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Obama Enters Wisconsin Fray, Backs Unions

Calls bargaining limits an 'assault' on unions

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 18, 2011 7:17 AM CST | Updated Feb 18, 2011 7:56 AM CST

(Newser) – President Obama has entered the fray in Wisconsin, slamming what he calls Gov. Scott Walker's “assault” on unions—and that's not all. Obama’s political operation, Organizing for America, has teamed up with union organizers to help build the thousands-strong protest in Madison and assemble demonstrations at other state capitals—including Columbus, Ohio, which saw thousands protesting an anti-union measure yesterday. The Washington Post reports that the political group made calls, sent emails, and posted messages on Twitter and Facebook in an attempt to bulk up the crowds at rallies.

“I think everybody's got to make some adjustments, but I think it's also important to recognize that public employees make enormous contributions to our states and our citizens,” Obama said in a sit-down interview with a local Milwaukee TV station. But House Speaker John Boehner criticized Obama’s involvement. “This is not the way you begin an 'adult conversation' in America about solutions to the fiscal challenges that are destroying jobs in our country,” he said. Some activists predict protests will also pop up in New Jersey, Missouri, and Pennsylvania. (Click for more on the Wisconsin Democrats who went AWOL yesterday.)

President Barack Obama boards Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Thursday, Feb. 17, 2011, en route to San Francisco.
President Barack Obama boards Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Thursday, Feb. 17, 2011, en route to San Francisco.   (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 186 comments
summerfairy
Feb 18, 2011 4:24 PM CST
Rush Limbaugh You protesting unionista Democrats had better think long and hard about whether you want mob rule in this country. Why? Because according to all the polls last November we have the biggest mob. By far. It ain't even close.
odowd80
Feb 18, 2011 12:53 PM CST
Unions did not cause any budget problems. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2011/02/unions_arent_to_blame_for_wisc.html#more
AustinFound
Feb 18, 2011 12:27 PM CST
If you only read one story about the Wisconsin debacle, let it be this one. http://host.madison.com/ct/news/opinion/editorial/article_61064e9a-27b0-5f28-b6d1-a57c8b2aaaf6.html Scott Walker came into office and created a fiscal crisis to justify his giveaways to political interest groups. This is not an opinion piece. These are the facts and findings of the state of Wisconsin's Fiscal Bureau all laid out for us to see. What a pathetic failure of a human being.
 

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