May Day: The Wisconsin Witch Hunt Goes National
My column today spotlights the latest attempt by the Left to use campaign finance disclosure as a weapon to intimidate and silence political opponents. Both Big Labor and open-borders forces have scheduled their usual May Day protests this weekend, with a special emphasis on Wisconsin and GOP Gov. Scott Walker.
Be careful out there. And be sure to support the businesses (H/T Vicki McKenna) that are supporting fiscal responsibility and standing up to the prog mob.
***
The Wisconsin Witch Hunt Goes National
by Michelle Malkin
Creators Syndicate
Copyright 2011
On May 1, left-wing vigilantes will target companies across the country that have committed a mortal sin: sending donations to GOP Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin. Rest assured, such intolerable acts of political free speech will not go unpunished by tolerant Big Labor activists. They’re calling for both a national boycott of Walker’s corporate donors and a coordinated sticker vandalism campaign on GOP-tainted products.
The Wisconsin Grocers Association is bracing for the anti-Walker witch hunt. Anonymous operatives have circulated sabotage stickers on the Internet and around Wisconsin that single out Angel Soft tissue paper (“Wiping your (expletive) on Wisconsin workers”), Johnsonville Sausage (“These Brats Bust Unions”) and Coors (“Labor Rights Flow Away Like A Mountain Stream”). Earlier this week, a “Stick It To Walker” website boasted photos (now deleted) of vandalized Angel Soft tissue packages at a Super Foodtown grocery store in Brooklyn, N.Y. (Screencap above.)
This destruction of private property is illegal. Not that it matters to anti-Walker protest mobsters, who trampled Wisconsin’s Capitol at an estimated $5 million in security, repair and cleaning costs to taxpayers. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “The identity of the backers of the sticker effort is unknown, although many assume it is being orchestrated by public employee unions. This latest effort follows boycotts organized by members of the Wisconsin State Employees Union AFSCME 24.”
AFSCME 24 is the same union affiliate that recently disseminated intimidation letters throughout southeast Wisconsin, demanding that local businesses support unions by putting up signs in their windows. The letter threatened not just Walker supporters, but any and all businesses that have chosen to sit on the sidelines and stay out of politics altogether: “Failure to do so will leave us no choice but (to) do a public boycott of your business. And sorry, neutral means ‘no’ to those who work for the largest employer in the area and are union members.” Others on Big Labor’s hit list: Kwik Trip, Sargento Foods Inc. and M&I Bank.
Walker, of course, has been at the forefront of government pension and budget reforms. Similar measures are being advanced by Democratic governors and Democrat-run legislatures from Massachusetts to New York to California. But union bosses have yet to sic their goons on individual and corporate donors to Democratic politicians imposing long-overdue benefit and collective bargaining limits for public employee unions.
How convenient, yes? Just as they secured a big fat waiver from the federal health care mandate and tax scheme they lobbied to impose on the rest of America, Big Labor is giving Democratic legislative water-carriers who have been forced to adopt cuts and cost controls a big fat waiver from their organized wrath and vandalism.
Now, a few hundred or thousand ruined grocery store items may not seem to matter much to the average reader, but this little property destruction campaign spotlights a nasty tactic increasingly employed by the left: campaign finance disclosure as a speech-squelching weapon.
We saw it last fall when Democratic operatives targeted the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for donating to Obamacare opposition ads.
We saw it in 2008 when a top MoveOn.org alumnus launched attacks on Republican donors with the express purpose of “hoping to create a chilling effect that will dry up contributions.”
We saw it when Obama campaign committee lawyers lobbied the Justice Department to investigate and prosecute a GOP donor for funding campaign ads exposing Obama’s ties to Weather Underground terrorist Bill Ayers.
We saw it during the Proposition 8 traditional marriage battle in California, where gay rights avengers compiled black lists, harassment lists and Google target maps of citizens who contributed to the ballot measure.
We saw it when “progressive” zealots smeared Target Corporation and Chick-fil-A for daring to associate with social conservatives.
And we’re seeing it again this month as the Obama White House readies an executive order that would force federal contractors to disclose all political donations to candidates and independent groups in excess of $5,000 made not just by a corporate entity, but by all of its individual executives, directors and officers.
Former Federal Election Commission official Hans von Spakovsky obtained the sweeping draft executive order, which — surprise, surprise — exempts unions and predominantly left-wing federal grant recipients from the mandate. On Wednesday, GOP senators spelled out the bullying agenda in an open letter objecting to the Obama order: “Political activity would obviously be chilled if prospective contractors have to fear that their livelihood could be threatened if the causes they support are disfavored by the administration.” Join the club.
When disclosure’s a bludgeon, all but Obama’s cronies are nails.
***
Related: Wisconsin AFL-CIO Lies About Boycotts
Here’s the boycott list from the anti-Walker mobsters themselves.
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LOL. I’d love to see Allen West do this to Obama.
Our in-laws might as well be master brewers in their own right and we’ve all committed to making our own ultra-light label!
In.The.Interim… this is what I am ‘able’ to have. Sheesh, cut me some slack here guys? I can tell you [1] thing I’m going to do though..? Namely continue to -support Gov. Walker and say Fie on you Sir! to all who don’t!
Notice the Big Lie? “Workers”
I just know there’s a joke in here somewhere waiting to be found…it’s got something to do w/sausages being dipped in beer.
Consequences, people!!
Um, are you saying that if George Soros owned Proctor & Gamble, you wouldn’t object to P&G products?
LOL, yes. This lot hasn’t ‘worked’ at anything in its life…unless it’s getting out of work.
… or in your buns.
As bad as it gets around here, that would be wurst!
Hey, this reverse thing is working, and, there is, a Silver Bullet.
Make it a Coors, please.
and some of that PBO toilet paper too…
Thanks! This will be her 2nd marriage, so the wedding will be small. But it will be at the lake and very pretty. She definitely got it right the second time around!
Thanks to you too, Marshall! A can of beer for 1 point? That I can handle!! Are you using WW on line or going to the meetings? I used to go to Weight Watchers meetings, but this time around, I am doing it on my own. I have all the tools and know the point system very well. I lost 55 lbs. a few years ago and have mostly kept it off. But want to lose a few more for the wedding. I used to be pretty hefty, but now I look pretty good for an old dame!!
I would just buy other products and not intimidate people to boycott. Again, free market! Something you just can’t seem to understand. And I certainly wouldn’t break the law like these creeps are doing.
I’ll be happy to pick up some more Johnsonville Brats (I’ve had to give up on the drinking thing, though, so I can’t oblige Coors
).
happyscrap– two words:
Michelob Ultra
“I remember it like it was yesterday. I was eatin’ a hot dog and waiting to be mustard out …”
- Larry (FIFI BLOWS HER TOP, 1958)
I just switched my toilet paper brand to Angel Soft. Thanks for inspiring me, moonbats.
“Wait a minute, I can’t lay carpets!” “Why not?” “I’m not that rugged!”
- Larry & Connie Cezan (HOT STUFF, 1956)
Come on, Chap. Admit that you drink Che Beer
Opened a case of Coors one time while in college and found an unopened can that was completely empty. Puzzled, (and upset with a missing beer) I wrote to the company inquiring how could this happen. Mr. Coors replied that during the filling process, sometimes a can would develop a pinhole and lose the contents or not fill completely.
The next week there was a complimentary case on the doorstep! Good times, good times…
This is called “capitalism”.
Reminds me of Hank Rearden’s business ethic. You make a product, you make good on it. A customer is decent enough to come to you rather than run to the nanny-state, you make things right yourself. No regulatory agencies involved.
Not quite.
!
I’m living near Green Bay, and I’ve got my shopping list in hand right now!
Oh, and my Post-It Notes–I have to stop at the gas station and fill up my 9-mile-a-gallon Suburban. You do know what the Sticky Note campaign is all about, don’t you?
That has to be the most despicable website I have ever seen. That has Soros all over it. Going to WalMart and buting some Johnsonville brats and Angel Soft right now.
Apparently the “vandalizing” and “law breaking” tea party equivalent to the anti-Walker folks.
Thanks for pointing that out.
You do know that it was filtered through Billy first, don’t you?
Really? THAT is the most despicable site you have ever seen on the web? Boy, you really have to get out more (so to speak).
I bought 2 packages of Johnsonville brats last weekend to serve to guests.
If only I’d known then what I know now. I’d have bought 3 packages.
I was headed up to Fort Bragg in 81 for some “summer fun”. We passed a car-load of drunks hanging out the windows and offering us Billy Beer. They didn’t like our answer.
I just got lucky and found some Johnsonville brats in the freezer. Have to light the pit now.
Congrats happy, third time was a charm for me. First two were practice.
I believe that Michelle is for campaign finance disclosure. Unfortunately, this outcome, abusing those who have spoken with their dollars, is one of the most likely outcomes.
Campaign finance laws truly serve no purpose other than preserving incumbency. I’ve hated these laws since I first came to understand them. Repeal McCain-Feingold and the FEC Act of ’71. Let the money flow and damn where it comes from and who it goes to.
It doesn’t matter if it is Soros, Pickens, Allen, DuPont, the Sultan of Brunei making the donations. Spend what you want on who you want. If you think campaign finance laws squelch corruption, well, you probably haven’t participated in politics much.
These laws simply do not matter unless: (a) you’re a donor who is being targeted by an opponent, or (b) you’re a challenger to an incumbent who faces an impossible fundraising task trying to collect a few dollars from thousands of people instead of being allowed to bag a few hundred thousand each from a few dozen people.
And the beer choices here? Really? Doesn’t anyone drink real beer? Or do you all need a certain quantity of rice in every bottle?
Geez, I think only John Deaux picked a beer made by an American company.
I believe people should consume what they like, no problem there, but I’m hoping you all try a couple of the hundreds and hundreds of fantastic beers made by small business men and women in this country and that are readily available in most places (except for you poor dry county folks.)
Ever tried Stroh’s Beer? Yikes. Made by Pabst Blue Ribbon. How about, “Hey Mabel, Black Label!”
My favorite “foreign” beer is Red Stripe, from Jamaica, while in Jamaica.
How about a nice Japanese beer? Helps support them at a time when they can use it, and when you get up at night to pee, you won’t need to turn the light on.
Well, I was just giving my low brow preferences. They are not what I would drink if given any choice.
Fat Tire, Moose Drool, Heavy Seas, Stone, Rogue, Dogfish Head and of course Sam Adams…just to name a few of my favorite American Brewers.
You must not be familiar with the free market, because there’s nothing un-free about encouraging others to make the same choices as you.
BLUE RIBBON. HIGH LIFE/HIGH LIFE LITE. SCHLITZ. MILLER LITE. NATTY LITE. Beers that taste like BEER.
and Terrapin when I want to spend a little more.
For once, I agree with RSS – High Life is yummy.
babiesgrandma: Look me up sometime when your in Jamaica again. To enjoy a Red Stripe you need to go to Scrubadubs.
Saint Arnold down here.
I am crushed, Hamm’s doesn’t exist any more? ACTION SQUAD
Those were the days, my friends…
From The Land of Sky Blue Waters
I am only buying Angel Soft and Johnsonville from now on.
Leinenkugels and Moose Head. Nectar of the gods.
Unbelievable, I just got home several hours ago and I said hey Pearl whats for dinner? She said Nut and Honey and I said “well I think I’m going up to the store and pick up some Johnsonville Brats”. I did and cooked 2 up just right. Mouth watering they were.
Finished them up and felt like I better get to the “john”. After the paper work was done I couldn’t help but notice the “Angel Soft” logo on the pack sittin behind the door. Why use anything else when you are looking for a little comfort. Both items are good stuff.
Later folks for a follow up.
babiesgrandma #127
Pabst Blue Ribbon beer put a roof over my head and clothes on my back via my father who drove over the road for over 38 years hauling PBR. I spent many a trip with him and can still tell you every good food joint from northern Michigan, thru the UP of Michigan to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
And a great trivia question to all beer drinkers! Prior to 1970 which beer brand held the largest US market share and never to be matched by any other brand to this day? Pabst Blue Ribbon by 67%!!! Needless to say my dad made a lot of trips to keep the thirst quenched.
bicentennialguy #135
Refer to my post above!!! We enjoyed Johnsonville brats way before they went national. The family had a great little meat market on the way to Milwaukee and my dad would bring back coolers full of them on his way back and forth to Milwaukee. Learned the art of cooking them from the Packer fans when we stopped to watch Green Bay practice – back when Ray Nitchke was a “handsome” guy!!!
Pabst Blue Ribbon was about as “foreign” as some of my college friends got. One time they made a beer run ala Smokey and the Bandit for some Coors. Now I get it any time I want. The thrill’s gone, though.
Nothing wrong with the free market system working. Like Granny55′s dad – good marketing, making good on delivery promises – let the free market handle it, not what someone tells you to buy.
Next time I’m there, I’m there at Scrubadubs.
All is fair to liberal communist trolls. But this wont work. Ultimately an animal in its death throes will do anything to live. Hopefully we are seeing big govt liberalism taking its last gasps of air. The 2012 election will see this thing finished off.
Sorry I’m late to the party (as usual)…. Someone has to work to support the social parasites.
Such classy advertising. I wonder if they can remake the series MadMen to incorporate some of that outstanding work.
and of course…. as I always say
Bust the unions, starve the money laundering arm of the socialist democrat party!
************
Is it time yet to indict Bernanke for lying about not monetizing the debt, under oath? If not now, when?
No blood for oil with your illegal non-war war, Barry!
Who IS Barry Soetoro? (aka “Our Dear Son, Excellency, Baraka Hussein Abu Oumama” Mohamar Quadaffi) I refuse to allow Regulus to control my thoughts or speech.
Obama gives politicians a bad name. Personally, I rank 99.44% of politicians one step below used tire salesmen,
If Obama would fold his ears back, his head would pop out of his a$$ when he farted! (too crass? well, I’m done with being PC!)
No. Just stupid.
Lawyer.
Coors is made with pure Rocky Mountain bear whizz. Just my 2¢. I prefer the ale type beers myself…
********
Bust the unions, starve the money laundering arm of the socialist democrat party!
Is it time yet to indict Bernanke for lying about not monetizing the debt, under oath? If not now, when?
No blood for oil with your illegal non-war war, Barry!
Who IS Barry Soetoro? (aka “Our Dear Son, Excellency, Baraka Hussein Abu Oumama” Mohamar Quadaffi) I refuse to allow Regulus to control my thoughts or speech.
Obama gives politicians a bad name. Personally, I rank 99.44% of politicians one step below used tire salesmen,
If Obama would fold his ears back, his head would pop out of his a$$ when he farted!
I realise it’s highly unlikely but do you think protesting May Day (communist holiday) as unConstitutional to the ACLU would get any attention from the Mostly Socialist Media©?
Addressing your second paragraph… does Krystalnacht mean anything to you?
*********
Bust the unions, starve the money laundering arm of the socialist democrat party!
Is it time yet to indict Bernanke for lying about not monetizing the debt, under oath? If not now, when?
No blood for oil with your illegal non-war war, Barry!
Who IS Barry Soetoro? (aka “Our Dear Son, Excellency, Baraka Hussein Abu Oumama” Mohamar Quadaffi) I refuse to allow Regulus to control my thoughts or speech.
Obama gives politicians a bad name. Personally, I rank 99.44% of politicians one step below used tire salesmen,
If Obama would fold his ears back, his head would pop out of his a$$ when he farted!
Hey chapped… what is 1000 lawyers at the bottom of the sea?
*************
Bust the unions, starve the money laundering arm of the socialist democrat party!
Is it time yet to indict Bernanke for lying about not monetizing the debt, under oath? If not now, when?
No blood for oil with your illegal non-war war, Barry!
Who IS Barry Soetoro? (aka “Our Dear Son, Excellency, Baraka Hussein Abu Oumama” Mohamar Quadaffi) I refuse to allow Regulus to control my thoughts or speech.
Obama gives politicians a bad name. Personally, I rank 99.44% of politicians one step below used tire salesmen,
If Obama would fold his ears back, his head would pop out of his a$$ when he farted!
The beginning of a stupid joke?
Just a guess.
Yes you are.
*************
Bust the unions, starve the money laundering arm of the socialist democrat party!
Is it time yet to indict Bernanke for lying about not monetizing the debt, under oath? If not now, when?
No blood for oil with your illegal non-war war, Barry!
Who IS Barry Soetoro? (aka “Our Dear Son, Excellency, Baraka Hussein Abu
Oumama” Mohamar Quadaffi) I refuse to allow Regulus to control my thoughts or speech.
Obama gives politicians a bad name. Personally, I rank 99.44% of politicians andLAWYERS one step below used tire
salesmen,
If Obama would fold his ears back, his head would pop out of his a$$ when he farted!
Are you a REAL lawyer or do you just play one on TV?
No, he plays one here.
Can you provide evidence of tea partiers vandalizing property and breaking the law? How is leaving a sticky note on a gas pump vandalizing or breaking the law? Are they damaging or destroying gas pumps? Seems to me the tea party gets its message out there without resorting to bullying and violence, although the media does everything it can to discredit it because it is a threat to their agenda.
What?!? Where is the half page sig? Come on. Everyone loves reading the exact same rambling, disjointed hot mess five times on one thread!
Bring back the sig! No peace without sig!
Do you know what “vandalism” means? Willfully destruction or defacement of property.
Putting an adhesive backed piece of paper on private property is defacement and thus vandalism and thus breaking the law.
Remember: Being a leftist means you want to hurt people who disagree with you.
Always remind leftists of this fact.
I am perfectly aware of what vandalism means. Seriously, how is placing a sticky note on a gas pump vandalism? How is the note causing physical damage to the pump? How is it resulting in a loss to the value of the property?
It’s the same thing as spray painting it. Both can be removed. Both are vandalism.
Thank you Mike2011. Was about to say something close to that.
Right, I can see where a sticky note equates with spray paint. A sticky note can simply be removed, but spray paint takes time and effort to remove. Well, I’ve got more important things to do than argue with you all, so good night and have a great weekend!
I’m not a lawyer, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.
Chap is a real lawyer, and based on our exchanges, likely a good one.
I was going to go with the old TP standby as an example or tossing an egg.
Post-Its do seem a bit less…intense form of vandalism, though.
Geez you talk all brainy n’stuff. Wish I was all smart n’ snooty like you. N’stuff.
Lawyer.
Both take some time and some effort. If you can find me a criminal statute for vandalism that quantifies “how much” time or effort is necessary to qualify as vandalism, you have my blessing.
But in any case, we aren’t talking about spray painting. We are talking, in both cases, about people attaching adhesive-backed paper to things that don’t belong to them.
When a lefty does it, well by gosh you might as well be stabbing puppies. When the tea party does? Meh…creative advertising.
Left or right it is pretty juvenile.
On April 29th, 2011 at 10:56 am, Agent of Chaos said:
Shhh! Don’t let the union thugs in on the secret. We wouldn’t want to take away all of their fun. Otherwise, they may move on to something more destructive.
Ok, one more comment, and then I’m really out for the night. Chap, the union stickers appear to be more permanent – sticky notes, not so much. After all, it would seem that removing the union stickers would damage the Angel Soft packaging, whereas a sticky note would not. I can see your point, and I’m not criticizing you personally, but I just think it’s ridiculous that a sticky note can be considered as vandalism.
Actually, putting stickers on food is much worse than putting it on a gas pump, because I don’t want moonbats tampering with my food.
I’m sitting here enjoying a cold Coors, wishing I had some Johnsonville brats to munch on and some Angel Soft tissue paper to wipe the tears from laughing so hard at these pathetic morons.
They just keep digging deeper.
I boycotted the teacher union thugs for over 16 years by homeschooling my kids, will never buy another GM product because of their thuggery/thievery yet still have to support this stupidity through my taxes.
…and they want more.
Agreed. But I’m trying to remember when the tea partiers pulled a stunt like this – or any vandalism.
Help us out chap.
Second, removing a sticker from a package of food can cause the package to open, thus making the product unsellable.
Third, a sticker on a gas pump is not intended to decrease gas sales. Stickers on toilet paper and food ARE intended to decrease sales of those products. Leftists are trying to harm businesses.
Pretty punny there DA.
Do you want me to say one form of vandalism is worse? Okay. But that doesn’t mean they both aren’t vandalism. Hell, maybe the only reason the Tea Party Post-It use post-its is a lack of proper funding.
Anyone who vandalizes a gas pump, toilet paper, or food should be arrested. And the people who vandalize food should get an additional charge of destruction of property.
Perhaps. Or maybe to make the statement without causing damage or trouble for anyone. That would be my take.
Ouch!
By the way, ironically, I just used Angel Soft myself.
TMI?
Uh, something lower than whale poo?
What’d I win?
Time and effort to remove a sticky note?
Must be union.
Also interesting chap – you automatically attribute the sticky notes to the Tea Party. The “Hope and Change Sticky Note Campaign” is from a guy in Arizona and some buds. No mention of the Tea Party by them.
Credit for said expletive goes to babiesgrandma slamming back at a “nerd” attack from the counsellor. Digs deep, no?
So you were against all the crap stuck to the walls of the capitol and on the war memorial in Madison by leftist union thugs?
Facebook page
The ‘Hope and Change’ Sticky Note Campaign (Until Jan. 20th, 2013)
More specifically, chapoutier, do you agree that ALL vandals should be arrested?
Nothing automatic about it. Multiple references to it being Tea Party on the site originally linked.
Arrested? No. Of course not. Too petty a crime for arrest. I have no issue handing out citations.
chap, tampering with food is not serious to you?
chap, is it “petty” for illegal aliens to steal social security numbers? Or would you agree that they should be arrested?
chap, is it “petty” for doctors to hand out fake sick notes to union members?
Nobody is tampering with food. They are tampering with food packaging.
No.
chap, so if sticker damages a food package making it unsellable, is that still “petty” to you?
Yes.
Yes????? So chap, you approve of professional physicians committing fraud?
Look at the site of the people that are doing it chap – not the people who are talking about them. They claim no association to the Tea Party.
I’m conservative, but I do believe placing stickers on gas pumps is a very bad idea. Let’s put it this way… if it something a liberal would do, don’t do it.
No, no, not enough information for Sheryl Crow – only one sheet?
Besides, anyone stupid enough to still like Obama today is going to vote for him next year no matter what.
I didn’t say I approved, now did I?
Fair enough, chap, what, in your opinion, is proper punishment for a physician who commits fraud?
A physician willing to lie on sick note is a physician willing to lie on a medical record.