Tea Party ‘Extreme’ to Amanpour, But Union Protesters a ‘Populist’ Show of ‘People Power’
Last October, ABC’s Christiane Amanpour characterized the Tea Party as “extreme,” declaring “people are looking at the Tea Party and saying this is not conservatism as we knew it but it's extreme.” On Sunday, however, with “People Power” plastered on screen over video of union members in Wisconsin, she saw only a genuine “populist” outpouring of “people power” in Madison.
“This week” she announced in conflating the union grievance in Madison with protests against Arab dictators, “people power making history. A revolt in the Midwest and a revolution sweeping across the Middle East.” She touted how “populist frustration is boiling over this week...in the middle of this country” as “a budget war threatens to shut down the federal government. And now union workers fighting back.”
Amanpour opened the February 20 This Week:
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR: This week: people power making history. A revolt in the Midwest and a revolution sweeping across the Middle East. State of siege, we take you to Wisconsin where firefighters and teachers have stormed the capitol. Lawmakers are in hiding and the Tea Party is fighting back. Bob Woodruff with the real story inside the battle in the heartland.
MAN: We won in November. Elections have consequences.
AMANPOUR: Our roundtable will ask, will this spread around the rest of the country? As cuts get deep, who should bear the pain?
And freedom fever, the very latest from the Middle East, where bloody protests force another key ally to do the unthinkable. My exclusive with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. And the young Internet revolutionaries that tell us how they engineered the fall of America's staunchest allies with American tech, not tanks. This week, people power starts right now.
Good morning. Populist frustration is boiling over this week, as we’ve said not just in the Middle East but in the middle of this country as well. A budget war threatens to shut down the federal government. And now union workers fighting back are tying state and local governments in knots. Ground Zero: Madison, Wisconsin.
— Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center. Click here to follow him on Twitter.
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Comments
great thread!
Submitted by merly1 on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 10:23am.
It really highlights media bias 101. I stopped watching ThisWeek once Stepho left, and this is
why I quit----this lady is a far left, radical hack masquerading as a journalist. Notice how the WI govt shutdown (you know, Dem legislators fled the state) is never framed as a govt shutdown......it is "fighting back," or "tying state govt in knots," etc. Media bias is ALL about how the media presents the news, NOT simply the news itself.
Let's see if Congress shuts down---- if Boehner is framed as "tying govt in knots." :oD
Well, she is right
Submitted by FastEd on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 10:24am.
about frustrations boiling over - people who pay taxes are learning that they pay for public union pensions (when they don't have a pension), pay for public union healthcare (while they pay for theirs) and if government shuts down, then they will get a break (except that contracts wills till pay for both).
The unions can fight back, but what they will find is that there are actually letting the tax payers know that they are selfish and don't want to take any responsibility.
"We the People . . " Hey, congress - I'm one of the people - start listening!
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad V
Hey Ed, it's been a while
Submitted by Blonde on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 11:02am.
Glad to see you back here. One of our members posted a most excellent write up as to why the Unions are fighting so hard to keep the right of collective bargaining on pension and benefits packages. It made me go SNAP! It's the graft, baby. As the shivas irons redux said, it's Cars, Vacations, and Condos, oh my! Graft and money, baby....lots of it!
Everyone here who doesn't fully understand how unions make their money ought to read that post. It fully opened up my eyes as to the stakes involved, and why the Unions (and democrats) are going to fight tooth and nail in Madison. THIS IS THE LINE IN THE SAND.
The other thing the Unions are fighting tooth and nail is Gov. Walker's going after the State paying the union dues directly to the unions. The unions know that if thier members have to pay it themselves, or at least see the $600 - $1,000 per year deducted, it will reduce the membership. As it is now, the members never see it, so there's no "economic pain" attached.
You bet this is an all out assault on the union. LOVE IT, and these smart, articulate men from Wisconsin.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
S O S from the left
Submitted by LEWIS IN COLORADO on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 11:00am.
The demonrats: "Anything I say, do, etc. is correct, tolerant, etc. Anything you say or do is wrong, racist, uncivil, hateful, etc."
Here's the difference
Submitted by Rush to Judgement on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 11:02am.
The unions honored their end of the contract, but as soon as things get sticky the governor wants to break his end of the deal. Don't contracts mean anything anymore?
Contracts can be broken, look
Submitted by Radical1979 on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 11:09am.
Contracts can be broken, look at how Obama and the dems are violating the Constitution.
Do you propose that the contract is more valuable than the financial viability of the state of Wisconsin?
No
Submitted by Rush to Judgement on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 11:25am.
What I'm saying is that blame is being placed on the wrong people. The union members followed their contract guidelines per the agreements made with the state. The second you start breaking contracts you're invalidating the foundation of United States contract law. I understand that conservatives dislike unions, but that doesn't mean anyone should get to rewrite the law.
When a company goes bankrupt
Submitted by Radical1979 on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 11:31am.
When a company goes bankrupt it invalidates union contracts so the company can recover. Would you have the state go bankrupt in order to return to fiscal solvency? This is a fiscal emergency, drastic steps must be taken to correct wrongs.
The fact is the public sector should never have been allowed to unionize in the first place.
Contract law is already under fire in this country as the government uses eminent domain to take over private land to either prevent it's resources from being used or to give it to someone the government desires.
And do you know what happens when contracts are broken?
Submitted by Rush to Judgement on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 11:39am.
Massive strikes, and in this case, resulting in the shut down of public schools. Bring in a mediator asap and fix it before it gets worse, but don't expect the union members to give up everything in the name of the state.
Give up everything?!
Submitted by Radical1979 on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 11:43am.
They are being asked to give up very little. Haven't you looked around at the private sector? People are losing jobs right and left. Those who have jobs haven't raises for several years, and are being required to pay more and more of their insurance costs. Pensions are a thing of the past.
Teachers don't want to work? Fire 'em like Reagan did the Air Traffic Controlers. No one is irreplacable.
→ And what is that, Rush?
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 11:44am.
And just what is the union in fear of giving up?
Please try to be honest with your answer.
How's this for honest?
Submitted by Rush to Judgement on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 11:50am.
Well...it's your point number one that's sticking in the craw
Submitted by Blonde on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 11:59am.
And it's the craw of the Union, not so much the workers. For an excellent explanation of the reason why, here's a post by one of our fellow NewsBusters, who explained it beautifully.
The Union has already thrown their members under the bus on employee contributions, but they are hell bent on keeping the GRAFT!
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Yes, you're correct
Submitted by Rush to Judgement on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 12:01pm.
I'm all for screwing them on their pensions, but the health care issue should certainly be a concern...especially in the current climate where no one knows what the future of our health care is looking like.
So the public sector should
Submitted by Radical1979 on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 12:04pm.
So the public sector should do better than the private when it comes to health care?
You obviously didn't read the comment I linked
Submitted by Blonde on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 12:11pm.
There is no reason for the Union to be financially in between the Employer and Employee in the Health Care or Pension Benefit transactions.
I'm for screwing the Unions out of their GRAFT! I notice you didn't comment on that. Only made a snarky comment on a non-issue. Well done.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
What was snarky about my response?
Submitted by Rush to Judgement on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 12:17pm.
The reason the union is good for health care negotiations is that a group plan allows for better coverage at lower rates. On their own the employees rates would be much higher with fewer benefits. It's the same concept as with any business that offers health benefits.
Que'lle crap
Submitted by Blonde on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 12:34pm.
A state government has a large enough pool of employees to be in a position to negotiate excellent plans at excellent rates, all by it's lonesome. The Union gets in the middle of the financial transaction to skim money, and lots of it.
You're "employees on their own" is just crap and a side show. Don't even try to go there, I used to do benefits administration and I know wherefore I speak, troll. Try your BS union arguments with someone else. I know the truth.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
no one knows what the future of our health care is looking like.
Submitted by Boudin on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 12:49pm.
Thanks to who? They could had done the right thing, but no, they did the libtard thing!
I kind of think you're making
Submitted by Radical1979 on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 12:00pm.
I kind of think you're making our argument here if you look closely. It sounds like those public sector workers have it pretty darn good, especially compared to the private sector.
On paper it looks good
Submitted by Rush to Judgement on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 12:03pm.
Until you consider their wages. Incomes at that level leave little room for changes like the one being proposed.
Well, maybe if they showed
Submitted by Radical1979 on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 12:06pm.
Well, maybe if they showed the public how well the taught, you know, by improved test scores and signs without profanity...they might be given raises. The fact is it's very hard to sympathize when the wages of teachers are so out line with those in the private sector. Not to mention the job security they have, that's a pretty good deal for them.
Cry me a freakin' river
Submitted by Blonde on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 12:14pm.
I've seen the figure of $100,00 average total compensation for these teachers.
Tell it to someone who cares.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
I'll give R2J credit, though
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 12:22pm.
R2J actually did his homework on this one.
Of course he left out the part about compulsory donations to the Democrat Party, regardless of political leaning.
But all in all, a pretty good synopsis.
Yet another 3 week Kosbot wonder
Submitted by Blonde on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 12:38pm.
At least this one is somewhat polite and tries to make a straight forward argument.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Not only that, they sued over paying for their own Viagra
Submitted by SickofLibs on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 12:46pm.
They think Wisconsin taxpayers should also subsidize their b _ _ _ _ s at about $20 per.
I'm with you pal
Submitted by Rush to Judgement on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 12:52pm.
I don't know why any insurance company would pay for ED treatment. I know mine doesn't. I mean, I HEARD mine doesn't.
Buy from India
Submitted by SickofLibs on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 5:10pm.
You may also grow breasts, so calculate the trade-off.
~I can't resist
Submitted by Wrathful Brunette on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 5:38pm.
Some men would call that a "win-win".
You can *renegotiate* contracts
Submitted by JeffWeimer on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 11:29am.
And this it what Walker is doing.
But what exactly was the union's part of the contract they honored? Was it the receipt of compulsory, state-collected dues money they then used to help elect politicians that favored them, with which they would re-negotiate the contract? Was it having the power to compel workers to be fired if they didn't want to participate in the union?
Did you forget about firemen and police?
Submitted by Rush to Judgement on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 11:48am.
Their contracts are exempt from the new collective bargaining restrictions. Aren't they now in receipt of favorable treatment after their support for Walker's election campaign?
~There you are!
Submitted by Wrathful Brunette on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 11:56am.
.
Police and firefighters.
Submitted by Radical1979 on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 11:58am.
Actually, police and firefighters gave a very small amount to Walker, $1,100 combined. Also not all police and firefighters backed Walker, Walker noted that the Wisconsin Professional Police Association and the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin - the two state organizations - backed his opponent.
You have to check the veracity of those talking points before you post them here.
How did Blonde put it, we need a better class of trolls here.
Did you also notice
Submitted by Rush to Judgement on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 12:27pm.
That both the fire and police unions gave support to Walker in other ways? Leaders from both the Milwaukee Professional Firefighters Association and the Milwaukee Police Association appeared in ads for Walker's campaign pushing the idea Walker is tough on crime. And now their union benefits remain untouched by this massive budget crisis. Something smells.
Appropriately Named One
Submitted by stratman on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 5:33pm.
Only FOUR out of 314 police and fire unions supported Walker. The rest supported his opponent.
That's LESS THAN 1.3% of the unions supported Walker..
STOP YOUR PROPAGANDA
R2J---
Submitted by matthewdean on Tue, 02/22/2011 - 2:37am.
stratman is correct on those numbers; have you not seen the many signs held at the Madison rally reflecting F.D. Local So & so? Far more than the four fire entities who supported Walker.Excuse me??
Submitted by Vic138 on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 7:08pm.
One of the first things obama did was to bail out gm and say screw you to the bond holders (people who loaned gm money to stay in business.) Under contract law these people are first in line in case of default (stock holders are last.) Obama moved the unions up to first and the bond holders got about 25 cents on the dollar. This was against the law, wake up.
Rush To Judgement...
Submitted by stratman on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 5:57pm.
What is being "broken"? And by "sticky", you mean insolvent, right?
If a term or terms of the contract were broken, or attempted to be broken, attorneys for the aggreived party(s) would be in court the next morning seking an injunction or filing breach of contract litigation. This has not happened, at least with any success.
Why? Because there is no illegal breaking of a contract. Walker and the Republicans are following the law, just the way the Dems sometimes did in pushing ill-fated Obama and other Leftists policies on the American people. Where were you when Obama passed over the legally first in line lenders/creditors/investors of GM to give a lion's share to the union?
We didn't like it then, you don't like it now. Bite me for all your wealth redistributing grotesque ilk cared before. The singular difference is my ilk is cleaning up after your buds crapped all over, cleaned out the vault, and left deficits that are untenable for generations.
Again, what contract item is being illegally broken?
Stop your propaganda.
Buy the world a Coke, Amanpour,
Submitted by SickofLibs on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 11:02am.
then sit down and STHU.
The 'news media' learned
Submitted by Willis_Leon_Johnson on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 11:09am.
The 'news media' learned years ago the civil and social unrest makes for higher advertising rates during 'news shows' and they push racism and every other divisive item they can find in the worst possible light, including lying to further enrage various sectors of the population in order to boost rating, thereby increasing revenues.
In the early years of television, the "NEWS" was presented as a 'public service' and a condition of their broadcasrt license.
THAT condition needs to be re-instated immediately and the media forced to present 'opinion' tv shows as "OPINION TV SHOWS" and let the advertisers decide where to put THEIR ADVERTISING DOLLARS.
Nothing in that plan would restrict "Free Speech" or the "Freedom of the press", it just places a requirment that the news be presented fairly and accurately in the shortest possible time to go back to 'profitable' programming.
End 'gun violence in America' - Require training and MANDATORY "Shall Carry" by every Citizen.
If harry reid is the best person to lead the senate, what does that say about the other 99 senators?
What a moron, the only reason
Submitted by Hologram5 on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 12:40pm.
What a moron, the only reason you don't see tea partiers and the likes out here protesting is because WE WORK FOR A LIVING IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR and we don't want to lose our jobs. We don't have these wonderful unions to protect us from "Not doing our jobs"...
Why are we listening to this
Submitted by Thoreau on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 1:08pm.
Why are we listening to this muslim pretending to be a christian pretending to be a jew again?