I am a dues paying union member. I draw a paycheck from the taxpayers, who compensate me for keeping their Capitol in good repair. I do not get paid by any UNION BOSSES. I speak my own mind and unlike Madison's former mayor, my resume is not sitting in any candidate's desk drawer.
Mayor Dave went out of his way to polarized the Democratic primary campaign for Governor with his recent Isthmus editorial. Cieslewicz knows that three candidates for Governor stuck their necks out to do what they could to stop Act 10. Doug Lafollette stalled its implementation as long as he legally could; giving Kathleen Falk enough time to get into court and file suit against the destruction of collective bargaining. Kathleen Vinehout lived in a motel room for two months and had to fend off her own recall effort last summer. Tom Barrett issued a press release.
Thousands of us braved the cold, wind and snow in December to gather recall petition signatures. We found out Christmas week that when a reporter asked Tom Barrett when he signed the recall petition, he said he still had not decided whether or not to sign. 600,000 Wisconsinites made the commitment, but Tom Barrett lacked the courage to take even that basic step. According to the evil republican Verify the Recall database, Barrett never did sign the Walker recall petition. If that is true ... Mayor Dave, did you bother to ask him before the two of you climbed into bed together?
Barrett has been very effective in the past week getting endorsements and planting that he is the only candidate with sufficient name recognition to beat Walker. Polling shows otherwise. According to the real numbers, only Lafollette is out of competition. Falk, Vinehout and Barrett are all virtually tied across the state. The voters are saying they would rather vote for that lousy brown paper lunch bag, than they would Walker.
By manipulating the message, driving a wedge between public sector trade unionists and others in the 99%, Barrett hopes to split working families. Tom Barrett knew hid last spring. He is the only Democrat who failed to show up at the rallies. He used the “tools” that Walker gave him to screw Milwaukee city employees. He failed to even show up for the AFSCME endorsement interviews. Teachers remember that Tom Barrett tried to take control of the Milwaukee School District and blamed them for its poor performance; ignoring its massive underfunding.
AFSCME went through an incredibly fair endorsement process. It was open and thorough. A wide net was cast and every candidate had an equal chance. Barrett, because of his previous actions, placed himself at a disadvantage. But that is not the fault of AFSCME. Barrett screwed city workers and now wants to make them the bad guys. He made the decision not to even participate.
The now infamous AFSCME video was over the top. They have admitted their mistake. Frankly, there are plenty of excellent reasons to support Kathleen Falk and Barrett has provided ample reasons for concern. It is equally important; however, for Barrett supporters to admit that they have exploited this misstep way out of proportion. The Barrett campaign is attempting to “Swift-Boat” AFSCME and the Falk campaign over a relatively minor distortion – never intended for public distribution.
Mayor Dave, I supported you over the cranky old Soglin last spring. My bad! There is a reason why “the big public unions (WEAC and AFSCME) are not all that popular with voters.” You bash us whenever it suits your purpose. You have shown yourself a true whore.
When the primary is over, public employees will work their butts off to elect the candidate selected by the voters. We will defeat Walker on June 5th. We will not be silenced and we remember those who sell themselves for a handful of silver.
