Posted on 02/18/2011 1:04:21 PM PST by jazusamo
House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) accused President Obama's political supporters of "meddling" in the ongoing protests against Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's (R) controversial budget plan.
The Speaker said the president's political organization is "colluding" with special interest groups like labor unions to stifle Walker's proposal, which would limit collective-bargaining rights for state workers and make them pay for their pension and health benefits.
Obama "has done nothing to offer solutions" to the nation's fiscal woes, Boehner said in a statement Friday. "The president should make it clear to his friends that the people of Wisconsin, and states across America, can handle their own affairs without Washington special-interest money and meddling."
Boehner added that the protests were reminiscent of demonstration's against the Greek government's austerity plan.
"But today, we see the same sort of protests on the streets of Madison, fueled by President Obama’s own political machine," he said.
Boehner comments came in response to reports that activists from Organizing for America, the grassroots arm of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), have traveled to Wisconsin to help organize rallies in support of the public workers.
DNC spokesman Hari Sevugan replied that his organization's role is being exaggerated to pull attention away from grassroots protesters in Wisconsin.
"This is a grassroots story not a Washington one. Our volunteers in Wisconsin were getting involved and asked us to let others in the state know what was happening," he said. "Our role in this is being exaggerated by others to distract attention from the passionate grassroots activism that is being displayed on the ground in Wisconsin."
Obama has used the Wisconsin unrest to rally his supporters in organized labor as he gears up for his 2012 reelection campaign. In a local television interview broadcast Wednesday in Milwaukee, Obama called Walker's plan an "assault on unions."
Boehner waded into the controversy after Obama, issuing a statement on Thursday supporting Walker.
“Republicans in Congress — and reform-minded GOP governors like Scott Walker, John Kasich and Chris Christie — are daring to speak the truth about the dire fiscal challenges Americans face at all levels of government, and daring to commit themselves to solutions that will liberate our economy and help put our citizens on a path to prosperity," he said. "I’m disappointed that instead of providing similar leadership from the White House, the president has chosen to attack leaders such as Gov. Walker, who are listening to the people and confronting problems that have been neglected for years at the expense of jobs and economic growth."
-- This story was updated at 3:40 p.m.
Wow, ya think?
The list, ping
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He needs to start calling it an attempt to overthrow a duly elected state government.
I’ve written my Congressional folks and asked them to investigate if any Federal funds or workers are involved in this administration payback; and if the RICO statutes have been or are being violated.
I’d like to see Walker use every tactic possible to get them back.
Is the Senate froze till they vote in this bill or can they bring other bills up? I’d start doing committee business and bringing up non-fiscal bills which don’t require a 60% quorum that the Dems would hate and let the chips fall.
It really is amazing how people bash this man.
Speaker Boehner is doing the right thing in calling out Obama for his meddling in the affairs of the Wisconsin people and their state representatives. Boehner may be over-emotional sometimes but he seems to have his priorities right.
[which would limit collective-bargaining rights for state workers and make them pay for their pension and health benefits. ]
BS. It would make them pay for a very small portion which is less than private sector workers pay if they even have health benefits or a pension. Why is this reporter lying?
That must be a rhetorical question, its what they do to promote their agenda.
Pray for America
Good point...POTUS should be supporting duly elected state governments over labor unions.
Meddling via "Community Organizers" is about the only real experience our President has to offer. He is probably pretty good at it! But, perhaps, this time around he cannot sneak something through; there are real stakes in terms of significant budget shortfalls for the State of Wisconsin.
Right-to-work, concealed carry, no welfare or tuition for illegals, etc, etc ..... WI Republicans have 50 miles of open highway!
Only guessing but I would think they could other business just no votes, depends if a quorum is necessary for all business though.
We have reason to. His response is always guarded to not accuse King Obama of doing wrong. This response is too slow and should have been immediate and with harsh words. King Obama is a communists and has almost completed the overthrow of America. Time for polite crap is over.
It's The Hill.
For the Dems to call the 800 pound gorilla known as the teachers’ union a “grass roots” action is laughable. The state of WI has been held hostage to these goons for decades.
Great call Mr. Speaker.
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