Unions reverse decision to ban GOP from parade

wlsam.com and AP ^ | 8/31/11

[Evil Slayer]

WAUSAU, Wis. (WLS) - The Marathon County Labor Council has reversed a decision that excluded Republican politicians from participating in the Labor Day parade in Wausau.

Labor Council President Randy Radtke earlier said Republican elected officials were not invited because they supported changes to collective bargaining for public employee unions. Wausau Mayor Jim Tipple responded by threatening to withhold financial support for the parade unless everyone was allowed to participate.

WSAW-TV says Radtke released a statement Wednesday which said the Labor Council didn't want community groups and school bands affected, so Republicans will be allowed in the parade.

Tipple told WLS Radio's Bruce Wolf and Dan Proft show Tuesday that the city provides an insurance premium, a stage setup and police traffic control for the parade. Tipple said the city would have required the Labor Council to reimburse the city for those expenses if it didn't reverse its decision.

Tipple said Tuesday that if the Labor Council failed to reverse its decision, the parade would likely be the target of a boycott and, if someone wished, a parade inclusive of Republicans could be thrown.

"Sure. Anything can happen. It's America. You can really kinda do anything you want. You could have a tea party and anybody can show up. I would think that at the end of the parade, people could do anything they wanted to," Tipple said.

[ScottinVA]

Amazing what a little pressure can do. GOPers should try it more often.

[pennyfarmer]

How very tolerant of them and all. :)

[Maceman]

Look out
Look out
Republicans on parade!
Here they come, hippity hoppity

They’re here, and there
Republicans everywhere

Look out! Look out!
They’re coming around the bend
It’s the end! Hippity hoppity
Parade! Afraid!
Republicans on parade!

What’ll we say? If they should stay?
Think of the voters they’ll sway.

I can stand old John McCain
And Huntsman’s RINO-addled brain
But black Republicans like Cain
Are really too weird for me

Maybe Romney’s not so bad
But Perry makes me really mad
And Bachmann, God Forbid – egad!
She’d really screw up my election night
What a fright!

Chase them away
Chase them away
When voters choose, Obama will lose
Republicans on parade!

Republicans! Republicans!

Apologies to Walt Disney.

[icanhasbailout]

It's about the money. Lefties never pass up an opportunity to spend somebody else's money. When they have to spend their own, it's a whole 'nother story.

[clintonh8r]

Bullies always back down when they get push-back. Union thugs are mostly just cowards with a sense of entitlement to match their inferiority complex.

[Secret Agent Man]

I think the mayor was the one applying the pressure by saying “no republicans included, no city money included”.

[Evil Slayer]

Boo-hoo....we didn't get our way....boo-hoo

[Paperdoll]

ouldn’;t uit be great if no one turned up to watch the parade? No, it wouldn’t happen Too many ignorant gi’mes out there.

[hosepipe]

Nice work..

[CSM]

Just proves that union leadership folks have no real convictions. They can be bought and paid for.....

[Maceman]

Thank you. I was hoping somebody would notice.

[lump in the melting pot]

Between this and Boehner telling Obama to move his pay-attention-to-me-not-the-GOP-debate speech, I really think they need to post the suicide hotline number in big red letters over at the DUmp...

[Vaquero]

my advice to any and all publically indentified republicans....pack heat and/or bring your own thugs...it might not be a family type parade...

....and smile a self assured smile as you march...

[CSM]

good one

[ohioWfan]

Oh, what a brave and thoughtful decision they have made.....

[ohioWfan]

Well, Walt might not like it, but I do! :)

[left that other site]

Good One!

[fwdude]

Of course. They can assault them easier if they are there.

[Kozak]

So why would any conservative want to show up at a Labor Day parade, it’s one step short of celebrating May Day....