If you ever had any doubt that Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is a toady for
From the conversation we realized we were wrong to call Walker a Koch whore. It's insulting to whores. He's a Koch bootlicker. During the 20-minute conversation, Walker showed just how ignorant he is that union-busting contributes to wage stagnation and the decline of our economy.
Walker made it clear that his goal is to bust unions and to suck from the teat of the Koch fortune. He sounded much like the spineless William Macy character in "Fargo," trying to earn the approval of his wealthy, domineering father-in- law.
So here's the backstory: A journalist named Ian Murphy, editor of a blog called the Buffalo Beast, called Walker pretending to be David Koch. Murphy said he was stunned that Walker's staff took the call. Generally, when people claiming to be famous call a politician, the procedure is to call back to make sure it isn't a prank. But Murphy told the Walker staffer (clearly another dim bulb) that his maid Maria had washed the phone and he was calling from the void. The staffer put the call through.
At no point during the 20-minute conversation did Walker talk about the state's budget problems (which he created). He did talk about union-busting. "Koch" said to Walker,
[O]nce you crush these bastards I'll fly you out to Cali and really show you a good time.Walker's response: "That would be outstanding."
Walker also revealed he wanted to draw the 14 Democratic senators back to Madison by offering to talk about the budget bill -- the bill that would eliminate government workers' bargaining rights. He said once they senators are back in the Statehouse, the Legislature's rules allow a vote to be taken on the plan. (That is what is known as rat-f^*^%$ing.) The Democrats are staying in Illinois, denying the Republicans of a quorum and preventing a vote.
Walker also thanked "Koch" for "all the support." The Koch-funded Tea Party (aka Americans for Prosperity) held a counter-rally in Madison last weekend and put up a "Support Scott Walker" website. The Koch-linked Club for Growth paid for a radio ad supporting Walker's budget proposal. And the Kochs, of course, contributed heavily to Walker's campaign.
MSNBC anchor Lawrence O'Donnell had a take on the conversation:
That seems to put another check mark in the column of "bought and paid for by Koch Industries"Walker is such a loon that he tells "Koch" that almost all of the protesters at the Wisconsin Statehouse are from out of state. Replies "Koch,"
They're probably putting hoboes in suits, that's what we do.
But here's what's most appalling about Scott Walker. He tells "Koch" that his people are looking into charging the 14 senators with a felony if union members are paying for their accommodations in Illinois. Says Walker,
...if the unions have been paying to put these guys up out of state, we think at a minimum there's an ethics code violation, if not an outright felony.We'd like to know why it's "outstanding" for billionaires to pay for a holiday in Cali but a "felony" for unions to pay for sanctuary.
Walker released a statement admitting that it was Walker on the call. The statement said
Throughout this call the Governor maintained his appreciation for and commitment to civil discourse. He continued to say that the budget repair bill is about the budget.Actually, Walker's contribution to civil discourse was to say "I got a slugger with my name on it."
And he didn't say word one about the budget.
Add "liar" to the list of names you can call Walker.
More on this to come.
