about $20 an hour—about $5 an hour more than new hires at GM, Ford and Chrysler plants.

Here's Rachel Maddow's take, starting off with the Scott Walker attack on unions;



It's important to see how Tennessee state GOP politicians threatened a private business like VW. Chris Hayes interviews John Nichols:

Tennessee Republicans threaten Private Business with Big Government Obstruction if they Unionize!!! Sen. Corker Interfers First Day of voting!!!

Republicans in Tennessee are threatening to use their big government majority to retaliate against a private company like German auto maker VW, if it unionizes.

Yea, that's small government alright. We should be thankful for the big reveal, because now we know how they'll react to something as basic as free market unionization. Sen. Corker made a statement about VW that directly conflicts with VW previous statements, that may be complete fiction: 

Reuters: U.S. senator drops bombshell during VW plant union vote - U.S. Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee said on Wednesday he has been "assured" that if workers at the Volkswagen AG plant in his hometown of Chattanooga reject United Auto Worker representation, the company will reward the plant with a new product to build.

Corker's bombshell, which runs counter to public statements by Volkswagen, was dropped on the first of a three-day secret ballot election of blue-collar workers at the Chattanooga plant whether to allow the UAW to represent them.

VW had been saying something else:

In the past few weeks, Volkswagen officials have made several statements that the vote will have no bearing on whether the SUV will be made at the Chattanooga plant or at a plant in Puebla, Mexico.

Not only are we seeing corporate obstruction, but now outright political interference, that could be illegal:

National Labor Relations Board expert Kenneth G. Dau-Schmidt, who is professor of labor at the University of Indiana-Bloomington, said Corker was trying to intimidate workers into voting against the union.

"I'm really kind of shocked at Corker's statement," said Dau-Schmidt. "It's so inconsistent with what VW has been saying and VW's labor relations policy in general." The Indiana professor also said Corker's comments "would be grounds to set the election aside and have to run it all over again at a later date" because it could be ruled to be interfering to the point that it is against federal labor law.

Here's earlier coverage where state politicians threatened economic obstruction:

As workers at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tenn., prepare to vote this week on whether to join the United Automobile Workers, they are facing unusual pressure from the state’s Republican legislators to reject the union.

State Senator Bo Watson, who represents a suburb of Chattanooga, warned on Monday that if VW’s workers voted to embrace the U.A.W., the Republican-controlled Legislature might vote against approving future incentives to help the plant expand. “The members of the Tennessee Senate will not view unionization as in the best interest of Tennessee,” Mr. Watson said at a news conference. He added that a pro-U.A.W. vote would make it “exponentially more challenging” for the legislature to approve future subsidies. A loss of such incentives, industry analysts say, could persuade Volkswagen to award production of a new S.U.V. to its plant in Mexico instead of to the Chattanooga plant, which currently assembles the Passat.

Remembering the Bay View Massacre.

I thought this Rob Zerban press release was the best way to set up the following video, a little late but I just found it, a small section of a WPT history of Wisconsin special featuring the Bay View Massacre:

127 years ago today, the Governor of Wisconsin ordered the National Guard to fire upon a crowd of 14,000 workers who had gathered for one simple demand: that their workday be shortened to only 8 hours of physical labor. Seven people died that day and several more were injured in what would come to be known as the Bay View Massacre.

Over the course of the week, there would be several more demonstrations around the country in places like New York, Chicago, and Cincinnati. The battle over the 8 hour workday would last another 30 years and cost many more lives. But, their sacrifice bought us more time to spend with our families and to live our lives our way.

Today, I'll stand with scores of union members and Milwaukee residents to commemorate this moment of history and honor those that stood against an oppressive governor. All I ask today is that you take a minute to remember their sacrifice when you head home from work tomorrow.

In Solidarity,
Rob Zerban

Minnesota Democrats go on offense, expand unions, hope to increase minimum wage.

I asked State Sen. Jon Erpenbach and Rep. Dianne Hesselbein if they could start a trend, go on the offensive for once, and promise to restore so much of what we lost under the Walker Authority. That's all.

I can't remember their answer, and that's what troubles me. These guys are fighters, yet...

Without a strong agenda, backed by an uncompromising philosophy, what alternative do voters have? If they're not happy with Scott Walker's failed policies and lousy jobs record, do they even know what choices are out there? Can they say, "let's see if the Democratic plan will work?"

Fat chance of that. But luckily, Democrats here might be able to take some inspiration from our Minnesota neighbors, who aren't wasting any time:

MPR: Minnesota has emerged as one of the few places where unions are faring well. Democrats hope they're creating a bulwark in a more hostile world. ‘There's been a general war on anyone who is working class and has a union by trying to take union rights away,’ [said] Democratic Rep. Michael Nel. 'Here in Minnesota maybe we're ahead of the curve in pushing back.' But Republicans see dire consequences ahead, including a possible business backlash."

The Legislature may give labor a longtime priority -- the right to organize home day care workers and personal care attendants, which would help rebuild union membership. Lawmakers could make the state's minimum wage the highest in the nation at nearly $10 an hour and are poised to require hospitals to regularly report staffing numbers, a victory for nurses union.

Other bills would cut public subsidies to organizations that engage in lockouts, force companies to pay unemployment for up to three years during lockouts, and would help unions organize hotel workers and those in other buildings erected with public aid. "The war on public workers is finally over,'' said state parks and trails worker Connie Andrews. "You're not being targeted. You're not being blamed.'

Michigan Republicans Ram Right-to-work down Voters Throats on Road to Lower Pay.

What is it about Michigan? Didn't they know putting a super majority of Republicans in charge would have devastating results? And what will their legislature look like in January? Did Michigandians wise up?

In a state known for labor unions, Republicans took just an hour and a half to crap all over that history, in a power grab that should scare the daylights out of anyone who might think they're next.

Deliberative and smart is not how the Republican Party rules. While a poll revealed that only 6% believe right to work was important, Republicans weren't thinking of the voters, they were determined to carry out their plan to destroy unions. Here's Ed Schultz:



Here's Rachel Maddow with SEIU's Republican Advisory Cmte. Chair Andy Potter:



I thought this comment summed it up...

Reince owes his childhood to a Union Supported Middle Class Worker...his Dad.

Look who owes a debt of gratitude to union wages and benefits: Reince Priebus.

Priebus: "You know, my dad would point to a house as a union electrician, a nice house..."

Reince has got his, and isn't that what it's really all about?

After African Police kill 34 Striking Platinum Mine Workers, 270 Fellow Minors now Being Charged with Murder.

It can’t happen here, right?

American’s already have a hard time imagining the horrors we read about in the newspapers from ever happening here. Outrageous worker abuses, even killings. But since 2008 and the tea party emergence, we’ve seen a Republican Party change overnight. In an uncompromising radicalized movement, just how long will it be before something unthinkable happens. Already we're seeing conservatives offer up austere changes that only affect the victims of the Great Recession; the poor, labor and seniors. Unthinkable once, sure, but not anymore. It's even been packaged as courageous acts of leadership, and not something repugnant.  

Try to wrap your minds around the events that took place in Africa against striking miners. Can it happen here? Did you ever think it could happen anywhere?  

NY Times: As the police opened fire on workers engaged in a wildcat strike at a platinum mine two weeks ago, killing 34 people, Mr. Ramaphosa, now a multimillionaire business tycoon and senior leader of the governing African National Congress, found himself in a very different position: on the board of the company the workers were striking against, the London-based Lonmin. Ramaphosa (was once) the firebrand leader of the National Union of Mineworkers.

That’s right, a former union leader sat by while this was allowed to happen. With American rage against unions here, and the widening gap of social inequality, we’re starting to mirror events like this happening around the world:

Now, as the shock of the killings reverberates through the nation, seething rage from the poor in one of the world’s most unequal societies, (they’re) sensing that the A.N.C. has created a wealthy black elite, including men like Mr. Ramaphosa, without changing the lives of ordinary people.

Any of this sound familiar? If you thought that was bad, get this:

Prosecutors have said they are charging 270 miners arrested after the melee, (and) not the police officers who fired the bullets, with the murder of their colleagues.

It appears the ruling authority is well protected. Will we even notice?

We’re there, Americans are giving up; ‘Just be glad you have a job!!!’

For a while, collective bargaining gave workers  a little skin in the game, and an important voice in their workplace.

But the Republican and corporate campaign to vilify and belittle unions and labor has turned the public against those profit draining employees.

Breaking the American workers spirit appears to be working, as demonstrated below by the average working family’s comments below.

I’m hoping this heartbreaking example isn’t becoming the prevailing attitude by many.

WSJ: REEDSBURG: As a bagger at the Viking Village Foods grocery store here, Thane Rogers sees firsthand the importance of a job. In less than a year, the 17-year-old senior-to-be at Reedsburg High School has seen his hours reduced, meaning he doesn't have as much money for gas and spending money when he's hanging out with friends.

But it's better than nothing, and he cherishes his job where he works 10 to 12 hours a week for $7.25 an hour. "Some of my friends aren't able to get a job," Thane said. "So I make do with what I've got."

That's an attitude Thane's parents, Phil and Emily Rogers, wish more Americans would adopt … "We have this idea that we'd rather be unemployed and promote our master's degree and tell them we're worth $70,000 a year and we'll wait till we make that salary," said Emily Rogers. "Let's hire the whole group of people in between and have them help out with services we need," she said — even if it's bagging groceries. "We need people to get back to work doing something."

If Americans don't catch on and see what's happening, that it doesn't have to be this way, than I feel horrible for my young sons. This wasn't what I picture for them and their future families.

Marc Levin's HBO documentary Hard Times shows us people trying to find work and the crushing consequences of joblessness. Michael Smirconish:

Wisconsin Democrats Fail at Collective Bargaining, drop it from Agenda, whine it’ll only get Vetoed.

Sly in the Morning all last week highlighted the fatal flaw, the one big problem within the Democratic Party; pushing their agenda and energizing their voters. Is it cowardice and incompetence? Yes.

Below, Sly asked listeners to call their lawmakers and ask them why collective bargaining wasn't even on their legislative agendas.

The main reason; Scott Walker would veto it. And that's all it took for Sly to rightfully go off the deep end.

Never taking a few marketing tips from the Republican masters of spin, Democratic lawmakers have ignored every opportunity to push their own agenda, even if it means getting vetoed for years on end. 

Democratic voters have to direct their energy for change at their own elected lawmakers, those weak kneed losers who don’t seem to have a clue about how to lead a movement.

In Sly’s own words (audio  below):  

Last week, we learned that not a single Democratic State Senator had put the restoration of collective bargaining in the upcoming legislative session's agenda.  The Fabulous 14 are no more.

Keep calling labor traitors.  For those who say I won't call out my side of the aisle when things go wrong, this should be proof of the contrary. Jon Erpenbach is a labor traitor whom was used by Tom Barrett as a shield, the most prominent Democratic that fled to Illinois.  Now, Erpenbach's office staff is being genuinely untruthful, aggressively fending off those of you who called him along with Mark Miller and Fred Risser. 

This is a national problem too, having seen the same lack of effort directed at the Affordable Care Act.

Activist Conservative Supreme Court Ends Union Free Speech.

Citizens United allowed both corporations and unions to contribute money to campaigns, part of their "free speech" rights. But they decided to change that. Unions now have some new conservative court barriers put in place. This just ended labors influence. That might sound good to those twisted enough to be against labor, those workers who spend money supporting our economy, but in the end they and the rest of us are screwed.

Rachel Maddow couldn't have said it better:

Embarrassing!!! Walker Stumbles, Bumbles to Explain Dividing and Conquering Wisconsinites.

The cool, calm, collected, and trance like look on Scott Walker's face, as he tries but fails to explain away any possible reason why A GOVERNOR would think to divide and conquer the very people he represents, is another example of his sociopathic behavior. Walker's mantra, "What, me worry?"-Alfred E. Neuman.

In the Fox 6 piece below, 371 Productions Brad Lichtenstein comments, and Walker blissfully thinks he's actually answering the question "why." Sadly, the media may just find his bumbling inadequate responses acceptable, and move on.



TMJ4 gets right to the question, and again, Walker struggles and fails to explain the indefensible. Great stuff. Here's a condensed example:

Walker: "That's a conversation that is consistent with...the public employee unions in the state made it very clear in December of 2010 when they tried to ram through...for too long I saw as a local government official that a handful of special interests..."

...no friggin' answer!!!



The fact that "stand with Walker" supporters don't find this latest condescension appalling, says a lot about why the party has become radicalized. The conservative voting public is already buying into the idea that they need the help of "courageous" tight fisted "leaders" to bring them some level of control.

Like my conservative friend told me, "what's new?"

In the clip, Gov. Walker said, “Well we’re going to start in a couple weeks with our budget adjustment bill. the first step is, we’re going to deal with collective bargaining for all public employee unions, because you use divide and conquer.”

Documentary filmmaker Brad Lichtenstein says his film tells the story of the decline of the auto industry in Janesville. The videographer of the documentary says he traditionally supports Democratic candidates. However, in the documentary, he says he pushed his personal beliefs aside to document the economic challenges of Janesville. Gov. Walker talked about the film clip at an appearance in Burlington Friday. “Certainly the reforms I talked about at that time or the reforms. I’ve talked about since, the reforms that helped us save more than a billion dollars for taxpayers in this state, but it’s interesting that some want to go back and replay that and undo those reforms. we want to continue to move on and move forward,” said Gov. Walker.

As the Hulk would say, Smash Walker, with his own words, "divide and conquer."

Scott Walker's idea of governing Wisconsin is to divide and conquer."

According to Russ Feingold's ProgressivesUnited email:

Unbelievable. The new footage of Scott Walker telling a billionaire donor about his plan to "divide and conquer" in Wisconsin leaves no doubt: This is the work of a dishonest governor and a national corporate agenda.

This is politics at its worst. Help end Walker's brutal agenda today.

Oh boy, Scott Walker's got some explaining to do, and Tom Barrett has a few incredible ads to run.

jsonline: A filmmaker released a video Thursday that shows Gov. Scott Walker saying he would use "divide and conquer" as a strategy against unions.

It'll be interesting to finally get a glimpse into the character of conservative voters, to see if this sits well with them. When a billionaire is more concerned about making Wisconsin a red state, the first thing she brings up with Walker, it's hardly a matter of just "job creation." As you will see in the videos below, they want to bring one party rule to Wisconsin, and the reasons for that are pretty clear. Here's the short video:

Walker made the comments to Beloit billionaire Diane Hendricks, who has since given $510,000 to the governor's campaign - making her Walker's single-largest donor and the largest known donor to a candidate in state history.

In the video shot on Jan. 18, 2011 - shortly before Walker's controversial budget-repair bill was introduced and spawned mass protests - Hendricks asked the governor whether he could make Wisconsin a "completely red state, and work on these unions, and become a right-to-work" state. Walker replied that his "first step" would be "to divide and conquer"

Documentary filmmaker Brad Lichtenstein is now promoting his finished documentary, "As Goes Janesville," which is expected to be shown at film festivals and on PBS stations this fall.

This clip is from the documentary, at 371 Productions, and really explains what is happening in Janesville. Even worse, Hendricks is part of Rock County 5.0, a group of businesses dedicated to bring jobs to Janesville (for more on RC 5.0, check out this nice piece at Rock Netroots). At the cost of labor of course;



Just a note: I talked to my conservative friend a few moments ago and asked him how he felt about Walker's comment, and he said, "It was no secret, of course he wants to divide and conquer. That's politics." Ends justify means.

Tom Barrett and the Unions!

The early endorsement of Kathleen Falk by AFSCME may have made the recall election all about the unions, instead of the people’s movement in support of labor, unionized or otherwise. There's also a case to made that this union disagreement may put on full display Mayor Tom Barrett's record with the unions.

Instead of stressing the return of collective bargaining, fine tuning the message and the Democratic plan for the state, and we’re now giving the media an excuse to manufacture a whole new narrative.  Did I eat some kind of hallucinogen in my eggs this morning? 

The best coverage is coming from Sly in the Morning on 1670 AM, who has had union representatives on, that have dealt with Barrett at the negotiating table, and audio clips of Tom Barrett that you probably won't hear anywhere else. I highly recommend giving the links a listen.

I’m happy to see WPPA’s Jim Palmer weigh in.

jsonline: A state police union is criticizing another union's attack on Milwaukee mayor and gubernatorial recall candidate Tom Barrett. The executive director of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association said Friday that an Internet video promoted by the AF SCME Council 24 distorted Barrett's record and made it appear as if the mayor supported Gov. Scott Walker's repeal of most collective bargaining for public employees. Palmer said his group will endorse in the Democratic primary but so far the union has not announced a choice. He has been critical of other unions' decision to endorse Falk before Barrett had decided whether or not to run in the recall.

"This recall election represents an historic opportunity for Wisconsinites to reclaim this state in favor of a leader who can create jobs, protect our local services, and restore the right to have a voice at the bargaining table," said Jim Palmer, executive director of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association. "For anyone to sink to the level of distorting the information it sends to its own members is shameful, and it creates the kind of internal discord that Scott Walker will need to keep his office."

A spokesman for AFSCME had no immediate comment. 

The comments called into question?

"I would vote for the changes in the health care and the pension. I would vote no for the changes in collective bargaining," Barrett said in the part of the audio that is not included in the Web video. "We did not create the video," AFSCME spokesman Robert Allen told Politifact, "but it does comport with our criticism of Barrett's behavior during the standoff over Act 10, which is why we passed it along to members."