Eleanor Clift Asks McLaughlin Group "Since When Does Scott Walker Represent 'The People'?"
By Noel Sheppard | February 27, 2011 | 17:12
Newsweek's Eleanor Clift on Friday amazingly asked, "Since when does Scott Walker represent 'the people'?"
Such happened during a heated discussion on PBS's "The McLaughlin Group" about the goings-on in Wisconsin (video follows with transcript and commentary):
PAT BUCHANAN, MSNBC: You've got to stop the, they call it collective bargaining. It is collusive bargaining. What you've got is a union puts enormous amounts of money in, they get their buddy in the governor’s chair, then they get together, they cut a deal, give them a sweetheart contract and give it to the taxpayers. What this Governor Walker is saying, “Those days are over. We've got somebody representing the people now, and this is going to be an adversary proceeding between you folks and us.”
JONATHAN CAPEHART, WASHINGTON POST: None of these deals are over unless you’re police or firefighters.
ELEANOR CLIFT, NEWSWEEK: Since when does Scott Walker represent "the people"? He’s representing…
BUCHANAN AND MONICA CROWLEY TOGETHER: He got elected!
CLIFT: …the money interests that helped him get elected including…
JOHN MCLAUGHLIN, HOST: Let her finish.
CLIFT: …including lots of money from the Koch brothers.
Yes, that whopping $43,000 that Walker got from the Kochs, which Clift and her ilk conveniently ignore represented a small fraction of the millions he raised last year.
Maybe someone should have told Eleanor that Walker won in 2010 by roughly the same margin Barack Obama did in 2008, as she certainly thinks the current White House resident represents "the people".
More importantly, as is clearly evident in Clift’s protestations, Democrats elected with union money represent the people. Republicans supported by individuals don’t.
As I’ve said for years, it takes a lot of rationalizations to be a liberal these days.
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Comments
Still another Beltway snob: Eleanor, shut up!
Submitted by Mary Louise Turner on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 5:17pm.
And since when do you, Eleanor, represent the average American? You're just another Beltway Bubble snob: shut up!
Sadly,
Submitted by ThisnThat on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 5:21pm.
her question is exactly what you would expect from a person who is working for the nation's commusinst propaganda arm, newsweak. And it's probably what the teachers are teaching their students.
__________
“Didn't win the Medal of Honor? Didn't even serve? Then lie about it. We'll support you." — 9th Circuit Court
When I was in high school
Submitted by TheHistorian on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 6:01pm.
We had to buy a subscription to Newsweek our Junior year, and Time our Senior year. If that practice still goes on, then you can understand why the young people voted for BHO by an overwhelming majority. Clift represents the "me, I'm so smart" group perfectly. She and the MSM deserve each other.
Dennis Prager
→ Historian
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 6:10pm.
Things have changed since the days when the outhouse was behind the school.
They've got that stuff on rolls now.
We used the newspaper. I
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 7:46pm.
We used the newspaper. I remember my teacher showing us how to spot what is and is not news. She showed us how to pick the piece apart with critical thinking. I was still pretty liberal though, anti establishment and all that. I also remember my government teachers really having a great time during the Nixon re-election and subsequent fall later.
He was elected by the people.
Submitted by johnsonl on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 5:20pm.
Elitist liberals think "the people" are democrats who belong to unions.
And that's why the dim
Submitted by ThisnThat on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 5:24pm.
And that's why the dim senators left WI -- because they know they represent the unions, not the people who actually cast votes during the election. And Eleanor Clift is the perfect reason why they can get away with this -- as she is simply parroting the MSM agenda to try to confuse publically-educated adults.
__________
“Didn't win the Medal of Honor? Didn't even serve? Then lie about it. We'll support you." — 9th Circuit Court
I watched a few mintues of
Submitted by ricklail on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 6:42pm.
I watched a few mintues of Geraldo this morning. He had this state senator on from Wisconsin and asked him why he didn't come back, make a comotion in the capitol and get arrested. He would be a hero for that. The idoit had the nerve to tell Geraldo that he didn't run from a fight. That was all I could stomach of the two. He was calling from Illinois and he didn't run from a fight.
Another useless broad!
Submitted by blazermaniac on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 5:25pm.
Eleanor Clift doesn't represent anyone! It's amazing that programs like this allow useless bimbos the chance to spread their LIES!
It's really simple
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 5:27pm.
Eleanor doesn't think a Socialist society needs elections.
Her job would certainly be more secure if she could get those compulsory government funds back.
Liberals think
Submitted by libfail on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 5:31pm.
Only the people that agree with them matter. I now feel like emailing Clift and asking her who the hell does she think she is?
Gawd, Eleanor...
Submitted by KyWriter on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 5:28pm.
...you're looking old, and your thought processes appear to be going as well. Call the home; they're holding a place for you in the dementia ward.
Wow....
Submitted by jon_torlin on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 5:32pm.
Now that was a sight to see. She asks that question and Buchanan and Crowley answer correctly but also in an incredulous way that without actually saying it out loud, she's a dingbat.
Just......wow. Someone needs a serious refresher course in what a representative republic is.
-Jon
Time to go home.
Submitted by Rousse on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 5:33pm.
Whoa Nellie. You just squandered the last of your journalism credits. Time to go home where you can shout at the television like the rest of us.
Pay attention, Eleanor
Submitted by Dave. on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 5:39pm.
Gov. Walker is representing the people - the people who work outside of government and actually produce something of value, and who are seeing more and more of what they earn being taken away from them and used to fatten the already bloated retirement accounts of teachers who contribute none of their own money toward their own health care, their retirement, or anything else.
The producers are tired of taking in the neck from people who can't even teach kids to read, and whose union bosses are up to their necks in expensive cigars.
And not just in Wisonsin, either.
-Dave
JOHN MCLAUGHLIN, HOST: Let her finish.
Submitted by ThisnThat on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 5:40pm.
CLIFT: …including lots of money from the Koch brothers.
And where's the fair and balanced discussion regarding any money kicked in by Unions -- and which candidates that money supported? And since we're at it, why not bring up the obvious -- that the Union money was involuntarily stolen from the Union members -- who got the money directly from the taxpayers. But I guess that's not the communist way, is it? Nope -- simply throw some red meat at the wall, with no context, and see if that will engage the base. Nice try, Clift, but it doesn't work that way anymore.
__________
“Didn't win the Medal of Honor? Didn't even serve? Then lie about it. We'll support you." — 9th Circuit Court
→ Speaking of comfortable shoes
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 5:44pm.
I hear there are 14 comfortable loafers floating in a hot tub over in Illinois.
I wonder if the spouses are starting to worry about this tight-knit little group?
CA
Submitted by well99 on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 7:59pm.
I think they have already picked their theme song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS9OO0S5w2k
Great theme song
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 8:02pm.
Wet chicken feathers! UGH!!!
Sadly, She was dead serious
Submitted by Miss_Me_Yet on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 5:47pm.
Sadly, She was dead serious with that question. Liberalism really needs to be cerified as a severe mental defect. Otherwise we'll never get these kooks off the air, even more importantly, off our streets where our children may be playing.
We really need a national registery for liberals, similar to the sex offender rolls. This way we can keep track, with addresses, descrption of offenses against America, along with current photo, so we know whether our neighborhoods are safe or not.
Liberals ... we can't live with them, they couldn't survive without us ...
She is really too stupid to
Submitted by ruby2ssday on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 5:54pm.
She is really too stupid to exist. I'll bet she even thinks it was a brilliant question. I'll also bet there are millions of people in the USA that think the same way.
→ But it's also revealing
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 5:55pm.
I think it's refreshing that Eleanor Clift is out there speaking what Liberals truly believe.
What is your wager that the Liberal Media will be all over her for her stupid remark?
I'm sitting over her with my reliable friends Slim and Nunn.
Does anyone have the data on
Submitted by TheHistorian on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 6:11pm.
Does anyone have the data on how much each Governor candidate got in WI? It would be nice to compare. I know that US wide, unions outspent business groups.
Conservatives make the point that the taxpayers fund the unions through public employee pay which then goes to the unions, and hence to Democrats. Gregory King, a spokesman for AFSCME, said conservatives make too much of the issue, especially the link to taxpayers. Based on their logic, "the government is funding the movie industry every time AFSCME members go out to the movies," he said.
No, based on King's logic the people who don't go to movies also fund the movie industry. The fight is not to stop union organizing. The fight is to LIMIT what unions can negotiate, and to allow non-union workers to opt out of dues. The limitation may not be in the spirit of collective bargaining, but allowing non-union workers to opt out certainly is.
The unions brought this on themselves. Remember how Obama recinded the form unions had to file on political expenditure disclosure? This is the logical fallout from his Administration not wanting to report union expenditures.
Dennis Prager
Ya Know
Submitted by Ashrak on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 6:17pm.
It is almost like these lefist progressives think that 98% of the people (You know everybody besides them) are part of a union.
Folks in Wisconsin have awakened. Last November was open season on Democrats. When it comes down to it, the only way to stop the foolishness, the only way to get government back into the Constitutional box, is to stop voting for Democrats.
For a while, folks thought that translated into voting for Republicans and then RINOs took over. Democrats decided to run as Republicans, like in Illinois, and they have all but ruined the Republican brand.
In Illinois, being for Obamacare, for Cap and Trade, introducing gun bans and even sponsoring National Popular Vote legislation is all done by those claiming to be Republicans. SO much is this rewarded that one of these folks can almost win the Republican Nomination for Governor and indeed win the Senate seat.
Maybe the Illinois GOP should actually have its members, those running on its ticket, actually subscribe to it's platform instead of looking at the $$$$$$$$$$$ they can raise in Chicago. I don;t know if the GOP is like that in other states, but itsure is that way here.
Is this because of the sentiment within this article? That unless the UNION is represented, the people are not represented? What then are the non union people? Chopped liver?
Sheesh.
Hey, Eleanor
Submitted by moderncommentaries83 on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 6:42pm.
Scott Walker represented the people of Wisconsin after Nov. 2.
I live in Wisconsin, so let me rant for a minute.
We the people elected the man to be our governor. We voted because Scott Walker made his intention to cut spending dramatically very clear in his platform. Even the liberal Milwaukee Journal Sentinel endorsed Scott Walker for governor.
If you're reading this, and a conservative or someone who says they love our democratic process, you should be FRIGHTENED BEYOND BELIEF.
Why?
Because -- as I've seen living in the heart of this drama -- the Democrats/left has made two things very clear:
The first point was probably well-know if you've been paying attention. Unions give massive amounts of money to Democrat candidates and political causes. The Democrats are wetting themselves because they see Walker's about to turn off the spigot.
What's more galling is that in Wisconsin, a lot of public-sector jobs require that you join a union. The state automatically takes your dues and the union then gives that money to the left. If you're a schoolteacher (like I want to be) and a conservative (like I am), your paycheck is going to fund candidates and causes you are politically and/or morally opposed to. More than that, since these jobs are paid for by taxes, the unions are using taxpayer money to buy political favor with leftist politicians.
Imagine the outrage if the right had such a deal with unions.
The second point includes all the lefties -- including the 14 AWOL Wisconsin Democrat Senators -- who now believe they have the "right" to rollback the November 2010 election simply because they didn't like the outcome.
From the second the November 2010 election results came in, the liberals I know on FB were miserable. Some equated Scott Walker to McCarthy, others mocked Ron Johnson (Wisconsin Senator who replaced Russ Feingold) as "stupid." The hatred and vitriol was palpable.
If you've paid any attention to the debate, you see the same meme coming to the forefront. Scott Walker is now a "dictator" who is refusing to "negotiate" with people. The left is beside themselves.
So they are working to undermine democracy. Some are even attempting to recall Governor Walker - who's done nothing to deserve it. Except maybe fulfill his campaign promises.
I distinctly remember Obama getting up on television in 2009 and telling everyone: I won.
There was no debate. No room for negotiation.
So the left -- now that the shoe is on the other foot -- defines not only unions as "rights" but democracy as "negotiation."
It's B.S.
If you support what Walker is doing, even if you don't live in Wisconsin, let him know. Follow him on Twitter @govwalker. Show the man he's got the support of lots more people than the childish protesters befouling the Capitol Building in Madison.
Is there a way to
Submitted by panzerakc on Mon, 02/28/2011 - 1:19am.
offer your support to Governor Walker if you're not on Twitter?
As one born right there in Madison,
Submitted by Ashrak on Mon, 02/28/2011 - 11:00am.
I will disagree with you on point, MC. The Democrat party is owned not by the unions, but being owned by the strategy that is majority of the minorities. In order to bring to bear that majority, they have had to make comflicting promises. Sure, that is all fine and dandy on the campaign trail, but it all blows up in their faces when they actually win.
I have said all along that opposition can win elections, but it cannot lead. We are witnessing that right now in undeniable terms. Obama is alienating his union base right now because he isn;t standing with them as they want. Enviros will soon be doing the same thing as Obama is forced to deal with rising gadoline prices. I predict a release of strategic reserves within the next month. That will be an admission that more supply here is required and will alienate those who seek to limit supply here.
Obama is now experiencing what Carter did. When you promise all things to all people, in the end, everybody is pissed off at you because you can provide nothing to any of them.
The left in Wisconsin has simply pushed too far. Outside Madison and Brewer land, the folks are snappish. Removal of Russ and that Doyle didn't even run shows it. Much is being made of this union situation but it is not going to end there. I can't wait until the gun legislation comes down the pike. Democrats are even more scared of that than they are this union business. So too is media.
These idiots do not realize
Submitted by DWoSD on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 6:51pm.
These idiots do not realize what they are saying from one moment to the next. If the election of Walker does not represent the people then how does the election of the King represent the people...or in her world logic does not exist and standards are allowed to be selective when they promote the socialist side.
Really that has got to be tied for one of the stupidist statements ever made by a leftist sycophant.
Good question
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 6:54pm.
I'd put Wisconsin public support for Walker's Bill up against National support of Obama's Socialist Health Care Bill.
By Clift's standard, Obama definitely does not represent the people.
Eleanor Clift
Submitted by JodyO on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 7:50pm.
Eleanor Clift gets dumber as she gets older and uglier. Quite a feat considering where she started...
Eleanor's BS reflects on the
Submitted by ant on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 8:02pm.
Eleanor's BS reflects on the point I attempted to make to an ignorant lib recently that complained about money going to ANY candidate running against a democrat. Apparently, to the left, the idea that a citizen making 20,000- 50,000 dollars a year has more than enough money to finance a campaign against the money of a Pelosi,a Kerry, or a Kennedy. What a joke. I thought libs were all about 'fairness'.
Libs are all about me, me and
Submitted by Miss_Me_Yet on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 8:20pm.
Libs are all about me, me and more me.
Liberals ... we can't live with them, they couldn't survive without us ...
Eleanor Clift Amazingly Asks
Submitted by Cowboy on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 8:24pm.
Eleanor Clift Amazingly Asks "Since When Does Scott Walker Represent 'The People'?"Since he was elected.
"All Government employees should realize that the process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into the public service. It has its distinct and insurmountable limitations ... The very nature and purposes of Government make it impossible for ... officials ... to bind the employer ... The employer is the whole people, who speak by means of laws enacted by their representatives ..."
-- FDR
Clift
Submitted by batcat on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 8:42pm.
Clift gives morons a bad name.
Hey unions!
Submitted by okiehawk44 on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 8:44pm.
Have the unions declared that members are only required to pay half their union dues during these difficult economic times?
Waiting to hear.
Still waiting.
Clift Has Never Minded Looking Stupid
Submitted by Boil It Down on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 8:51pm.
No honorable person would willingly play the fool on national TV for as long as she has and remain employed unless the employer wanted it so. I don't know how many dozens of times over her many years that I've seen Clift on Sunday and I've said something like "She didn't really say that" or "She can't really be that stupid". Mistake after mistake she plods along. I think that I may have tuned in just to see what goofy thing Eleanor Clift was going to say that day.
It is desperately important for the Dems to take back the power and Clift is merely and operative. Clift's remark, silly or not, was a poke at the opposition and that's how she makes a living. Aside from that, her elitist circle of friends must be vitally important to her. She's part of the ruling class within media. (useful idiot)
She really doesn't seem to have the integrity to be embarrassed about a clearly stupid question like this. If she did she would have made efforts to avoid such shameful mistakes a couple of decades ago.
Clift has outlived her brain,
Submitted by celator on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 9:25pm.
Clift has outlived her brain, and that may explain her weird behavior and bizarre (even for a hard lefty), off the wall opinions. It's time for her to dance off--stage left--the public scene and slink back under the rock of obscurity.
→ Clift Palate
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 8:54pm.
Certainly has an appetite for drop-dead stupid.
Sometimes when I'm watching,
Submitted by tampamom25 on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 9:12pm.
Sometimes when I'm watching, I ask myself how stupid she can be, and then she says something and my question is answered. Apparently in her liberal mini-mind, anyone elected to office who is not a liberal/Democrat doesn't represent the people....
"The People" in Unions...
Submitted by bigdaddy on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 10:08pm.
...equal about 11% of the total US workforce. About the same percentage that claim to be Democrats.
Different day; same Progressive sh*t
Submitted by locomotivebreath1901 on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 11:35pm.
Eleanor Clift: wearing out "I (heart) Obama" kneepads at a record rate since 2008
thanks Eleanor
Submitted by wizardjr on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 11:47pm.
ROFL. That was my coffee spew moment of the day. Every time I think she's peaked out in stupid she comes back and surpasses herself.
When?
Submitted by Denny Crane on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 11:56pm.
So let me get this straight...
When a Democrat is elected, they represent the people even though most of their campaign money came from Unions, and some far left billionares like Soros and Buffet. That we should sit down and let them govern because they were duly elected.
When a Republican is elected, they don't represent the people because a very small percentage of their money came from the Koch brothers? And it's shameful when they sneak votes on legislation early in the morning after 60 hours of debate.
Meanwhile the people that have a 33% rate want a raise.
We Are The 53%
Eleanor Clift
Submitted by GigglingGoogler on Mon, 02/28/2011 - 1:56am.
People of her ilk don't know the definition of represent!
Eleanor Clift
Submitted by GigglingGoogler on Mon, 02/28/2011 - 1:52am.
She is truly an imbecile!
Talk about your case of
Submitted by dscott on Mon, 02/28/2011 - 2:28am.
Talk about your case of classic Projection!
Thanks Eleanor for admitting from the liberal perspective that elections are only salesmanship contests where contestants are rewarded for the most convincing lies by winning the most votes.
When is an election, not an election? When it doesn't mean what you say it does.
Who knew that the November 2010 elections were only a TV reality show called Survivor Wisconsin? Thanks for clearing that up for us Eleanor.
It is too assinine for comments .return to Jr. High gov. class
Submitted by Marat on Mon, 02/28/2011 - 2:29am.
desperate liberals say desperate things-
Submitted by JIMMY1660 on Mon, 02/28/2011 - 9:01am.
madam-elections have consequences.
wake up-the people have spoken
That's why they're called
Submitted by wiwf on Mon, 02/28/2011 - 10:01am.
That's why they're called elected representatives. Words are silly, Clift :)
Liberal Universal Translator
Submitted by lkotur on Mon, 02/28/2011 - 11:14am.
Eleanor Clift Asks McLaughlin Group "Since When Does Scott Walker Represent 'The People'?" Liberalease - "I love democracy and elections until they don't go my way."My Gawd
Submitted by donabernathy on Mon, 02/28/2011 - 11:15am.
da woman gets dumber by the moment
roflmao
They even pay this bimbo for
Submitted by Armymom on Mon, 02/28/2011 - 11:18am.
They even pay this bimbo for this!
Ignorance is Bliss
Submitted by jschau on Mon, 02/28/2011 - 12:12pm.
Walker represents the people ever since he was elected by the people to represent the people. Who do you represent Ms. Eleanor (I'm a confirmed plagiarist) Clift?
Elections have consequences,
Submitted by liberalsarefunny on Mon, 02/28/2011 - 1:02pm.
Elections have consequences, you dummy....
Hey you ignorant bimbo!!
Submitted by Patriot II on Mon, 02/28/2011 - 1:36pm.
Since when do communist liberal morons like you and oblahma represent the people? imo
Ms. Clift
Submitted by OldLeprechaun on Mon, 02/28/2011 - 1:48pm.
"As I’ve said for years, it takes a lot of rationalizations to be a liberal these days."
Oh, now... It doesn't take any more that it has for generations. I used to think it was only something that stemmed from the 60's. Then a friend put me on to the book, "Paris 1919; six months that changed the world". Great book. The author lays out just what a bunch of arrogant jackasses Woodrow Wilson and fellow travelers were. Although he believed himself to be a "christian", Wilson was in practice, a Secular Humanist who planned to remake mankind in his own image. Much of the trouble we are dealing with today stems from Socialist-loving secular humanists such as Wilson. Sadly, hubris has never been in short supply. Ms. Clift demonstrates that fact.
Apologies to the Beatles
Submitted by HockeyKid on Mon, 02/28/2011 - 1:51pm.
Eleanor Dingbat,
Keeping her brain in a jar by the door.
What was it for?
All the stupid people--
Why must they always speak?
All the stupid people--
Seem to write for Newsweek!
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
Sometimes I wonder ...
Submitted by BD57 on Mon, 02/28/2011 - 2:27pm.
if Eleanor believes 10% of the crap she says.