Posted on Sunday, 22nd August 2010 by Roland_Melnick
Several times the last couple of months, I’ve watched Milwaukee County Supervisor Chris Larson’s public appearances. While he is running against Jeff Plale for Wisconsin’s 7th State Senate District seat, he has been building face time criticizing MilCoExec and candidate for Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. The two spotlight grabs that stick out in my mind were those that followed a true tragedy and one that followed a trumped up “oooh it coulda been a tragedy” story. It nearly drove me to blog about him. I ended up letting it go as he was receiving attention from local radio hosts Charlie Sykes, who referred to Larson’s tendency toward “ankle biting crap,” and Mark Belling who has talked about his criminal record.
My interest in Larson was renewed when a volunteer for the Larson campaign appeared at my door; pamphlet in hand touting some nifty endorsements: AFSCME…Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 998…of course the Service Employees International Union (SEIU)…the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters…the Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals…American Federation of Teachers, Local 212, MATC faculty and staff…and fellow MilCo Supervisor Marina Dimitrijevic.
Seeing the SEIU listing brought me back to what bothered me about Larson. In the wake of a real tragedy, the 15 year old boy who died after a massive concrete facade fell off the O’Donnell Park parking structure across the street from the Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee County Supervisors John Weishan, Chris Larson and Marina Dimitrijevic led a march that was organized at the Milwaukee office of the SEIU (Service Employees International Union) and tangentially supported by other labor types. Quick to make political hay out of the teen’s death, these heartless pols teamed up with a labor union that wanted to exploit the kids death in order to pressure the County into hiring more into their ranks as evidenced by the “Justice for Janitors” banner appearing at the O’Donnell Park rally.
For if this weren’t shameless exploitation, one might ask: “What the hell do unionized janitors have to do with the O’Donnell Park tragedy?”
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Photo credit: http://dailyreporter.com/
Also of note are the two nasty and classless signs being held by a couple of the marchers in the bottom right corner. Clearly part of the intent of this march was to claim that somehow MilCoExec Scott Walker was responsible for a structure built 10 years prior to him taking office. A structure that fell under the city’s responsibility for inspections, but most reasonable people agree escaped notice because State inspection codes did not cover the specific problem(s) that led to this incident. Either way, the incident at the parking structure would not have been prevented because it is unlikely that standard inspections would have uncovered what has turned out to be subpar original design and construction.
The trumped up tragedy was the piece of fiberboard that fell off the wall at the airport and, of course, was immediately blamed on Walker. Never mind that the person supposedly injured by this incident refused medical treatment and continued on their scheduled flight without delay…Larson and gang were there to provide local media with a sound bite claiming Walker has no concern for public safety. They used it to again call for more janitors and maintenance people at the airport.
One has to wonder what Mr. Larson is thinking as we trudge onward to November. In an election year where the tide is swinging toward candidates espousing fiscally conservative ideas…real job creation vs. porkulus…trimming a bloated government workforce…opposition to Obamacare; Chris Larson decides now is the time to run as the ultra-liberal (aka “progressive”) candidate. With unemployment stubbornly hovering at or near 10%…many more underemployed…and others permanently going off the workforce radar…now is the time Chris Larson decides to fight for more cushy unionized government jobs that put further strain on the economy rather than create the wealth necessary to expand it. A prosperous America is the example to follow…not Greece.
A timely Journal-Sentinel editorial critical of a group backing Chris Larson, Citizens For A Progressive Wisconsin, points out that while CFPW criticizes Larson’s opponent, incumbent Senator Jeff Plale, for his ties to special interests, they themselves would rather we not know who is funding their efforts.
As of 2007, with over 130 County bus drivers making $70,000 or more…some made over $100k, it’s easy to see why the ATU backs Larson and hard to see how Larson isn’t a hypocrite about the stain of special interest groups.
All I know is that old Melnick doesn’t want a State Senator who is a puppet for a union led by a man like Andy Stern, who talks the talk, then sends his minions out to walk the walk. The same SEIU that supports forced-unionization and card check…who go around roughing people up here….roughing people up there…are too stupid to hide the eggs they eventually throw at those they wish to intimidate…and just can’t find a new cheer or someone with an IQ above 53 to put in front of a camera.
A vote for Chris Larson is a vote for SEIU…it just won’t be my vote.
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Sidenote: Was MilCo Supervisor John Weishan’s obedience in these matters a form of payback demanded by the unions for his refusal to share the pain of the working Joe’s who had to take furloughs?
Posted in Chris Larson, Home, Jeff Plale, Labor Unions | Comments (2) |
2 Responses to “Get to Know the Candidates: Chris Larson”
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August 22nd, 2010 at 7:19 am
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August 23rd, 2010 at 10:20 am
He’s a clown. Nothing more. He’s being used by dead beats. Chris Larson is a clown.
Justice for Janitors. WTF..