Role of big labor in Wisconsin recall fight

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In the last year we've turned into the center of the political universe of America and so.

This is not just an internal Wisconsin fight this is a national -- so many groups whether we're talking about national labor groups -- national business groups.

Want to invest in Wisconsin because they want to win because -- Wisconsin result will ripple across the presidential race.

This is almost like an early proxy of the presidential race.

Money is pouring in to Wisconsin.

The recall election June death.

An effort to recall Wisconsin governor Scott Walker the Democrats are battling out.

Between themselves for that position be the nominee to take on walker.

Other two Democrats.

Pitted against each other mayor Tom Barrett of Milwaukee.

And union leadership refers the former Dane County commissioner Kathleen Falk in fact.

The largest employee public employee union asks me is running.

Adds directing people to bloggers saying that -- supported governor Walker's union crippling legislation as they put it.

Barrett says that's not the case were back -- the panel Juan this seems like -- A big fight internally before you get to the big fight of the recall.

Oh absolutely because you know -- reminds me a little bit of what happened in Arkansas with Blanche Lincoln where you see.

The unions come in and say you're not authentically a friend because you have not supported us in every area.

That we want and I think that's what you're seeing play out now.

Because the Democrats have to pick someone who can win at the moment.

-- generic candidate is beating Governor Walker but if you once you start to -- them specifically.

They lose and I think there's lots of pressure right now to bring in a bigger name Democrat but again unions.

Aren't concerned about Herb Kohl or Russ Feingold coming -- who actually could defeat.

The governor.

They're really interested in someone who will say I'm going to give you collective bargaining rights back I'm going to clear the table.

I'm gonna say it's as if he never existed eight that's what they're after this is a statement think of about union.

Now was we talk about how this goes well beyond Wisconsin state borders and this is really a proxy fight for all kinds of really as as you heard there the presidential race as well.

Yet that the governor's office Governor Walker is pointing to success they've had in Wisconsin specifically.

And something that.

Unions are are staying away from about how things have changed in the state.

Well yeah I think it's a fascinating situation Wisconsin has been so interesting for almost two years I mean it just and it complete.

War internally.

And it's a highly polarized state and in that sense I think you could say it's it's a microcosm of what's going on in the country.

And to that extent.

They started remember as a budget fight I mean if the state was facing crippling budget deficits and -- made some choices that many Wisconsin it's found controversial.

As the economy is starting to improve nationally -- certain conditions are starting to get better.

You might see some of the wind shifting back a little bit in.

Walker's favor and so it's so interesting you know -- been so few successful recall campaigns this would be the third.

If if it's successful and and really the only other one -- any of us remember is that recall Gray Davis in California and it was a really similar situation in some ways they had a huge horrible budget deficit he made this you know.

Tried to -- to address it through a variety of means including a vehicle licensing -- people.

We -- flipped out about.

And you know he was -- called of course the difference there was that the other side was able to get a charismatic figure to collectively.

Get behind of course not Arnold Schwarzenegger and -- Democrat in this particular situation has not been able to do that Russ Feingold said no they wanted him to do it so.

That's an -- -- comparison I think and if they do fall short it might be because they haven't been able to find a a real champion that is identifiable to everybody terms.

With the Democrats are deciding right now is whether they want -- to be a single issue campaign.

Or whether they wanted to be a judgment about the governor abroad -- judgment.

The mayor of Milwaukee ran against walker in the previous.

Election cycle and he lost and he's less steady on the union issue the -- aren't backing him.

So would would be more of do you like walker -- governorship.

It would be a general a statement about welcome governorship and a choice between two candidates be more like.

A rerun of the original election two years ago but if it is in -- it will be single issue campaign was with the unions want.

And if it is his inclusion campaign then it becomes a national I don't think in any way it's a microcosm of the presidential election.

I don't think how it's decided and -- tell us anything.

But which -- -- -- goes it's a Romney Obama race but it's national in the sense that other states a look at this and decide -- the governor is gonna risk.

Curtailing the powers of government unions after Wisconsin if the governors -- You don't think it it it will embolden union leaders it will embolden.

The left and not only getting out the vote for this recall but really mobilizing come November.

I'm not sure that what matters right now for them as presidential election -- state after state defeating.

The attempts of Republican -- sort of especially the ones elected in 2010.

As in Ohio of the unions have defeated Kasich when he he try to impose pretty struck streak could curtailment on the union's.

-- state after state it's what's happening inside the stated that about the federal level.

The federal level I think is -- unions understand if they'd lose in Wisconsin.

-- be a third attempt of repealing what happened in Wisconsin.

The state -- -- -- election was lost by the unions and the recall elections did did not succeed in changing the senate.

And -- -- democratic -- -- -- -- attempt three strikes and you're out the unions understand it anyway Ted and other states as well that's where their point.

Millions of dollars into this.

One -- about to lose this point if the economy starts to slowly improve and improves in Wisconsin.

Ken walker then.

In the time between now and June 5 run on changes that have been made since this law was -- -- He can point to changes especially changed in terms of budget reductions in terms of the pension expenditures of pension debt line.

He can say that the question is what the people here because lots of people with -- and are unaccustomed to Wisconsin being the center of the political universe and all this fighting.

There's a lot of static and people don't like it.

Does it become a referendum on walker or what he's actually accomplished or.

I think with the -- -- the final were called it and it's going to be I think largely about walker and the union so it's war reverses the unions.

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Role of big labor in Wisconsin recall fight

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