October2012laborpress
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November 6 isn't just about Obama By Dominique Paul Noth, Editor, Labor Press preened to excess, threatened independent thinkers hen Mitch McConnell declared his party's in their ranks, embraced crazies like Florida's Allen primary goal was to make Obama a one- West and wielded that outside money like a club, Wterm president, that was only the surface turning off much of the nation while freezing the of the threats, and something of a preening posture. House into inaction - but they underestimated the He was in the minority in the Senate and could only consequences. control financial legislation requiring 60 votes to That's now come home full force with an move forward. unprecedented rebellion. Before the election, their So he had to lean hard on the Republican major- own presidential candidate felt compelled to push ity in the House that took over in the excess fear of them into the ditch, now that he has their money Obama combined with Democratic laziness at the firmly in his pocket and they have no place else to ballot box in 2010. He counted on the House intran- go. Mitt Romney has spent the last few weeks quali- sigents under Paul Ryan to create obstructionist poli- fying when not abandoning the most conservative cies to gridlock the government, encouraging a stances and Tea Party promises that won the nomi- nation, saying stuff that would have cost him the pri- series of repulsive measures he knew would never Milwaukee voters crush in on President Obama during a 2012 visit be approved by the president or the Democratic maries. He declares his empathy with all and close- Senate. It was a guarantee of paralysis. ness to such Obama principles as helping the middle Polls are open Tuesday, November 6, from 7 a.m. What the Republicans never anticipated was class, supporting government-aided health care and to 8 p.m. Make sure to work through the entire bal- how such maneuvers would up-end their own base. "protecting" the middle class. lot since there are contests and questions aside Moderates were squeezed out and are angry at the The nation may not be ready for a president from state legislative, US Congress and US presi- loss of some of their most respected leaders, from who will change stripes at will and say anything to dent races. Check myvote.wi.gov by address to Olympia Snowe to Richard Lugar. The extreme right Ballot continued Page 4 preview a sample ballot. Vol. 72, No. 10 Thursday, October 25, 2012 Transcending while informing our politics ‘As Goes Janesville’ succeeds and other screenings around the country, now that a strong one- as insightful documentary art hour version of the 88 minute By Dominique Paul Noth In the immediate wake of film started showing on public Editor, Labor Press the fury, Walker denied that was TV "Independent Lens" Oct. 8, t sounded so old-fashioned what he meant. Even some pri- now that it is winning festival and boring. That's why estab- vate sector unions who rely on awards around the country, a lishment media didn't bother public works largesse said they huge public apology is due I still "took his word" that he Lichtenstein. to accept the invitation last April 21 to the labor heritage confer- would not introduce "right to is film is firmly and ence. It only learned afterward work." But that chat with excellently rooted in the how it missed a news pearl Hendricks was vividly clear and Hmainstream of reliable, inside that neglected oyster. the damage to Walker's candor revealing documentary film- Those there started the buzz -- was unrecoverable. It would take making. It actually surpasses the snippet of Brad Lichtenstein's more than $30 million in out of those roots. in-progress documentary "As state advertising money just to It is humanistic and person- Goes Janesville" - and within a survive a recall effort a few al. It will make your eyes well week the slow media exploded months later. up over its honesty. You'll wish with a "gotcha video" that domi- nadvertently, the fury of the to leap through the screen to nated front pages, newscasts and publicity did temporary dam- strangle the unthinking business the Internet for months. age to film-maker execs whose schemes for recov- I ery ignore the real human pain- It showed Gov. Scott Lichtenstein. He stuck firmly by Walker, before even introducing his pledge to all sides to keep or leap through the screen to hug Act 10 eviscerating bargaining footage under wraps for a year. the factory workers striving tire- rights for public workers, reveal- But such amazing footage! It lessly to explore their options ing his "divide and conquer" revealed the real motors operat- and retrain if necessary despite Director Brad Lichtenstein is winning awards and accolades for strategy to his biggest political ing right-wing mentality, so con- political extremism and corpo- honestly exploring the great divide that was Wisconsin political donor, billionaire Diane servative bloggers inevitably rate blindness heaping uninvited beliefs and social attitudes and how all that engulfed Janesville. Hendricks, as merely the opening condemned Lichtenstein as some disaster upon them. explain what really occurred and (It would take President Obama legislative salvo to destroy all sort of left-wing stooge fabricat- Yet amazingly they were not what it all meant no matter who to force all sides at GM to grow unions, public and private, with ing rather than reporting. And blaming anyone, though those is in office. up and give, but that was 18 "right to work" (for less and at even folks in the middle ques- who see "As Goes Janesville" "As Goes Janesville" pivots months away and too late for the the will of the corporate mas- tioned his motives. surely will. us between the extreme reactions new GM to revive Janesville.) ters). She was delighted while Now that the full documen- Somehow the film reveals to the economic downturn. In Fear and panic dominated the media and the public were tary was made available and and rises above the partisan fury. executive suites there is never just that wealthy side while understandably dismayed at proved a hit at the Milwaukee It is a time capsule of what hap- any pause to blame the bloated, among working people there hearing his casual assurance. Film Festival and in New York pened in Wisconsin and self-indulgent self-deceiving GM may have been disgust and even Janesville in a bitter two years - executives (so like the business brief despair but better, basic and hence perfectly timed to this types offering Janesville "solu- more intelligent analysis of how political season in terms of look- tions"). Both sets ignored facts, steady persistence on known ing under the rhetoric. But my spoke with pride but no humani- family values was now neces- suspicion is that five years from ty about the workers and took sary. now, when Obama-Romney advantage of Bush policies to So on the one side are politi- debates are long forgotten, the close the GM plant in 2008 and cians and business leaders talk- film will remain to expose and then chart a future without GM. Janesville continued Page 8 Page 2 — AFL-CIO MILWAUKEE LABOR PRESS, Thursday, October 25, 2012 www.milwaukeelabor.org You NEED to vote, but you also need to KNOW isconsin is a little bet- bill with address. Electronic bank A felony conviction does - ter off than the rest of statements that list your correct UNTIL you have completed Wthe states where photo address were recently allowed. your sentence, are totally off voting ID laws have been You can still register to paper, probation, etc., at which blocked by the courts in a series vote on Election Day with the point you can vote. of overwhelming victories for right documents and in the city Polls are open Tuesday, civil rights groups, the US of Milwaukee at City Hall. If November 6, from 7 a.m. to 8 department of justice and frank- you live outside the city, check p.m. ly for the US Constitution. with your local municipality for Make sure to work But the preponderance of registration sites - and do it through the entire ballot since wrong instructions along with a quickly. there are contests and questions refusal of the losers to give up City residents can vote by aside from state legislative, US are still confusing voters. absentee ballot until Nov. 2 in Congress and US president. So now, while the state if Voters at rallies make vivid their views on the GOP platform. Zeidler Municipal Building adja- That's one reason it's smart cent to City Hall, to check myvote.wi.gov by free of photo ID for this election, But the GOP majority's new ment's My Vote Wisconsin heck city.milwaukee.gov/ address to preview a sample bal- that doesn't mean this state is rules do affect early voting and (myvote.wi.gov, election or (414) 286- lot. free of voter confusion and mis- registration deadlines. 866-VOTEWIS). 3491 for more details and Voting is your right, but an information, particularly when The main thing is restrictive There are instructions if you C note that election helpers are still informed voter has become a the leading law enforcement offi- elements of the 28 day residency have moved or need to update needed. rare citizen indeed. The more cer acts more like a Republican requirement, making Oct. 10 the information. Absentee ballots must be you know, the more you can pro- than a humanist in office.