Posted on 08/29/2011 10:45:27 PM PDT by nickcarraway
In previous years, Republicans have worked the parade route, but this year they will not be allowed to take part. The parade is organized by local unions, which said Wisconsin Republicans "have openly attacked worker's rights."
Wisconsin politics — which hasn't been pretty of late — has made its way into a local Labor Day parade. The organizers of the Wausau Labor Day parade announced they would not let Republican lawmakers take part in the Sept. 5 display. The parade is organized by 30 local unions.
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports:
In a statement, [Randy Radtke, president of the council,] added that the parade is intended to celebrate working men and women and what the labor movement has given them: weekends, a 40-hour workweek, child labor protection and a safe working environment.
"It should come as no surprise that organizers choose not to invite elected officials who have openly attacked worker's rights or stood idly by while their political party fought to strip public workers of their right to collectively bargain," Radtke said.
The background, if you don't remember, is that after a protracted fight in which Democratic lawmakers fled the state, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, a Republican, managed to pass a law that stripped public employees of their collective bargaining rights. Since the law passed, the state has been embroiled in bitter recall campaigns.
WSAW, a local TV station in central Wisconsin, talked to Republicans:
The Republican Party of Lincoln County says the tradition of a shared event will now end over "petty and short sighted anger toward legally elected officials."
Republicans are hoping to work with Wausau city officials to resolve the conflict before Labor Day.
I thought Wausau already repudiated this.
Republicans are copacetic with things that would have been beyond the wildest dreams of unions in the early 20th century. It’s the stupid Democrats who don’t know when to stop that should be shunned by labor for using them as pawns.
So don’t invite POS unionistas and Rats to the 4th of July parade since they are traitors trying to destroy the country....
In 20 years, they will be trying to imprison Republicans.
Their diversity is their perversity..
(PING - Diana and Jellybean, would you be so kind as to forward this ping to other Wisconsin FReepers? This seems to be picking up a lot of weight, and IMHO it’s turning into a huge mess that is NOT going to end up looking favorable towards “our side”...)
The title seems a bit misleading. The town is not sponsoring the parade, the Marathon County Labor Board is.
I personally think it’s a VERY bad precedent for anyone to FORCE anyone else to be included in the event.
I’ve posted some stuff to our local Tea Party over on FB suggesting we put together an alternate event, but no-one seems to be interested (or the Wausau Tea Party FB page just doesn’t get much traffic!).
Personally, I’m GLAD they’ve snubbed Republicans — at least there are no more pretenses when it comes to why this holiday was established, and what they are REALLY celebrating.
A Wausau city spokesperson said that the town didn’t support the parade with my tax dollars - but I’ve yet to see any article detailing what has gone on in past years regarding fire, police and other services, and how much the labor council pays the city for these things. I was going to walk over to City Hall and request past years’ records, but I’m dealing with some kind of stomach flu and I don’t think it’s going to pass very soon.. :(
Anyway, it’s frustrating because I hear people upset that they are being excluded, and wanting the Labor Union to be forced to include Republicans. I’ve brought up the point that I wouldn’t want Tea Party events to be forced to include progressives at local events.
This whole thing strikes me as being SO childish... “Mommy, they won’t play with me... MAKE THEM play with me.” It disgusts me that people who are my conservative peers would play this game... Why not just LET THEM have their way, take note of the businesses that ARE marching, make a boycott list, organize an informal alternate event (which Rep. Duffy would be welcome to attend) and celebrate the virtues of the right to work, and CHOICE in the workplace???
Are there any other Wausau FReepers, or North-Central WI freepers that would be willing to help with some of these ideas. I’ve put together things like this before, but not here in Wausau (or Wisconsin). Plus, as I mentioned I’m fighting some kind of stomach bug at the moment, so I’m rather homebound right now...
An alternative idea that others have brought up would be to show up at the parade wearing shirts that support Walker and others and/or protest signs of some sort... I don’t know if that’s the best way to handle this, or not. I have to admit that I thought of a very tongue-in-cheek “protest” sign to hold — something to the effect of my love for communism (YES, that’s OBVIOUSLY extreme sarcasm...).
Shoot... one more point. In the footage of past parades they showed public school bands marching in the parade. The Board of Education should definitely be challenged on the appropriateness of public school students marching in a purely partisan event...
Red-labor parade.
The article is misleading... The town council is not sponsoring it. The Marathon County Labor Council is the sponsor. The man quoted in this article is on the LABOR COUNCIL board — NOT the city council. As far as I know the Republicans here are not working with the city council, but rather trying to speak with the organizers themselves.
See my post above this for more of my opinion on this stuff taking place just blocks from my home... (SO FRUSTRATING!)
One more quick note. I see this was originally an NPR story... It’s no wonder it’s such a horrible piece of journalism. There are so many misleading statements, and half-explanations — and then they didn’t even contact the correct county’s GOP for comment! Where do they find these reporters???
Let those fascist be known!
Please disregard some of the statements I made on this thread. I was unaware of this HUGE game changer:
Wausau Mayor Jim Tipple:
“The banning of a political party from participation at any event co-sponsored by the City is against public policy and not in the best interest of all the citizens of the City of Wausau. And therefore, we encourage the event organizer to invite all interested parties, or reimburse the city for other costs.”
You can read more at the article here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2770699/posts
It would appear that the city “spokesperson” who was quoted in the original story from WSAW was severely misinformed (being nice here). The town IS co-sponsoring the event, and Mayor Tipple seems to have come out swinging!! I’m frankly VERY shocked by his quote...
Again, my apologies as I wasn’t aware of the most recent developments...
>>In 20 years, they will be trying to imprison Republicans.<<
Jimmy Hoffa’s son has called for their elimination; Maxine Waters threatens to send Tea Party members “straight to hell” and even the White House occupant uses every opportunity to blast the GOP.
WE ARE AT WAR. WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE. All that is missing are the dead bodies.
I wold love to know how many Union Members are Military Veterans
My thoughts exactly... Just move the parade to May 1st.
why can’t this kind of stuff happen in my town??? I would be there with a tea party banner flying high ( i am 6’ tall, 230# )now THAT would be fun!!!!
These are the same reporters that hide the fact that Barry Hussein Obama is a radical Muslim that is doing everything he can to destroy America economically, socially and politically.
Barry ignores court orders, Barry wants open borders and grants amnesty with impunity, Barry used the US Military illegally to put Al Qaeda in control in Libya, uses US $$ to back the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt AND will back the UN radicals in attempting to force Israel to withdraw to pre-1967 borders.
Most Americans will not even get it until Barry does NOT block the UN vote to force Israel to withdraw to undefendable borders; they won't figure out Barry Hussein is a traitor until he orders US Military to join the UN in attacking Israel. Then Barry can order martial law when the protests start and the calls for impeachment become defeaning.
the definition of labor unions
The mayor has cause to be concerned about legal action against the city for discrimination.
If the unions don’t change their course, the mayor would be prudent in withdrawing city support and sanction.
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