Tom Barrett on Wisconsin recall: I don’t feel ignored by White House

[kpete]

Source: Politico

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said Tuesday he doesn’t feel President Barack Obama ignored him by not campaigning in Wisconsin ahead of Tuesday’s recall election.

“Not one bit, because this started as a citizen’s movement,” Barrett said on CNN’s “Starting Point.” “This is the largest grassroots movement that this state has ever seen. It started out as a grassroots movement and it will end as a grassroots movement, as it should.”




Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0612/77059.html#ixzz1ww6iu2Vg

[monmouth]

1. Sooo many on DU will be disappointed. Thanks Mayor Barrett..n/t

[freshwest]

2. I think Obama didn't want to energize the wingnuts by an appearance. Thanks, Tom, for reminding us

It is all grassroots from state to state. That is how it is, really, so when things don't go as they should on a local level the finger of blame is local, too.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

17. Sound observation

It's possible that Obama's appearance would energize Republicans and bring them out more than it would help Barrett.

[freshwest]

19. I'm afraid so. The wing nuts who voted Walker in would have called outside interference.

The appearance of Clinton was less polarizing since he's not POTUS; also, he didn't do the deed with Obamacare during his administration, either.

The wing nuts will run on what they've been putting out since 2009. The CT's would have a field day, though none of their predictions have come to pass. It's a strong alternate reality they exist in, and it's best not to remind them of the 'anti-Christ Obama.'

[Historic NY]

20. Exactly, that why he had OFA doing work there.

[freshwest]

21. Yeah, he's good at the quiet way of doing things. The GOP way is tough guy and swaggering.

Which isn't what I want in a leader.

The tough guy talk is a cheap thrill that only satisfies for the moment, a form of instant gratification for the angry ears of listeners, without lasting results.

Sometimes, fighting is about fighting, and nothing else. Peace makers of all kinds get dissed by all sides. Yet they are what's needed.

One does not need to negotiate with one's friends over the things that matter most, but one's adversaries. After a while, they can all agree on something.

JMHO.

[Dawgs]

4. Still disappointed that President Obama is ignoring voters of WI. n/t

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

7. He is NOT! We are working our asses of here, and thanks to OFA, doing an outstanding job!

[Voice for Peace]

8. on behalf of many

thank you -- you all are an inspiration, big time.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

9. You're welcome. Maryland and other solid Blue states will be working hard in the Red states

Hitting the phones and where possible, the streets. Virginia will be difficult for Maryland volunteers this time around but we plan to go in hard, from door to door, across the state.

[Tarheel_Dem]

10. Ditto to that!

[freshwest]

18. I second that, and we appreciate the support we had from WI last year.

Even in the middle of all that way being done wrong in WI, some of you found the time to come to our capitol. We were thrilled with your support for our public workers fighting against the ALEC machine here. It's a battle across the country. Thanks for showing us the face of courage opposing this bloc.

[slackmaster]

3. He's a good sport

[JDPriestly]

5. Nonsense! Barrett's election became a major national issue when

the signatures on the Walker recall petitions reached the required number.

I would expect Obama to appear and announce support early on if a Democrat running for governor of California was running a close campaign.

This election is even more important than other gubernatorial elections because the movement that led to it received high-profile coverage in the press.

Lame excuse. Lame. Lame. Lame.

Obama is simply not a big union supporter. That's the sad truth of it.

He was 19 when Reagan was elected. He does not recall the great era of the unions -- the ' 40s, '50s and '60s when labor was in demand and laborers got a pretty fair deal. He is simply too young to know what a strong labor union can do for a country.

[Orsino]

6. Yeah. Powder that dry is a fire hazard. n/t

[Dr Fate]

16. It's rope a dope/chess/waiting for them to fall on their swords.

You have to make him do it- it's yes *WE* can, not yes he can.

Besides, we dont have the votes until we have 89 senators- errr, wait-wrong thread.

[Orsino]

23. It's an aggressive strategy.

Repeatedly smashing our opponents' fists with our faces until they submit.

[progressoid]

22. Hell, the powder is probably inert now.

No one from "our" party even knows where it's stored anymore.

[Tarheel_Dem]

11. You know what's lame? Your persistent attempts to tie this recall to the White House.

And can you at least acknowledge that the president did show up. He showed up two years ago, alongside Barrett, and the voters of WI said "screw you" to both of them. What is it about "local matter" that you're missing here? This race is between Barrett & Walker, not Obama & Walker, which is exactly how the GOP wanted to frame it.

President Obama can't be held accountable for stupid. He warned them in '08, he told 'em not to give the keys back, but they felt they knew better. They got what they voted for. That was Scott Walker. And if they reelect the asshole, they'll embolden him that much more, and will surely get what they deserve. The fact that Walker pulled a fast one on them, can't be blamed on the president. He warned them.

[Dr Fate]

14. It's just a local matter. I cant understand why DUers & DEMS across the nation are so interested.

Or why they would want their party leaders to be just as interested or active.

After all, this is just a local matter- no connex to ANY national issues what-so-ever.

In fact, since you are from NC and I'm in CA, we have no business even talking about it. Why would we even be interested in talking about this local matter?

But just for the sake of argument:

Obama never promised to tie himself to any any pro-union stuff (see link). Yet Liberals keep fibbing and saying he should be tied to it.

http://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/2011/02/flashback-from-candidate-obama-ill-walk-the-picket-line-with-you/

The problem here is the liberals keep trying to make the centrists stick up for the lazy unions/voters who refused to listen to Obama in the 1st place.

If Obama starts supporting unions too much, then DEMS will be expected to do even more liberal stuff, which means we have to abandon centrism (Which works) and then we lose.

He warned them.

With ya.

[Voice for Peace]

12. I think if Obama had become any more involved in this recall election

it would have motivated more irrational people to get
out and vote for Walker.

No matter what the polls say, I believe a lot of people
center and center right are sick to death of the gov,
and all the bad state publicity he's brought. (I'm
not a WI resident, so am just gleaning from afar, and
making my best hopeful guesses.)

I'm eager to see breakdown of votes and turn out this eve.

[Dr Fate]

15. Wrong. Obama and centrists are so big Union supporters.

http://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/2011/02/flashback-from-candidate-obama-ill-walk-the-picket-line-with-you/

Look at the link- he even vows to march with us.

He would never say such things if what you say is true.

[flamingdem]

13. K&R