Wisconsin AFL-CIO Hits Walker On Negotiations -- And Phone Calls

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/03/wisconsin-afl-cio-hits-walker-on-negotiations----and-phone-calls.php?ref=fpi

The Wisconsin AFL-CIO is firing back at Gov. Scott Walker's (R) Monday press conference, in which he attacked state Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller (D) and his caucus for not returning to the state -- and accused Dems of secretly taking their marching orders from the unions instead of having real negotiations. In response, the union says Walker is the one who isn't negotiating in good faith -- and is also the one who was caught on a phone call with someone he believed to be an out-of-state backer.

"Given that Walker's refusal to negotiate in good faith was embarrassingly revealed in a phone call with someone he believed was his billionaire political benefactor David Koch, it is beyond comprehension that he would suggest Democrats are taking direction from out-of-state phone calls," says a statement from the state AFL-CIO. "Indeed, it was an out-of-state phone call from 'Koch' that directed Walker to take his 'baseball bat' to Wisconsin's working families and launch an all-out assault on the middle class."

TPM also asked Miller spokesman Michael Browne for comment on Walker's allegations of secret calls with union leaders, and got a short response:

Sorry, no secret calls.

Here's the full AFL-CIO statement:
Walker Continues Lying and Posturing In Circus-Stunt Press Conference
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/03/wisconsin-afl-cio-hits-walker-on-negotiations----and-phone-calls.php?ref=fpi

Gee Scott, why would that upset you? Are you willing to produce a log of your phone calls in the last month or so? Who'd you call? Who called you? What'd you talk about? Do you have any evidence that union leaders are making "secret" phone calls to Senate Democrats? Because that's a pretty serious charge. I remember a time when a governor, out of respect for his office if nothing else, chose his public statements carefully, instead of just running off at the mouth. Where is your evidence, Gov. Walker? Or are we supposed to wait for the inevitable walk back of your spurious comments? And which luckless flunkie gets assigned that little task?

I hope that he can be recalled, because I don't think that Wisconsin will be able to withstand this mental case for 3+ years.

Accuse others of doing the things that YOU are guilty of doing.