Media Myth: Liberals Never Use Violent Rhetoric or Imagery
In the weeks following the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) there was a constant media barrage dishonestly contending liberals never use violent rhetoric or imagery.
As Wisconsin's Republican Governor Scott Walker tries to balance his state's budget with a bold move limiting the collective bargaining rights of public employees, the Left have come out in force dispelling the myth that only the Right uses harsh tones to make its point (video follows with commentary):
As the Associated Press reported moments ago, "Protesters clogged the hallways of the Wisconsin state Capitol on Thursday as the Senate prepared to pass a momentous bill that would strip government workers, including school teachers, of nearly all collective bargaining rights."
Many of these demonstrations have been organized by the various unions inside Wisconsin that are against the Governor's proposal. "The head of the 98,000-member statewide teachers union called on all Wisconsin residents to come to the Capitol on Thursday for the votes in the Senate and Assembly."
But here's the truth of the matter:
In addition to eliminating collective bargaining rights, the legislation also would make public workers pay half the costs of their pensions and at least 12.6 percent of their health care coverage — increases Walker calls "modest" compared with those in the private sector.
Republican leaders said they expected Wisconsin residents would be pleased with the changes and that the bill was about saving money. The union concessions would save the state $30 million by July 1 and $300 million over the next two years to address a $3.6 billion budget shortfall. [...]
Under Walker's plan, state employees' share of pension and health care costs would go up by an average of 8 percent.
Unions still could represent workers, but could not seek pay increases above those pegged to the Consumer Price Index unless approved by a public referendum. Unions also could not force employees to pay dues and would have to hold annual votes to stay organized.
In exchange for bearing more costs and losing bargaining leverage, public employees were promised no furloughs or layoffs. Walker has threatened to order layoffs of up to 6,000 state workers if the measure does not pass.
So, instead of the state having to layoff thousands of employees, it is asking for what most would consider modest increases to their health insurance costs, an increase to their share of pension contributions, and to tie future pay increases to inflation unless the voters approved more.
And for this Walker is the equivalent of Adolf Hitler.
The reality is that states across the country are virtually all facing similar choices as union-negotiated benefits to public employees have become absolutely impossible to fund. It is a metaphysical certitude that any proposals reducing said benefits in order to balance budgets will be greeted by the type of protests happening in Wisconsin at this very moment.
With that in mind, please remember the video above the next time some media member dishonestly claims only conservatives use violent rhetoric or imagery to advance their agenda.
(H/T Sean Hackbarth)
- Noel Sheppard's blog
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Comments
Here ya' go, Noel
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 12:49pm.
President Obama says Madison is an "assault on unions".
Media takes its cue from the master of divisiveness.
B.S.!
Submitted by iveseenitall on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 1:00pm.
Of all the lies which the left spews, this is one of the worst. I have worked closely with "liberals" almost all my long life. They, by far, are the most vile, vicious, bigoted haters I have ever met, particularly if you dare to disagree with them. Moreover, they are among the most closed-minded, immature, illogical, homophobic, sexist and racist members of our society. Have any of the MSM ever read the Daily Kos? Hypocrites--- all of them!
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal" (progressive)
→ They're not racists
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 1:01pm.
They're not racists, they believe in owning lots of minorities.
Cool...
Submitted by iveseenitall on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 1:07pm.
Hear! Hear!
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal" (progressive)
More photos from libs.
Submitted by upcountrywater on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 1:00pm.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3506/3797552703_9dbdd22d38_b.jpg
You Didn't Build That.
Amazing
Submitted by Walker01049 on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 1:09pm.
It's just amazing how the left and Obama demonize publicly the Tea Party gatherings but say nothing of the thugs in the socialist union marches. And the MSN is right behind them in supporting these idiots.
The left is lying trying to stop chaaaaaange.
Submitted by Ashrak on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 1:12pm.
Let's get something straight. The right to organize iself is not being eliminated. Free association exists and remains.
What is being removed is the thug tactics that stop responsibility and accountability by those who choose to organize. If they want to organize and bargain collectively, so be it. They still can. The difference will be that their collective decision carries no weight beyond the individual decision to take the job offered at the pay and benefit structure offered. What is being eliminated is "union" authority over the state.
It is a outright lie to say the right to associate, the right to organize, is being removed. It just is not true. Simply stated, the perceived right to run roughshod over the taxpayer by mob action is being put in check with individual responsibility and personal accountability.
I just heard a bit ago that parents have started calling schools complaining about what the teachers are doing. Their thuggish actions are meeting stiff resisitance. Their plan is backfiring. Speaking of firing, some should be fired for actions they have taken these past few days.
Unions Vrs the Union
Submitted by CobraMan on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 1:18pm.
"Unions still could represent workers, but could not seek pay increases above those pegged to the Consumer Price Index unless approved by a public referendum."
It's rather ironic that the Unions are against a requirement of needing a referendum by the state's citizen to increase the state's payments to the unions. Hay, Unions, the BIGGEST union is the citizens themselves. It makes sense to have that biggest union cast a vote on how much they're willing to pay other unions. After all, the lesser unions are sub-contractors to the biggest union of all, the citizens themselves. Union leaders: WHY are you fighting against the biggest union of all, the citizens who hire you? Are you afraid of the competition or something?
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
So if this does not go
Submitted by ninerdog on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 1:32pm.
So if this does not go through they will lay off 6,000 of 98,000 union employees….. Seems like that is about 92,000 too low.
.
Submitted by AtillaKahuna on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 1:54pm.
.
There are persons...who see not the full extent of the evil which threatens them; they solace themselves with hopes that the enemy...will be merciful.
Facts
Submitted by AtillaKahuna on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 1:55pm.
I know it's not fair to bring facts into a discussion with Liberals, but here goes. As a resident of Wisconsin, and a Conservative, I applaud Governor Walker for doing the hard work in trying to undo decades of fiscal mismanagement (yes, that includes both Democrats and Republicans).
Here are some facts about the current state of Wisconsin finances:
Our current 2-year budget that expires June 30th has over a $130 million deficit. The upcoming 2011-2012 biennial budget has a structural deficit of somewhere from $3.3 to $3.7 BILLION dollars. It is a violation of the Wisconsin Constitution to have an un-balanced budget. The previous administrations have used tricks, borrowing, one-time money (thanks, Governor Doyle) and smoke-and-mirrors accounting to "balance" their budgets.
Not with this governor.
On to state union workers:
In 2001 taxpayers contributed $423 million dollars to state employee health insurance premiums, while in 2011 taxpayers contributed more than $1 billion dollars. In 2011, state employees paid $64 million toward their health insurance, or about 5.6% of the total cost.
From 2001 to 2010 taxpayers spent more than $8 billion dollars on state employee health care coverage-over the same period of time state employees contributed about $398 million. - 0.05 %
Public employers (TAXPAYERS) contributed almost $1.37 billion to the state's pension fund in 2009, while employees contributed about $8 million, or about 0.6%.
From 2000 to 2009 taxpayers spent about $12.6 billion on public employee pensions, during the same period public employees contributed $55.4 million
Much of the hysterical coverage and protesting is asking why the Governor is "picking on" state employees. Here's why:
When looking at state operations, state employees account for about 60% of taxpayer cost-77% of state operations for the UW are employees, 70% for corrections, 63% for health services.
What horrible adjustments is the Governor asking state employees to make? 25% pay cuts? No health insurance? No penison? More furlough days? No.
Governor Walker's budget repair bill strikes a fair balance-asking public employees to make a modest 5.8% pension contribution, which is about the national average, and 12.6% health insurance contribution, which is about half the national average.
Yep. They will need to put in 5.8% of their paychecks for their pension - I know, why should they have to fund their OWN retirement????
And they will need to pay 12.6% of the cost of their health insurance - NOT 12.6% of their pay, 12.6% of the cost.
If I were offered that deal, I'd take it in a heartbeat. The state workers' unions are just throwing a temper tantrum, because the union members will quickly realize that they don't need the unions anymore, and their place at the state trough will be taken away from them.
Get over it. Be grownups, and acknowledge the reality of the situation the State is in.
Kahuna
There are persons...who see not the full extent of the evil which threatens them; they solace themselves with hopes that the enemy...will be merciful.
Welcome to Gary Hall's Pesky Fact Club
Submitted by Blonde on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 1:59pm.
As recording secretary, I'm here to officially welcome you, and to ensure that your membership certificate to the Pesky Fact Club will be in the mail tomorrow morning.
Congratulations, and welcome to the club!
Great post.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Unions and Obama
Submitted by iveseenitall on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 1:37pm.
In the beginning, there was a place for unions ( I believe there still is). But, just as government, they have become too powerful and corrupt. Obama, as usual, has jumped to defend them without thought for the consequences of his words. He's not a leader at all, but an immature, incompetent divider. Sad.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal" ( progressive )
I worked for the City of
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 1:45pm.
I worked for the City of Dallas for years and retired with a pension. We did not have the benefit of a union and collective bargaining. In the years I was there we had our salaries cut 2% one time and 5% this last time. In addition salaries were frozen and advancement stopped. The last time they also furloughed employees for 6 days a year w/o pay.
We whined and cried and threw temper tantrums but in the end the city controls the money.
Wisconsin will end up with all the employees accepting the terms. I looked at them and it seemed more than generous.
What's going on in Wisconsin
Submitted by jdawg2009 on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 2:05pm.
What's going on in Wisconsin is nothing short of a progressive attempt to overturn the election. It does not look good at all.
http://www.examiner.com/conservative-in-spokane/is-wisconsin-the-beginning-of-a-progressive-revolution
Teachers in WI
Submitted by ThisnThat on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 2:09pm.
My question is -- why do these teachers still have jobs?
__________
“Didn't win the Medal of Honor? Didn't even serve? Then lie about it. We'll support you." — 9th Circuit Court
...and dragging hundreds of students along with them for props
Submitted by SickofLibs on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 2:39pm.
.
Further proof that the
Submitted by Liberallies on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 2:36pm.
Further proof that the Teacher's Union cares NOTHING about students. The Teacher's Union is against vouchers, which would allow kids from very poor neighborhoods attend excellent schools. Remember that one of President Obama's and the Democratic controlled Congress' action back in 2009 was to eliminated the Voucher program in Washington DC!!!! this caused countless of inner city kids who were attending excellent high schools to have to go back to their crime ridden, poor teachers, terrible programs inner city high schools!!!
Democrats care NOTHING about minorities, about the inner cities!!! They used and abuse these people!
I hope that Conservatives and Republicans stand strong in Wisconsin and pass this bill which will bring unions under control and their budget under control! I live in Illinois and more and more Wisconsin looks better to live in than Illinois!
Dims in hiding
Submitted by ThisnThat on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 3:03pm.
Apparantly, the Republicans are standing strong in Wisconsin -- but the state police are out searching for the dims who have all gone into hiding, and have refused to show up and submit their vote on behalf of their constituants.
I absolutely love it. Wisconsin liberals are forefront in the display of deep-to-the-bone selfishness and abuse of their positions. What do communists do when they don't like the law? They ignore it, and then violently attack. What do WI unions do? Exactly the same, it appears.
This is a country of laws -- unless you're an elite union member; or teacher; or dim lawmaker, apparantly.
__________
“Didn't win the Medal of Honor? Didn't even serve? Then lie about it. We'll support you." — 9th Circuit Court
→ Saw that, TNT
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 3:06pm.
Megyn Kelly said they need at least one Democrat to make a legal vote.
If I were a legislator-Republican, I think I'd declare myself a Dem-for-a-day and seal the deal.
Cool, It's not that
Submitted by JoeBob on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 8:54pm.
Cool,
It's not that they need a Dem, but that they need a 20th person for a quorum. They've got 19 Repubs, 14 Dems (in hiding), and they need 20 members to open the legislative session.
And I wouldn't declare myself Dem-for-a-Day if you paid me to.
ThisnThat, Really? The
Submitted by Liberallies on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 3:09pm.
ThisnThat,
Really? The Dimwitted in Wisconsin have gone into hiding? LOL WOW! do you have a link for the story. I love putting this story up on my facebook and getting my Liberal friends go crazy! LOL
Incredibly, can you imagine if Republicans would have gone into hiding during the healthcare bill debate and voting? The media and Liberals would have gone crazy.
I do not know how it works in Wisconsin, but in some States if you go into hiding, as a congressman, and the State police find you, you can be brought up on criminal charges! I hope Wisconsin is this way. Didn't something similar to this happen in Nevada or another state and the Governor there had to invoke his powers to get the Dimwitted back into their Capitol?
It happened in Texas
Submitted by jon_torlin on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 3:33pm.
It happened in Texas a few years ago(2003). The State Senate Dems went into hiding over into New Mexico where that pos Bill Richardson welcomed them with open arms. Governor Perry wanted to use the Texas Rangers(not the baseball team of course) to bring them in before they left the state, cowards that they were. Perry was within his right to order it if necessary.
They eventually came back on their own.
Richardson made a real ass of himself and of the Dems talking about the state welcoming refugees and some other BS like that.
-Jon
→ Killer Bees
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 3:37pm.
They called themselves the "Killer Bees" over a redistricting dispute. Remember it well.
And I think they holed up in Oklahoma.
it was both
Submitted by jon_torlin on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 3:58pm.
I forgot about them, it was the Killer Ds, or rather the Texas Five that went to Oklahoma while the Texas 11 (later to be minus one) that went to New Mexico.
But yeah, it was a redistricting dispute.
I forgot they had split into two groups. Boy, talk about your screwed up publicity stunts and they accused Perry of doing the same.
-Jon
→ jon
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 9:13pm.
I stand to stand corrected.
The "killer bees" to which I referred occurred in 1979.
Wow, do I feel old, remembering this crap as though it happened yesterday instead of 32 years ago.
OK, so much for "remember it well".
oops...double
Submitted by Liberallies on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 3:17pm.
oops...double
Yeap, here it is.... The
Submitted by Liberallies on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 3:21pm.
Yeap, here it is....
The Dimwitted have gone into hiding...
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/02/17/teachers-march-wisconsin-capitol-senate-moves-curtail-union-rights/
Man I hope this blows up on the face of unions and the Dimwitted....
Like I said, can you imagine the outrage of Republican elected officials used these type of tactics? incredible!
Wisconsin, stay strong and pass this bill, make it law!
numbers
Submitted by Kilroy on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 2:47pm.
My question would be what percentage of the general population is holding this protest in Wisconson and how can a minority like that hold the majority up for ransom in a supposedly demcratic society?
Consider...
Submitted by AtillaKahuna on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 3:25pm.
Consider this:
There are approximately 98,000 teachers in Wisconsin (or at least in WEAC - the largest teachers' union), and there are over 5.5 million people.
Crowd estimates have been "tens of thousands", so call it 50,000.
50,000 / 5,500,000 = 0.00909, or 0.909%.
How can 1% hold 99% hostage? Labor unions, that's how.
Atilla
There are persons...who see not the full extent of the evil which threatens them; they solace themselves with hopes that the enemy...will be merciful.
Atilla,
Submitted by Agnostic on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 7:29pm.
you forgot the liberal crowd estimate constant. When the cause is liberal the estimate must be multiplied by 1.84 when announced in the media.
Is it not amazing! for years
Submitted by Liberallies on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 2:54pm.
Is it not amazing! for years now we have heard the Left claim that the "wacky" Republicans, Conservatives, Tea Partiers were going crazy and cause a revolution. HAHAHA!!! Now what do we see? Left wingers and union lemmings revolting because, oh my goodness, like the rest of us, they are being asked to put their own money into their retireiment! Oh the horror! Spoiled brat union members!
Wisconsin Chickens found roosting
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 7:25pm.
In Illinois, no less.
Maybe they're visiting Rev. Wright's church.