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The Tea Party Express Presents the Champions of the People!
more from Hrafnkell Haraldsson
The Tea Party Express presents these six Republicans facing recall not only champions of the people, but martyrs for the people. I thought it would be educational to look at how the TPE presents them, and what the People for the American Way (PFAW) have to say about them. So, without further ado, I present to you your 2011 Tea Party Express Champions of the People!
Senator Robert Cowles (R) – Senator Cowles’ time in Wisconsin’s capitol has been dedicated to cutting waste and fraud. He has made strong calls for audits to both the public energy sector and state Medicaid program. He has been an ally to Wisconsin taxpayers, advocating for efficiency in government by cutting wasteful spending. As Senator Cowles faces a recall, he needs your support!
PFAW: He twice voted against raising the minimum wage, and twice voted to constrain the rights of victims of medical malpractice to seek justice in court. He even opposed allowing victims of pay discrimination to seek compensation from their employers. He calls himself a proud social conservative and has a “D” rating from NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin, but in 2008 it was revealed that he had tens of thousands of dollars invested in companies that run strip clubs. He eventually sold the stock after it was exposed.
Senator Alberta Darling (R) – Senator Darling has recognized the dire state of Wisconsin’s budget and has worked hard to reign in spending. She has co-authored the Job Creation Act, promoting private sector growth while voting to cut taxes. Senator Darling is working hard to protect Wisconsin and she needs your help!
PFAW: The union-busting bill wasn’t Darling’s first vote against Wisconsin working families. She twice voted to make it more difficult for victims of medical malpractice to seek justice in court, and repeatedly opposed raising the minimum wage.
Senator Sheila Harsdorf (R) –Senator Harsdorf feels Wisconsinites are taxed enough and the only way to fix the budget is to slash government spending. The Senator has made a strong stand against the union bosses focused on recalling her saying: “Union bosses don’t run government, people do. I will not be intimidated into voting against taxpayers.” She has proven to be a strong representative of the people, but needs your support now!
PFAW: Harsdorf received perfect 100% scores over the last two years from the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, the state’s chief pro-corporate lobby group. She also came out strongly in favor of massive tax breaks for corporations and loosening business regulations, even as she backed Walker’s draconian budget cuts. She even supported a business tax break that experts believed would be largely ineffective at creating jobs, and consistently opposed raising the minimum wage and supported legislation to allow businesses to escape a penalty over discriminatory pay and hiring practices.
Senator Luther Olsen (R) – Senator Olsen is a dedicated proponent for education and has tirelessly advocated on the students behalf. He has recognized the flaws in the education system and by voting for Scott Walker’s collective bargaining law, shows he understands the damages big-unions have done to our education system. As Senator Olsen comes under fire from the desperate unions, he will need your help!
PFAW: A Fiscal Conservative Who Rakes in Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars in Government Subsidies…He twice voted against increasing the minimum wage and also opposed compensation for discriminatory pay. Reflecting on his pro-corporate voting record, the Wisconsin lobby group for manufacturers gave him perfect 100% scores in 2009 and 2010.
As the chair of the Senate Education Committee, Olsen has been a vocal supporter of using public funds for private school vouchers and has voted to expand the program. According to the La Crosse Tribune, Olsen and his Republican counterpart in the State House “want to look at expanding Milwaukee Parental Choice, the state’s only private school voucher program,” even though studies show that the MPC has been ineffective in raising scores and sends taxpayer money to religious schools.
Senator Randy Hopper (R) – Senator Hopper ran for office wanting to change the “politics-as-usual” mentality. Upon entering office, he donated his legislative pay raise to three YMCAs’ Strong Kids Campaigns. As a former small business owner, he is focused on economic development and job creation. He has committed to lowering taxes and growing the economy – support Senator Hopper as he fights off this unwarranted recall election!
PFAW: Hopper says he’s simply trying to balance the budget, but his real goal is tax giveaways to benefit the super-wealthy like himself. In addition, Hopper in January voted in favor of an income tax credit for private health savings accounts that “primarily benefit the wealthy,” and consistently received perfect 100% ratings from the state’s pro-corporate lobby…He opposed raising the minimum wage and fixing the wage to the rate of inflation. While Hopper voted against compensation for victims of hiring and pay-discrimination, he supported legislation that makes it more difficult for victims of medical malpractice to seek justice in court.
Senator Dan Kapanke (R) – Senator Kapanke, a veteran and former business owner, was named “Legislator of the Year” for is innovative ideas and strong stance on Wisconsin’s out-of-control spending. Senator Kapanke was one of the big proponents to the collective bargaining law that was passed in Wisconsin recently. He is a proven conservative reformer, which in-turn has put him in the crosshairs of the unions. As the recall election approaches, he needs your help!
PFAW: Kapanke’s questionable relationship with lobbyists led to ethical improprieties. Dan Kapanke is not only a state senator but also owner of a local baseball team. Under state law he is not allowed to receive anything of monetary value from lobbyists or the organizations that employ them, yet employers of lobbyists purchased advertisements in his team’s baseball stadium. Kapanke claimed that such money went to a charitable foundation and not him directly, but it was later uncovered that he was using money from the foundation to pay off his debts to the city. After getting caught breaking ethics laws by using his charity as a slush fund, Kapanke said he would pay $16,000 back, but it turned out that he used the charity to pay the city $32,000 to cover his personal debts.
This wasn’t Kapanke’s first run-in with ethics problems. When it was revealed that his government staffers illegally coordinated with his campaign to organize two forums, the resulting legal episode cost taxpayers $38,000.
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16 Responses to The Tea Party Express Presents the Champions of the People!
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Sarah Jones
Jun. 18th, 2011 at 5:52 pm
Excellent reference work, Hraf:-)
Hrafnkell Haraldsson
Jun. 19th, 2011 at 6:54 am
Thank you, Sarah. Was fun to do even if I felt a bit “soiled” afterward.
Anne
Jun. 18th, 2011 at 5:58 pm
The Tea Party Express senses that it is losing favor around the country, especially in states like Wisconsin where the citizens have had ample opportunity to see just how destructive their slash-and-burn policies are. True to form, they are lying in their teeth about the intentions and history of these folks rightly slated for recall. Thanks to PFAW, we also have the correct information on these folks which justifies their being recalled and never again being elected to any office.
Gerald Bosacker
Jun. 18th, 2011 at 6:19 pm
The T-party is trying to capitalize on its overwhelming surprise victory supposedly for the people. Now, they show their true masters and agenda. Strike back!
Sally
Jun. 18th, 2011 at 6:43 pm
I think the Tea Party got a bit too full of itself after November. They decided that they had a mandate and could set to work ruining the middle class, public education, and undermine women’s reproductive rights, as well as the food programs for the poor. This was on top of ending all other social safety nets. I’m not sure of the goal here. When you make more than half the people angry at you, who do you think is actually supporting you, and just who do you think will be idiotic enough to ever vote GOP again? This agenda is about ending jobs, and benefits, and life. It was never about creating jobs and a semblance of wealth for the middle and lower classes. Disgusting.
Shiva (Moderator)
Jun. 18th, 2011 at 6:57 pm
The Tea party. Processed and brewed in Wisconsin by Koch Brewery’s.
All the rich drink it. The poor can eat crust
Reynardine
Jun. 18th, 2011 at 7:01 pm
Their brazenness in the face of facts indicates they’re damned sure of themselves. I don’t like it.
Oldsun
Jun. 18th, 2011 at 9:24 pm
Do you smell what the teaparty’s cookin’
laingirl
Jun. 18th, 2011 at 11:02 pm
Isn’t Randy Hopper the one who left his wife to live with a 23 year old who had worked on Scott Walker’s campaign? I believe recall petitioners unknowingly knocked on Mrs. Hopper’s door and she told them Randy didn’t live in the district anymore, that he was living with his young mistress. Without even completing an application, the young mistress was given a job with the state. That Hopper, just another one of those “family values” guys.
Rusty
Jun. 19th, 2011 at 12:45 am
Hopper’s wife actually signed the recall petition against him. LOL!
Hrafnkell Haraldsson
Jun. 19th, 2011 at 6:56 am
Yeah…sorry I couldn’t squeeze “all” the goodies in there. PFAW has more than what I included on these clowns.
sherriww
Jun. 19th, 2011 at 12:36 pm
“Clowns”would be the right description of these idiots,however the things they have done,and want to do,to the good people of Wisconsin is anything but funny! Just make sure you all get out and vote,no matter WHAT is doone to supress voting rights,in many states.If you need an ID,whether you drive or not,your local Dvrs’License office should be able to provide you with a low cost ID,as is done here in IL.If not,FIND OUT where to get whatever is needed to vote,and that goes for folks IN EVERY STATE,where these Repubs are trying to take away the ONE THING U DO HAVE,to fight with,for a better life for you and your family.It makes NO difference whether you are poor or rich,when it comes to voting! That IS the way you Speak Up and make things Better for yourself.DO NOT LET ANYONE STOP YOU FROM VOTING.IT IS YOUR LEGAL RIGHT!! Lets get these Repub/Teapubs OUT so we can ALL have a better life again!
Rick Shreiner
Jun. 19th, 2011 at 9:37 pm
IOKIYR .. ..
.. once again.
Eff’ing unethical cheaters and frauds.
rewinn
Jun. 20th, 2011 at 1:11 am
The Tea Party has HUGE backing from wealthy Aristocrats like the Kochs, so expect them to mount well-financed, slick campaigns. And if they lose this round so what? They’ve already done huge damage to Wisconsin’s people, and can come back next year. Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty, especially when the Aristocracy wants you in chains!
Ole Toustrup-Andersen
Jun. 20th, 2011 at 9:55 am
I am a dane and i have followed, the Tea.publican agenda, since the 2008 election. Some wise words of warning. DO NOT BELIEVE, anything FOX; Rasmussen, or other rightwing media, fills you, about Europe. They focus only, on the aprox. 15 %, which is in serious trouple and deleperately call us socialist, to utilize the scaring effect of the word. We rely as much on capitalism, as USA. We just pay higher taxes, to pay for higher benefits, as free education and HC for everybody. Truth is that mayority of Europe is doing much better than USA, but the GOP, wants you to believe its a socialist failure. Far from the truth. We are doing fine and the troubles of the 15 % Greece, Portugal Ireland can´t be tied to benefits, but oldfashioned production, which has suffered harder during the recession, than more tech productions of other european nations. FOx ect. does everything it possibly can to prevent you from knowing the truth about Europe. DON`T BELIEVE THEM.
Shiva (Moderator)
Jun. 20th, 2011 at 10:10 am
thank you for your post, because you are absolutely correct. Having universal healthcare does not make a country socialist. If that was the case, then the United States would be socialist due to its many socialist programs. All countries depend on capitalism, and if the capitalism is corrupt then the country fails. the problem in the United States is not due to socialism or entitlements, it is due to a lack of income of the middle class and it is capitalism that is causing that. That is not to say that capitalism is bad. However, capitalism, but does not work for the best interests of the country in which it resides in my opinion is corrupt. Certainly profits are of the utmost importance, because profits determine the success of both the Corporation and the middle classes buying power.
I applaud the countries like Denmark who give education and health care to everyone. in my opinion the United States has a very very long way to go before it reaches the Enlightenment that Scandinavia and many places in Europe have reached