Posted on 02/02/2015 4:46:10 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
(AUDIO-AT-LINK)
There is not a lot of love between the U.S. labor movement and those on the long list of potential 2016 Republican presidential hopefuls. But there is one name among the GOP prospects that labor truly despises — and fears. He is Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who weakened unions in his own state and appears ready to make his battles with labor a centerpiece of a bid for the White House.
Walker's approach on a recent Saturday in Iowa was telling. In a downtown Des Moines theater full of conservative activists, he spoke for 22 minutes. But right off the top, and at length, he told the tale of how he took on public employee unions in Wisconsin. That effort — largely successful — triggered massive protests at the state Capitol and brought years of turmoil, including a fractious attempt to recall him from office.
"You know all about the protests," he said at that candidates forum. "At one point there were 100,000 or more protesters in and around our state Capitol. They were banging on the drums [and] they were blowing the horns. They had signs and banners."
Walker, now fresh off re-election to a second term, walked back and forth across the stage. He said what people may not know is that protesters — as many as 1,000 of them — showed up outside his home while his family was there. And, he told the Iowa crowd, there were death threats.
"Most of those death threats were ... directed at, me, but some of the worst were directed at my family. I remember one of the ones that bothered me the most was someone literally sent me a threat that said they were gonna gut my wife like a deer."
It was a line designed to shock the audience. And one that set Walker apart from the other speakers that day, including Ted Cruz, Rick Perry, Mike Huckabee and Chris Christie. Those are all GOP household names. Not so for Walker. In fact, it's likely few in the theater had ever seen him in person, even if they knew his record.
But he wrapped up his remarks to big applause and cheers.
Now for the reaction from a leading labor activist, who knows Walker's record all too well.
"Scott Walker is an extremely divisive guy. He created a war zone in Wisconsin, pitting families against families, neighbors against neighbors. That's how he won," says Steve Rosenthal, a former political director for the AFL-CIO who currently works as a Democratic strategist and organizer. His animus toward Walker — and his policies — is widely shared by labor activists all across the country.
"There were labor leaders who called him the poster child a few years ago, public enemy No. 1, who really went all out to try to beat him in Wisconsin and weren't successful," he says. "The fact that he is now potentially emerging on the national stage is really scary. And you could see a scenario where he could become the Republican nominee."
Back in Iowa, Dennis Goldford, who teaches political science at Drake University, attended the forum where Walker spoke. He notes that the Wisconsin governor portrays himself as a victim when he talks of huge protests at his home, and of death threats.
"He emphasized this sense of being under threat by opponents who oppose everything he stands for," Goldford says. "But the more important subtext was that he's tough enough to take on these elements that threaten the very way of life these conservative Republicans believe is under siege."
And Walker is staking out a lane for his expected presidential campaign. He ended his remarks in Iowa to more applause saying: "With your help I have no doubt we can move this country forward, we can have our own American revival. God bless you; thanks for letting me share with you today."
There are no perfect candidates, you can always find something to complain about with any of them.
Well, except Cruz. I haven’t found anything to gripe about with him yet. But any of the others are going to have something to complain about.
But I like Walker because I like a fighter. Cruz/Walker is starting to sound very good to me. So while I prefer Cruz, I don’t see any reason to attack Walker. I think they may wind up serving together.
RIchard Nixon had his ugly battles with the media but in the end that did not make Nixon a conservative president.
The emotional battle with the liberals diverted conservatives from being able to see the truth about how Nixon governed.
His willingness to fight is the very thing that makes him attractive.
Bingo, that says it all.
What fraction of the union 11% of our workforce would Walker get? What fraction of the union 11% of our workforce would a union-friendly RINO like Christie, Rubio, or the next Bush in line get? I’d guess the difference is so close to zero that it doesn’t matter.
What republicans need is someone who will go after unions like Van Helsing or Buffy going after vampires. We need someone who will drive a stake through the heart of the unions, freeing decent Americans from the obligation to pay union dues unless they individually and freely choose to join those disgusting and corrupt organizations of their own free will. I’m happy with either Cruz or Walker in that respect, although I strongly prefer Cruz.
The 2016 election is not a time for half measures. It is a time to elect someone who will without exception repeal all government regulations enacted from the worst day in American history (January 20, 2009) through the day we have a chance to rebuild America as a free country with a limited constitutional government (January 20, 2017). It is a time to elect someone who will kill Obamacare and rebuild trust with America’s allies while earning respect from America’s enemies. It is a time to start cutting real FedGov spending. If the union insiders squeal, that’s just a sign that a real president is back in our White house and is doing something right.
Walker just doesn’t seem to register any irritation, or even outrage, at what’s been done to our nation over the last 6 years.
I guess he just wants to glide into the WH, let what Zero has done stand, and begin his own adventure.
OK, Steve...he was elected twice and survived a recall effort. Your guys embarrassed you and themselves by hiding in Illinois to thwart the legislative process. So, tell me again.....what did you win?
That’s correct. It’s the public employee unions that detest Walker.
Here is another of his statements that shocked me and gave me pause about him as POTUS. From 2013.
Walker also said “it’s preferable” to have one party rule in government, like he does in his state.
“Conventional wisdom [is] that Americans want divided government, but what I think they’ve seen over the last few years is that instead of checks and balances what that’s gotten them is a lot of gridlock,” he said. “And I think it’s significant to make the case, as we did in Wisconsin.”
http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/11/22/scott-walker-knocks-mitt-romney-offers-gop-advice
158 posted on 2/2/2015, 7:23:08 PM by conservativegranny
Scott Walker Signs Abortion Bill Requiring Ultrasounds
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/05/scott-walker-abortion_n_3551907.html
Planned Parenthood Federation of America sharply denounced Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker for signing a budget bill that eliminated state and federal funding for Planned Parenthood.
Why should the private unions feel any better disposed to him?
Good.
Oh well .. if “labor” doesn’t like you .. I guess you had better just pick up your toys and go home.
Geeeeeez .. how much longer do we have to put up with these horrible people.
I don’t know that they do, but he wanted to improve education so that meant gutting some of the teacher union rules and also he needed to balance the State budget so that affected other public employees.
If private unions had any sense, they would want a good business environment so that there will be jobs, but that’s a big IF.
I have no any idea. I'm just saying that sometimes we are overly critical of our candidates. We sometimes disqualify candidates over minor reasons which are not germane to the president's duties.
I voted for Milt, even though I feel his sect is Scientology dressed in 19th Century woolens, because four more years of The Won were unthinkable. Unless Walker is a Muslim or Devil Worshipper I could care less where his congregation meets.
He grabbed “Big Labor” by the ear, spanked it and sent it to bed without dinner.
The consultants already have him programmed to not say anything negative about Obama.
Why, what church does he attend?
I have no any idea. I’m just saying that sometimes we are overly critical of our candidates. We sometimes disqualify candidates over minor reasons which are not germane to the president’s duties.
His father was a baptist minister.
So is Ted’s.
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