Exit WMC, Enter All Children Matter

With the announcement that Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce , WMC on Sidelines,will refrain from buying vicious attack television attack advertisements in the April, 2009 Supreme Court race, the field is clear for more conservative organizations to enter the fray.

As was the case in last Fall's attacks on Democratic legislative candidate Trish O'Neil, organizations like All Children Matter, the Coalition for America's Families or the Club for Growth will hire the same writers and producers who authored the attacks on Louis Butler and Linda Clifford.

The agenda is unchanged. They are motivated to:

• crush consumers' rights to bring class action law suits
• Drive unions and organized labor from the workplace
• deprive women of the right of choice
• privatize essential public services like water and fire services
• sidetrack teachers' unions even if it means destroying public education in the process

In the past we estimated that 80% of every $2 million spent by WMC came from out-of-state organizations and businesses like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, General Electric, Home Depot, of course Wal-Mart, and right-wing religious organizations.

We can expect the same this spring. Differences we look forward to:

• The absence of WMC means the ads will lose some of their influence.
• The absence of WMC means the ads will be less restrained and more vicious.
• The presence of these national organizations playing the major role with their out-of-state money will increase the public demand for transparency when it comes to political donations to front groups.

Comments

[Teresa]

Good Morning Paul, I'd like to thank you for pointing out just how vicious the smear campaign was against Trish O'Neil. Not a word of truth existed in all those attack ads. Trish is a brilliant, kind woman who would have done the 47th district proud. The district elected Keith Ripp who stated in a TV interview on Tuesday," The economy in Wisconsin is seeing growth". The interviewer was puzzled about that statement as well. Like a dog in heat, All Children Matter,"such a catchy, caring name", will go after Chief Justice Abrahamson . Voters, please consider this group does not have our highest interest in mind. Do not believe a thing they say! Teresa