Walker Prevails

Wisconsin's red-blue recall contest

45 per cent of Wisconsin's voters had their hopes dashed in tonight's recall election.   Republican Governor Scott Walker fended off a challenge from Milwaukee's Democratic Mayor Tom Barrett.   These results are tragic for anyone who believes unions should still have a voice in the workforce or decries the limitless use of funds by mostly out of state Republican organizations.  While disappointing, Walker's win should not be shocking to anyone except MSNBC's Ed Schultz.   A Washington Post article runs down the reasons for the failure to recall Walker.   In addition to their lopsided 10-1 spending advantage, Walker and company have been campaigning with a laser-like focus way ahead of this judgment day he saw coming since last year.   The serious Democratic split in their own recent primary left many labor supporters less than enthusiastic about supporting Barrett, who then had only weeks to campaign.    Voters outside Milwaukee tend to see the Badger State's largest city as its problem child.   That Milwaukee connection did not help Mayor Tom Barrett in the hinterlands, and Walker capitalized on that.   There was also the Washington Democratic connection, or lack thereof.   National Dems never were as enthusiastic about a recall.    Recent polls do not tie President Obama's Wisconsin fate in November to this recall, thus explaining Obama's tepid endorsement of Tom Barrett.    

Democrats in Wisconsin and nationwide would be ill-served by handwringing and finger pointing.    The attack on labor's dwindling political clout had been central to Governor Walker's agenda all along, even after wage concessions by state unions.   If the tide is to be reversed, labor unions (especially state and municipal ones) have to make their case everywhere, since state workers often unfairly get a bum rap as privileged while others suffer to make ends meet.   This unfair broad brush perception played right into the hands of Governor Walker and his "divide and conquer" strategy.  Let's face it; even many who weren't Walker fans were tired of the unending uproar.  Inevitably, Walker's antics will be his own undoing unless he moderates his tone and stops looking like an operative for the Koch Brothers.   It's time for Democrats to use this time to unite, focusing on November nationwide and revisiting the Wisconsin gubernatorial race in 2014.