Everyone with a pulse knows the result of the recall vote in Wisconsin. They also know the spin:
The WaPo piece along with a bunch of others articles I read before and after the election all do the same thing; they blur the line between private sector and public sector unions. Even the WaPo title says . . . Scott Walkers victory deals blow to unions when it should say . . . deals blow to public sector unions. The MSM only makes the distinction when it is unavoidable:
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walkers victory deals blow to unions
By Peter Whoriskey and Dan Balz, The Washington Post
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s victory deals blow to unions - The Washington Post
Notice how the WaPo went from the nations labor unions, to unions representing government workers, and back to the labor movement. If you check I think you will find that same kind of linguistic footwork throughout the MSM. Conservative commentators do it, too, but in their case it is not deliberate.
The MSM does it deliberately
The MSM relies upon a substantial number of Americans not understanding the important distinction, while most politicians look like they are sucking on a lemon when they say public sector unions. Thats understandable because no politician wants to alienate a major constituency. Governors Christy and Walker are notable exceptions. Happily, recognizing the distinction, and acting on it, appears to be spreading to politicians in cities and towns.
Parenthetically, this election cycle is the first time I can remember Republican politicians distinguishing between private sector jobs and government jobs whenever they talk about creating jobs. Democrats never distinguish between the two. NEVER! Not once did the media call them on it.
Clearly, the distaste private sector Americans have for government unions includes a distaste for welfare state government jobs.
NOTE: Nancy Pelosi was well-aware of the publics antipathy when she said the Healthcare Bill would create 4,000,000 new jobs. Picture her saying the Healthcare Bill would create 4,000,000 new GOVERNMENT jobs.
Distrust of government unions was never limited to average Americans. Ann Coulter reminds us:
The recall heard round the world
by Ann Coulter
06/06/2012
Ann Coulter: The recall heard round the world
If the recall in Wisconsin was heard around the world it was heard by private sector union members. I like to think it means they will no longer be suckered by their leaders.
Ever since I began posting messages, 12 years ago, I pointed out that no private sector union member has any business supporting government unions, or thinking the two institutions unite all union brothers under one banner. They are two diametrically opposed entities with all of the power, and ultimately the money, in the hands of government unions.
Finally, the thundering applause the American people gave Ronald Reagan when he fired all of those air traffic controllers should have told government unions in Wisconsin something. Obviously, it did not.
In interviews, union leaders rejected the idea that the outcome reflected any growing antipathy toward labor, or a diminished presence of unions.
The WaPo piece along with a bunch of others articles I read before and after the election all do the same thing; they blur the line between private sector and public sector unions. Even the WaPo title says . . . Scott Walkers victory deals blow to unions when it should say . . . deals blow to public sector unions. The MSM only makes the distinction when it is unavoidable:
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walkers victory in a recall election Tuesday amounted to a significant defeat for the nations labor unions, which had mounted one of their most aggressive grass-roots campaigns ever to defeat the Republican.
As one of his first acts after taking office two years ago, Walker targeted the unions representing government workers, moving to curb their collective-bargaining rights. The failed effort to oust him sent reverberations across the labor movement and the Democratic Party, signaling that one of President Obamas most powerful constituencies is politically vulnerable and may not be able to help him as much as expected in this years election.
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walkers victory deals blow to unions
By Peter Whoriskey and Dan Balz, The Washington Post
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s victory deals blow to unions - The Washington Post
Notice how the WaPo went from the nations labor unions, to unions representing government workers, and back to the labor movement. If you check I think you will find that same kind of linguistic footwork throughout the MSM. Conservative commentators do it, too, but in their case it is not deliberate.
The MSM does it deliberately
The MSM relies upon a substantial number of Americans not understanding the important distinction, while most politicians look like they are sucking on a lemon when they say public sector unions. Thats understandable because no politician wants to alienate a major constituency. Governors Christy and Walker are notable exceptions. Happily, recognizing the distinction, and acting on it, appears to be spreading to politicians in cities and towns.
Parenthetically, this election cycle is the first time I can remember Republican politicians distinguishing between private sector jobs and government jobs whenever they talk about creating jobs. Democrats never distinguish between the two. NEVER! Not once did the media call them on it.
Clearly, the distaste private sector Americans have for government unions includes a distaste for welfare state government jobs.
NOTE: Nancy Pelosi was well-aware of the publics antipathy when she said the Healthcare Bill would create 4,000,000 new jobs. Picture her saying the Healthcare Bill would create 4,000,000 new GOVERNMENT jobs.
Distrust of government unions was never limited to average Americans. Ann Coulter reminds us:
Theres a reason both FDR and labor leader George Meany said it would be insane to ever allow government employees to unionize.
The recall heard round the world
by Ann Coulter
06/06/2012
Ann Coulter: The recall heard round the world
If the recall in Wisconsin was heard around the world it was heard by private sector union members. I like to think it means they will no longer be suckered by their leaders.
Ever since I began posting messages, 12 years ago, I pointed out that no private sector union member has any business supporting government unions, or thinking the two institutions unite all union brothers under one banner. They are two diametrically opposed entities with all of the power, and ultimately the money, in the hands of government unions.
Finally, the thundering applause the American people gave Ronald Reagan when he fired all of those air traffic controllers should have told government unions in Wisconsin something. Obviously, it did not.