Gov. Scott Walker's recall election is less than two weeks away and new polling shows the candidates neck and neck. John Nichols of the Nation Magazine joins Ed Schultz to discuss the latest out of the Badger State.
With 12 days left before the recall election in Wisconsin, we check in with John Nichols, Washington Correspondent of The Nation and author of Uprising: How Wisconsin Renewed the Politics of Protest, from Madison to Wall Street , for the latest news and extraordinary analysis:
Scott Walker welcomes a corporate raider to Wisconsin
- Why is Scott Walker bringing governor's of Louisiana and South Carolina -- both southern right-to-work states that have raided Wisconsin for factories and jobs -- to campaign for him in Wisconsin's recall election?
- Bobby Jindal, who will campaign with the embattled Wisconsin governor Thursday (for a public event and a fund-raising session that will be closed to the public), has been a leading proponent of "corporate raiding" strategies that move jobs from northern states to the south.
- And Jindal's Louisiana has raided Wisconsin.
- In 2009, Gardner Denver closed its manufacturing facility in Sheboygan, Wisconsin -- where the company and its predecessor had been located for 70 years -- and left 366 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union members and other plant workers without jobs.
- Where did there jobs go? Monroe, Louisiana.
- Why? Because Louisiana state government gave away massive tax breaks and other benefits to the company.
- "Gardner Denver said Louisiana would reimburse the company for most of the cost of moving equipment and staff to Monroe, provide yearly payroll and sales tax rebates and help the company with recruiting and training," reported the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel in 2009. "The City of Monroe also plans to help with the construction of a 124,000-square-foot factory adjoining the company's plant."
Scott Walker invites a right-to-work zealot to campaign for him
- Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker says that he does not plan at this point to promote a so-called "right-to-work"-- which would undermine the rights of private-sector unions and their members.
- But Walker, who sponsored a right-to-work law when he was a state legislator, and who recently spoke (on video) with a wealthy donor about anti-labor initiatives, has no qualms about campaigning side-by-side with the nation's most ardent advocate of right-to-work laws.South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley will campaign with Walker June 1.
- Haley is a champion of right-to-work laws -- and a militant critic of organized labor. She says: “Unions are not needed, wanted or welcome in South Carolina."
- The South Carolina governor recently promoted a package of "reforms" that will give South Carolina the toughest right-to-work laws in the nation.
- And Haley wants to take right-to-work national, saying: "Barack Obama doesn't appreciate right-to-work states. Mitt Romney appreciates right-to-work states," she said after endorsing Mitt Romney for the Republican presidential nomination. "I need a partner in the White House."
DNC starts making some noise
- Under pressure from Democrats nationwide, the Democratic National Committee sent a national fundraising email Wednesday to supporters.
- The email asked donor to contribute to the Wisconsin recall fight against Scott Walker.
- The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel said: "A party official said the solicitation went to "millions" of people around the country who are past supporters of the party and Obama, and said a solicitation that broad wasn't something the DNC routinely does for state candidates.
- In the DNC blast to several million backers, DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz writes: "Of all the elections we are preparing for in 2012, one of the most important ones isn't happening in November. On June 5th, the people of Wisconsin will have their chance to recall Governor Scott Walker, whose attacks on workers' and women's rights are the definition of a fireable offense. Democrats are rallying around our nominee, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, and with just 14 days to go before the election, we're organizing one of the largest get-out-the-vote efforts in state history.
- "It's up to Democrats across the country to help win this thing. Organizers and volunteers on the ground across Wisconsin are knocking on doors, talking to neighbors, and making phone calls to make sure voters know the stakes in this year's elections," continues Wasserman Schultz, who adds: "The outcome is important to anyone who supports Democratic values, no matter where you live."
- "The DNC is fully committed to helping Mayor Barrett win next month's recall election in Wisconsin," says DNC spokeswoman Melanie Roussell, who says the DNC has directed $1.4 million to Wisconsin in the 2012 election cycle.
- But most of the money came last year.
- The primary source of money for campaigning on behalf of Barrett has been unions and their allies, not the DNC.
- The big boost from the DNC could come in the form of a visit to Wisconsin by BILL CLINTON.
- Word is that the former president has been approached and that there have been tentative -- key word is "tentative" -- discussions about bringing him in next week.
Poller coaster
- We're likely to get at least one poll a day from here on out. On Tuesday, the Greenberg poll had the race: Walker 50, Barrett 47. A new poll from St. Norbert's College finds Walker leading 50-45 -- with margin or error of plus or minus 5 percent
- Veteran Republican operative Mark Graul admits Walker's lead is "statistically insignificant.
- "But," adds Graul, "it's a lead."
- For the Walker camp, the good news is that the governor is at 50 percent.
- For the Barrett camp, the good news is that the governor is at 50 percent and can't seem to get above that number.
- Here's the interesting twist: Those surveyed in the St. Norbert's poll say they backed Walker over Barrett by a 52-38 margin in 2010, so the poll actually shows movement toward Barrett.
- Here's more:
- 59 percent of those surveyed said public employees SHOULD have the right to collectively bargain for wages, 60 percent said public employees SHOULD have the right to collectively bargain for health and retirement benefits.
- 44 percent of those surveyed said they were WORSE OFF financially now than a year ago. Only 28 percent said BETTER OFF.
- Watch for several more polls by the end of the week.
Early-voting excitement
- As of WEDNESDAY, according to the state Government Accountability Board, "more than 90,000 absentee ballots had been issued by Wisconsin’s local election officials who track them using the Statewide Voter Registration System (SVRS). A total of 68,000 absentee ballots were tracked in SVRS for the May 8 recall primary."
- And there are still almost ten days to go before absentee voting/early voting is complete.
Russ Feingold on Scott Walker:
- “The governor has a severe problem with the truth, whether it be the way he’s handling this investigation, whether it be the jobs numbers, the whole routine he had that somehow, this attack on the working people of this state was a budgetary matter, along with the budget. He has a very bad relationship with the truth overall.”
[Editor's Note: The Ed Show has featured extensive coverage of the worker revolt under Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin. Walker faces a recall election on June 5 against Democrat Tom Barrett, Mayor of Milwaukee. John Nichols, Washington Correspondent of The Nation, has reported on the situation in Wisconsin since Walker's union-busting campaign began shortly after he took office in January 2011. That reporting was compiled for his excellent book Uprising: How Wisconsin Renewed the Politics of Protest, from Madison to Wall Street. John has been a frequent guest on the Ed Show, and periodically he'll be sending us more notes on the Wisconsin recall campaign as we get closer to the June 5 vote.]
Leave a Comment:
Ed
You've been telling us for months that the Walker recall is of critical importance. Now that Walker looks like a shoe in, this morning you changed your tune. I think that's what O'Reilly calls "spin".
Even the DNC realizes that it's over.The people like what Walker is doing in this state.Big Eddie was trying to make this his signature issue in the media by spending so much time on this.what will Eddie do if Walker wins...
Major egg on the face of Schultzie!! lol
Your right my friend. Walker wins this going away think the voters in Wisconsn are sick of the tax payer funding the unions. Big Ed calls them the middle class but guess what it's the middle class who has been helping out the unions for years. Once the unions lose this Ed will call foul ad get ready to fight in another state because this will not in in the cheese head state it's only the beginning.
Ed Shultz has been on labor unions payroll since 2005 | Shultz received $190000 for 'representational activities' in 2011.
This represented a fivefold increase over the $37350 Schultz received from unions in fiscal 2010 — $15000 from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), $14850 from the International Brotherhood
Yesterday it was 13 days till the recall vote, today it is 12.
I see ed is getting better with his basic math skills.
Still living up to your name I see. Can we ever expect to get a comment from you without the insults? How about with some facts? Didn't think so. Leave it to a rightie come to a left leaning blog for the sole purpose of insulting the host. That take class. But you might want to brush up on your insulting skills.
larry74, mind the Code of Honor please.
You chide larry for referring to stupidita's name, and say nothing about stupidita's insults towards Ed? Strange.
Now that's funny.
What about the insults ed makes towards Republicans?
Maybe I'm a Republican.
keep dreaming liberals, walker wins this one going away, as will romney win wisconsin too...what other bright ideas do you have????
I think Walker is looking at possible trouble regardless of a recall win. That trouble is the John Doe investigation. Usually things catch up to you one way or another.
John Edwards sure knows that.
John Doe investigation will go no where. It is a union pipe dream only. Walkers policies are helping Wisconsin not hurting. Recall is a farse of the Unions and MSNBC. If Walker should win big it will be a non-news item on MSNBC. Ed will just move on to his next fabrication.
If the right wants to vote for a person whom has a legal defense fund, is looking at another congressional investigation and possible jail time so be it.
Rebecca surely will lose then guess who takes over for Walker when he meets up with Rod at the big house?
Yeah, we have this covered!!
John Edwards isn't running in this election, you know that right?
whats that got to do with walker who lied to congress and is eye deep in john doe?
but you are correct Edwards needs to be slammed. but try to stay on topic and not deflect OK.
thanks.
Imagine a company moving its facility to a new location so it can generate revenue and save jobs. What are they thinking?
Bet the hurricane flushing the sewage out to sea help sell the state as well.
I read they payed for moving workers also. So any job loss was by choice.
A Plea to the Wisconsin Voters
I am sixty-five and retired. I have worked in union jobs and non-union jobs. From the standpoint of a blue collar worker, a union worker is definitely better off in every way. Unions are far from perfect, but they represent the only viable method for common people to achieve fairness from those more powerful in a position to provide it. The powerful resent anything that impedes their power to dictate without being questioned.
Every attempt to raise the minimum wage in our country has been opposed by the Republican Party, not necessarily opposed by every individual Republican. It is important for all of us to recognize what that statement represents; workers should be at the mercy of the powerful, absolutely.
The extremely wealthy want to pit middle-class and low end working-class Americans against one another. Their outrageous argument; you should revile those union-workers for what they make compared to you poorer non-union workers. They paint the union-worker as greedy. They know that is a completely false representation of the truth. Voters in Wisconsin are exposed to the truth every day; millions and millions being spent by the rich to sell that crap to you.
The union worker is not being paid too much. The non-union workers are not being paid what they deserve, and how do we know this; the wealthy have hoarded enough billions, much of it from exploitation of under paid non-union workers. They could choose to pay everyone a fair wage, but they don’t. They don’t because they don’t have to do it. They would rather spend a little bit of their billions making you hate the guy trying to get his fair share!
It is ironic, but the fight that union workers wage for fairness always, that’s right always benefits the non-union workers in the area where unions exist. The non-union workers get paid a little more for their work, than do workers in areas where the union presence is non-existent. Why do the billionaires pay that little more? They are terrified that their workers will become unionized, and demand to be paid what they deserve!
Wisconsin is in a position to decide the fate of unions, and the welfare of the middle-class in the United States of America. That is not an overstatement. Before you vote, ask yourself this question; why are the rich, who would fight giving workers an extra dime in hourly wages willing to spend tens of millions to get you to believe your neighbor is greedy, because he or she has union representation. Please do not vote the billionaire’s interest- vote your own interest.
Michael McManus
Retired Union Worker
Have you considered there is no federal authority to set a minimum wage. Have they tried to ban NY or california from shooting themselves in the head with one?
I have no problem if you want to be part of a union, I do have a problem when I am stuck with he bill. Pass a constitutional amendment that government employees are paid out of surplus revenues, and I will support all the big libs you can put on the ticket.
I have no problem if workers want to unionize, I do have a problem that they can demand the company fund it. Let them pay the dues when they get paid to the union. Won't bother me a bit.
When Walker speaks the lies spew forth. It is all he knows. Lies, lies and more lies....
LOL
who lies more, Mitt Robme or Walker.
Pilotshark - that is a tough one...I'd say a tie. They both wouldn't know how to speak the truth if it hit them in the face!
Just heard obama say he is fiscally responsible. Walker and romney just took last place to the king of lies.
Thank You John Nichlos for keeping the count. All eyes will be on Wisconcin ! So many in this nation rally for the election and the Wisconites that have and will to the last minute of the election,will keep working hard to rid the Badger State of the Skunk who was voted Governor. If the man is guilty of anything he must be charged. Ohio is with you Wisconsin !!!!!!
Yea, latest study out today, Walker has saved the state BILLIONS!!!! Can't deride facts that come from that liberal bastion of socialism Boston. Saved thousands of government workers who would have been laid off without his bill. Not as nice, should have let them go anyways and really saved some bucks, but he is just to nice a guy to fire needlessly. Not everyone can be a romney I guess.
Can't wait for ed to cover this tonight. Walker saved jobs and money, ed will bust a vain.
slackware - Wheres your proof to back up that statement. Or are you just parroting it from FOX news. Or be embarrassed...
Bureau of Labor Statistics - please check them. Details WI job creation. Look into state ranking for job growth environment and public policy. WI has come up a lot since Walker took over. You can't argue (intelligently) with success. But the left will provide ad hominem attacks all day long. Can't wait for November!
Sorry for the delay, haven't watched fox all week, and couldn't find the story that linked to the study... One can only take so much of sean idiot, and I had a good meals to keep down.
Dennis, "job growth environment"? Theoretical. Just like "trickle down" is theoretical. I prefer to look at the facts. Your same BLS states WI lost 30,000 jobs under Walker to date. The truth is, jobs won't come back until demand returns. Taking money away from the workers of WI or forcing workers out of state doesn't increase demand. It's very simple.
We cannot have paranoid lunatics being elected to public offices in this country because that is what we have on the opposite side of the sane aisle. We need sane people to rise up and vote against lunatics like these.
Amen, pelosi and obama must go, shame we have to wait 6 years to dump reid.
Come on OK, dump boehner. Utah, vote in Love.
I think that the DNC needs to be much more agile than it seems it has been in Wisconsin. It's hard to believe that Wisconsin has many undecided voters. The DNC seems to be following the traditional idea that waiting until just before an election is best because winning the undecided voters will give the margin of victory. These are not traditional times. If the DNC is following the old-fashioned play book for elections, they are only paving the way for unnecessary problems. Someone needs to step up and co-chair with Debbie Schultz. We need generals like Grant and Sherman. The task is similiar, defeat a highly motivated extremist opponent with overwhelming force and aggression. When this is over in November, we don't want any explanations or reasons why they should have but didn't. Winning is the only option.
This recall election was there for the taking. It's too bad that the DNC and other parts of the Democratic Party didn't put any effort into winning it. They'll pay for that lack of effort and commitment this fall.
Mmmmm . . . Just a thought.
While some have spoken out on teens who have sometimes made the wrong choices that have worked against them in their life due to the fear of losing a friend or friends. Some say it seemingly is affecting adults as well in their own decision making. Opinions have it that the two candidates running for election are causing a distraction from the real issues. With the talk of job increases or job loss some are saying that without the collective bargaining rights it will still put many workers in a difficult position. Some are calling it game playing. As opinions have it, this was also being done to the Green Bay Packer football player. Some who were watching caught on and came together as did many others and made their own choice for the person who got the job done right. Now some are questioning whether or not their is such a person out here who could bring Wisconsinites back together as a whole. As a great country Western singer sang America is still the home of the brave. Speaking an opinion is true, as is freedom of speech which allows him to also speak his own words in this song. Certainly handwriting will do the same. . . OPINION OR FACT?
Wanda HUNT Penn
I for one, have been watching the Ed Show for quite some time. I am glad to see that the DNC has finally decided to direct $1.4 million towards Tom Barrett's Wisconsins election. As a Democrat from North Carolina, I plan to help by contributing towards Tom Barrett's election, and hope that other Democrats and Independents will do their share as well. Wisconsin needs all of our help. The last thing that we need, is for Walker to win. We need an honest politian for Governor in Wisconsin, not a crook and liar. The people of Wisconsin deserve better than that. I certainly hope that Bill Clinton will visit Wisconsin, that would be a great boost to the state of Wisconsin.
Peggy C. of NC
God help that state if they put that crooked Republican back in
InTrade has Gov. Walker at 90% to win the recall election. Union = Toast.
Up to 91.4% after Barretts poor debate performance.
Wisconsin voters rejected DIVIDE and CONQUER -> RECALL
Wisconsin voters rejected to go back to the 1900's policies -> RECALL
Wisconsin voters DO NOT WANT A GOVERNOR WHO LIKE UNDER OATH -> RECALL
Wisconsin voters joined American Voters in 1970's to defeate WATERGATE!
Wisconsin voters WILL REJECT WALKERGATE in JUNE 5, 2012!
TRUE AMERICAN WILL RETIRE GOV WALKER AND HIS RADICAL POLICY in JUNE 5, 2012!
Once upon a time, there was a high school student who was viciously bullying his classmates and lower classmen...
When this bully became adult, he was cruel to the "man's best friend"...
When he entered to the business world, he closed industries, took over workers'
benefits and shipped jobs overseas...
He had offshore bank accounts, and he wanted to let the U.S. auto industries go bankrupt...
And now he wants to be the President of the United States. Who would want to vote for this man?...
Now you know the rest of the story!
So we had a drugged out thug in hawaii.
So same thug ATE a dog.
Same for obama, ask the car dealerships, oil workers, solar cell workers, that company that made the t-shirts for the military. Obama shipped jobs to korea, brazil, afghanistan, china, mexico And did it with OUR money.
romney should have used his own bank, just having an account made him have to pay taxes on it.
Ford did ok without stealing our tax money, where is your proof they would have disappeared. You can still by a delorean, and they have been gone since the 80's.
But obama can't do anything unless he can break the law. And that makes him way worse than someone who obeys it.
Guess I'll go with door #3 and cast a vote for someone who deserves to be in the office. Garry Johnson 2012, end the corporate handouts, and lobbying out of the white house now.
Wisconsin voters rejected DIVIDE and CONQUER -> RECALL
Wisconsin voters rejected to go back to the 1900's policies -> RECALL
Wisconsin voters DO NOT WANT A GOVERNOR WHO LIED UNDER OATH -> RECALL
Wisconsin voters joined American Voters in 1970's to defeate WATERGATE!
Wisconsin voters WILL REJECT WALKERGATE in JUNE 5, 2012!
TRUE AMERICAN WILL RETIRE GOV WALKER AND HIS RADICAL POLICY in JUNE 5, 2012!
Ed,
Just heard you suggest that Obama speak out on the Wisconsin recall.
Heck, I've asked Obama many times to recognize the battle in Wisconsin.
I never get a response.
(I continue to get requests for campaign donations.)
My conclusion: Obama does not support public unions.
Bob (Post Falls, Idaho)
I'm a Wisconsinite, and the groundswell suport for Walker here is overwhelming. The Unions have overreached and in their failed candidate (Falk), they have managed to alienate both Walker and Barrett as well as the vast majority of taxpayers. We've finally gotten our chance to say "enough" to bloated government and fiscal waste. The Democrats wasted $20M of our money (as well as tens of millions of campaign funds) on this tantrum, but it was an important victory for the working people of Wisconsin. Barrett was beaten badly in the last debate and has no plan for Wisconsin other than a return to the unsustainable status quo.