Following demonstrations earlier this year which drew up to 100,000 people to the Wisconsin Capitol, Republican Gov. Scott Walker has proposed new policies that would require future protesters to pay in advance to stage an event, at a cost of $50 per hour, per Capitol Police officer.
Demonstrators will also be on the hook for any damage and cleanup following protests. Walker’s administration had claimed that the pro-union protests earlier this year had costs as much as $7.5 million, but later admitted that the actual costs were far less.
Under the new policy, permits will be required for groups of four or more people who want to do any activity inside the Capitol. Groups of 100 or more gathering outside the Capitol must also apply for a permit 72 hours in advance. Police will have some leeway if unforeseen events lead to spontaneous gatherings.
American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin executive director Chris Ahmuty agreed with the state’s allowance for spontaneous protests, but worried that some groups might have their right to freedom of assembly curbed because they could not afford to pay.
“It leaves too much discretion to the Capitol Police,” Ahmuty told the Journal Sentinel.
For their part, many activists are vowing not to be cowed by the new rules.
“This will only embolden people and get them to protest louder,” Nicole Desautels, who participates in a daily pro-labor, sing-along protest, explained to The Chicago Tribune.
“We are exercising our free speech rights,” Kimi Ishikawa, who also takes part in the sing-along, insisted. “Nothing will stop us.”
Organizers said Monday that they had gotten half the signatures needed to force a recall election of Gov. Walker.
“Every day, every week and every month that goes by, the voters of my state will more clearly see the benefits of the [anti-union] reforms,” Walker told the Republican Governors Association Thursday. “People have a clear choice.”
Fox & Friends responded to a video of Wisconsin union supporters protesting at a town hall hosted by GOP lawmakers by calling the protesters a "mob" and complaining that they weren't "civil." But Fox & Friends promoted and encouraged similar protests by opponents of health care reform at Democrats' town hall meetings in August 2009.
Fox & Friends Calls Town Hall Labor Protesters A "Mob," Complains They Aren't "Civil"
Doocy: "These Lefty Interrupters Shut Down The Debate." On the March 9 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends, the co-hosts responded to video of a town hall meeting held by GOP lawmakers in Wisconsin that was disrupted by labor protesters. Co-host Steve Doocy complained that "they're there to talk about things and talk about what's going on and, ultimately, these lefty interrupters shut down the debate. Actually there was no debate, they shut down all conversation." Co-host Gretchen Carlson stated: "The problem was they had been given ground rules before," but that "some people didn't follow the rules." [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 3/9/11]
Doocy: "A Mob Shuts Down A Town Hall Meeting In Wisconsin." Later on Fox & Friends, Doocy stated: "A mob shuts down a town hall meeting in Wisconsin, but the only place you're likely to see this story? On ABC? NBC? Nope. Right here on Fox & Friends." [Fox & Friends, 3/9/11]
Doocy: "Protesters Shutting Down A Town Hall Meeting In Wisconsin. Where Is The Civility?" Later on Fox & Friends, Doocy said: "Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker ready to compromise, apparently. But it seems any attempt at peace in Wisconsin goes something like this these days." After playing the video clip, Doocy asked: "Protesters shutting down a town hall meeting in Wisconsin. Where's the civility?" During the segment, an on-screen graphic claimed that protesters "don't want to talk." From Fox & Friends:
[Fox & Friends, 3/9/11]
Doocy: "Weren't We Supposed To Be More Civil? ... How Is That Working Out?" Later on Fox & Friends, after Carlson aired the video clip again, Doocy responded by asking: "Weren't we supposed to be more civil? ... How is that working out?" Doocy also claimed that "if something like that happened and those were tea party people screaming ... it would be a really big story, right?" [Fox & Friends, 3/9/11]
Fox & Friends Relentlessly Promoted And Encouraged Health Care Town Hall Protests Aimed At Democrats
Fox & Friends Host Johnson To Protesters: "[W]e Thank You For Representing Americans, And We Hope That Other Americans Get Out There." On August 4, 2009, Fox & Friends hosted two people who said they questioned former Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius at an August 2, 2009, Philadelphia town hall event that was disrupted by protesters opposed to Democrats' health care reform plans. From Fox & Friends:
CAROL O'BRIEN: I think they were -- well, personally, I think they were very unprepared for that meeting. I think they were asked questions, and they did not have valid responses. They stayed on message. Even though part of my question -- I asked them please not to insult my intelligence by staying on message, but to give us an honest answer. They did not do that. And I think if you look at their facial expressions during the town hall meeting, you could tell that they were not happy with the response of the crowd.
PETER JOHNSON JR. (guest host): Well, O'Briens, we're all looking for honest answers, and we thank you for representing Americans, and we hope that other Americans get out there and voice their opinions. Let's check in with you as time goes on and see what kind of progress we are making. John and Carol O'Brien, thank you so much. [Fox & Friends, 8/4/09]
Carlson: "Are You Gonna Call" Your Member Of Congress "Or Are You Gonna Go To One Of These Receptions Where They're Actually There?" Introducing the August 4, 2009, segment on the Philadelphia town hall, Fox & Friends co-host Gretchen Carlson said:
CARLSON: [Y]ou probably have a lot on your mind for your respective members of Congress when they come home from recess. Are you gonna call them up and tell them how you really feel, or are you going to go to one of these receptions where they're actually there in person? That's happening now all across the country. [Fox & Friends, 8/4/09]
Johnson: "We Need To Have This Every Day Throughout August." From Peter Johnson Jr.'s discussion of the Specter-Sebelius town hall meeting the previous day on Fox & Friends:
JOHNSON: Well, they sound kind of useless, and they sound kind of, really, uninformed and not -- no. We need to have this every day throughout August. People have to be contacting their congress people, their senators. They need to bring their congress people and senator every day to account in their neighborhoods, in their congressional districts and talk about this issue and ask questions and say, "If I need to get a hip replacement, am I gonna get it? If I've got private insurance now, and I'm happy with it, am I gonna lose it? Is the government gonna decide whether I live or die at some point in the future? What is the future of my health care, one-sixth of our American budget?" [Fox & Friends, 8/3/09]
Doocy: "If You Want To Contact Your Congress Members And Sound Off, Go To FoxNation.Com." Also on August 3, 2009, during the same segment on the Philadelphia town hall, co-host Steve Doocy suggested people go to the Fox Nation for information on how to contact members of Congress:
DOOCY: That's right. So anyway, if you want to contact your congress members and sound off, go to FoxNation.com. It is a great interactive website where you can sound off, and you'll also find your lawmakers' phone numbers and email there. Hmm, very handy. [Fox & Friends, 8/3/09]
Fox On-Screen Text: "Hold Congress Accountable! Now Is The Time To Speak Your Mind." On the August 3, 2009, edition of Fox & Friends, the following on-screen graphic aired:
In 2009, corporate front groups like Americans For Prosperity organized protestsagainst Democrats who supported the health care overhaul, raucously disrupting the town hall meetings of these members of Congress.
One of the Republican members of Congress who most vigorously supported these town hall protests was Rep. James Sensenbrenner (WI). At the time, Sensenbrenner implored politicians to listen “to the message” of the town hall demonstrators and praised their efforts to disrupt the meetings of his Democratic colleagues:
– Sensenbrenner Said We Should Be “Listening To The Message” Of Town Hall Protesters: He wrote in his weekly column on his website that he “appreciated the hundreds and hundreds of people” who showed up to make their voices heard. [1/22/10]
– Sensenbrenner’s Communications Director Pointed To The Town Halls As Evidence People Were Against Health Reform: Queried by Politifact about his statement that Americans “emphatically” reject efforts to reform the U.S. health care system, his communications director Wendy Riemann pointed to the congressman’s town hall meetings: “At these meetings, the overwhelming majority of attendees (public from the 5th District) were opposed to the healthcare bill and/or supported the law’s repeal.” [1/16/10]
– Sensenbrenner Chided Democrats For Supposedly Ignoring Town Hall Protesters: In a weekly column, the congressman chided “President Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi” for continuing to “ignore the voices of the majority of Americans whose outrage over a government takeover was expressed at town hall meetings across the country in August.” [2/23/2010]
The tables were turned yesterday when Sensenbrenner was confronted at a constituent town hall by scores of people who were outraged by his endorsement of a GOP budget proposal that would slash and burn investments in infrastructure and education and deny millions of Americans a decent shot at living the American Dream. The constituent protest became so intense that the congressman adjourned the meeting early. An attendee of the event recorded footage of the protest. Watch it:
Following the meeting, Sensenbrenner put out a statement saying, “It’s unfortunate… individuals who were patiently waiting to ask a question or share a concern were unable to do so.” Yet it appears that the congressman’s standards for whether protesters’ behavior is appropriate changes depending on who is the target.
As Media Matters noted on March 3, 2011, Fox News used footage shot by a local Wisconsin photographer to falsely label Wisconsin union protesters as "violent." The video showed protesters confronting Republican State Senator Glenn Grothman as he attempted to enter the Wisconsin capitol building. Although the video clearly showed no violence being committed and in fact, the protesters breaking into chants of "peace" and "peaceful," Fox falsely depicted the crowd as "violent protesters" and an "angry union mob" who "ambush[ed]" Grothman.
In a statement to Media Matters, Phil Ejercito -- the photographer who shot the video -- responded, slamming Fox News' distortion of his material:
It sickens me to see the truth so willfully distorted. In deciding to release this video, I considered how it would be used, but I (perhaps naively) believed that the facts in the video would speak for itself - the people of Wisconsin are angry, Senator Grothman got a well-deserved ribbing, the Walker administration's lockdown of the Capitol is misguided, and Representative Hulsey acted honorably. It is simply astounding that the same faction of the right-wing that would claim that torture in Abu Ghraib was "fraternity hazing" would equate heckling as a "violent attack."
I have been covering these protests 24/7 from the outset, with no legal team or anything to guide me other than a dedication to truth and the people of Wisconsin. I believe I represent a growing grey area between citizen journalism and professional journalism. While I pride myself on the experience and professionalism with which I approach my job, I will admit to being somewhat starry-eyed upon dealing with national media. I initially refused to license my footage to Fox News, politely citing "qualms about the quality of Fox's reporting from here in Madison." Only upon receiving assurances that both Sen. Grothman and Rep. Hulsey would be available to provide context did I acquiesce.
Let there be no ambiguity: I condemn the use of my work to distort the truth about the spirited but non-violent protests here in Madison. I believe that this is a genuinely dangerous narrative that Fox News is helping to create. Prior to Gov. Walker's Feb. 11 unveiling of his budget repair bill, the last time a Wisconsin governor invoked the National Guard in response to labor, seven demonstrators were shot dead in front of the Bay View Rolling Mill. I am deeply disturbed to consider that my work is being misused to establish a fictional narrative of violence by the working families of Wisconsin, and I encourage people to watch the entire clip on YouTube for themselves to understand the full context and decide for themselves what truthfully took place.
Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly isn’t happy that protesters in Wisconsin have been calling out his network for its shoddy journalism practices. Last week, O’Reilly sent his ambush goon Jesse Watters out to badger people protesting Fox outside their studios in New York. On Monday during an interview with Fox News’ Mike Tobin, who is reporting from Wisconsin, O’Reilly was at it again, calling chants that “Fox lies” from pro-union demonstrators “some kind of organized deal.” But during the interview, Fox aired b-rollof some unknown protest that contained physical confrontations among demonstrators and simply labeled it “union protests,” as if it was coming out of Wisconsin. Watch it:
Digby asked of the video, “What’s wrong with this picture?” adding, “If you guessed the snowless ground and palm trees in Wisconsin you win a big prize. Your sanity.”
This morning, Fox & Friends hosted an "upset Wisconsin parent" to discuss her objection to Wisconsin public schools' teaching of labor union history. Left unsaid during the segment: The parent, Amber Hahn, is also a local GOP official.
Fox & Friends, which asked last week if teaching labor history in Wisconsin schools is "pro-union propaganda," used the interview with Hahn to renew its attacks. A graphic that aired during the segment asked if Wisconsin schools are "pushing the union agenda," and co-host Gretchen Carlson asked Hahn if she thought the lessons on unions are "biased."
At the end of the interview, Hahn thanked the hosts for "bringing light" to the issue. Watch:
This is now the second time Fox has masqueraded a GOP activist as a concerned parent to attack unions. As Media Mattersnoted on February 18, Your World guest host Chris Cotter interviewed "Wisconsin parent" Dave Westlake to attack teachers for calling in sick to protest, resulting in some schools in Madison, Wisconsin, being closed. Not noted was the fact that Westlake ran for Senate in Wisconsin, losing in the GOP primary.
WASHINGTON – Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), the co-chair of the House progressive caucus, said Wednesday that Wisconsin's Republican Gov. Scott Walker is behaving like a "dictator."
Walker has been "absolutely unreasonable, and is basically taking on the posture of a dictator," Ellison told reporters on a conference call organized by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee.
The standoff between Republicans and Democrats in Wisconsin continues for a second week as Walker refuses to back down on a budget measure curtailing the collective bargaining rights of public employee unions. Fourteen Democrats fled the state last week to protest the measure and prevent Republicans from getting the votes.
Ellison accused Walker of having "a vision of America that's similar to somewhere like Nigeria or Pakistan," saying he's "been extreme, radical, reckless… and he's going to fail."
To the Wisconsin Democrats and pro-union demonstrators, Ellison said: "You are absolute heroes to us."
Walker insists that his budget measure does not single out or target unions, arguing that across-the-board cuts are necessary to bridge the state's shortfall.
The National Journalreported that the union rights provision "wouldn't save any money this year." Critics have noted that Walker's tax cut for businesses contributed to the state's deficit.
Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), also co-chair of the progressive caucus, said on the call that the clash in Wisconsin is critical to the cause of union bargaining rights across the country as the outcome could influence the direction of others states seeking ways to balance their budgets.
"It is absolutely necessary for you, for us, to win this fight," Grijalva said. "If we win this fight in Wisconsin, we will win it all across the country.
From Media Matters:
Fox News has been forced to air footage of Wisconsin labor protesters shouting "Fox lies" and "tell the truth" during its live coverage of the labor protests.
Labor Protesters Chant "Fox Lies," "Tell The Truth" During Live Fox Reports
Protesters Shout "Fox Lies" During Live Report From WI Capitol. On the February 18 edition of Your World, protesters chanted "Fox lies" during correspondent Jeff Flock's live report on the labor protests from the Wisconsin Capitol building. During the segment, guest host Chris Cotter stated, "Well, I'll tell you, Jeff, those folks protesting Fox -- I'm wondering if they would prefer a state-run television network providing all the coverage." [Fox News, Your World, 2/18/11]
Protesters Chant "Tell The Truth" During Live Segment From Madison, WI. On the February 21 edition of The Fox Report, labor protesters chanted "tell the truth" throughout correspondent Mike Tobin's live report on the protests from Madison, WI. [Fox News, The Fox Report, 2/21/11]
Protesters Interrupt Live Fox Interview With Chants Of "Tell The Truth." On the February 21 edition of Your World, labor protesters in Madison interrupted guest host Stuart Varney's live interview with Brett Healy of the conservative MacIver Institute. Varney later interviewed Healy via telephone while footage of a protester holding a sign saying, "Fox News will lie about this," aired:
[Fox News, Your World, 2/21/11]
Fox Aired "Fox News Lies" Protest Sign. During a report by Mike Tobin on the February 21 edition of Special Report, a protester held a sign stating, "Fox News lies!":
Fox News' coverage of the Wisconsin protests over Gov. Scott Walker's proposal to eliminate public employees' collective bargaining rights, among other things, has been marked with repeated attacks on the protesters. However, by contrast, Fox has relentlessly promoted and even encouraged viewers to participate in tea party and "Tax Day" protests over the past few years.
Fox Coverage Of WI Protesters Marked By Attacks On Union Members, Supporters
Beck: WI Protests Are "About The People Looking To Create Chaos On The Backs Of The Worker." On the February 17 edition of his Fox News show, Glenn Beck said of the Wisconsin protests: "The unions claim that the cuts will affect teachers, but it's not the everyday teacher that this story is really all about. It's about the people looking to create chaos on the backs of the worker when the world's focus is on Egypt." [Fox News, Glenn Beck, 2/17/11]
Malkin: Protesters Engaging In "Thuggery." On the February 17 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends, Fox News contributor Michelle Malkin attacked the protesters, saying, "If this brave Republican governor can stand up to the immense amount of power and thuggery, essentially, by these unions, it bodes very well for other states." [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 2/17/11]
Napolitano Calls Wisconsin Protests "Union Temper Tantrums." On the February 17 edition his Fox Business show Freedom Watch, host Andrew Napolitano said, "This is the second day in a row union temper tantrums have ... deprived Wisconsin kids of their education." [Fox Business, Freedom Watch, 2/17/11]
McGuirk: Protesters Are "Act[ing] Like A Bunch Of Selfish Spoiled Europeans." On the February 17 broadcast of Fox News' Hannity, Fox Business' Imus in the Morning producer Bernard McGuirk said of the protesters: "For these guys, the people in Wisconsin, these protesters to act like a bunch of selfish spoiled Europeans is almost embarrassing." [Fox News, Hannity, 2/17/11, accessed via Nexis]
Beck Sees "The Beginning Of The American Insurrection" In Wisconsin Protests. On the February 17 edition of his radio show, Beck said that the Wisconsin protests are "the beginning of the American insurrection." He went on to add, "These unions are calling for Egypt-style protests on the street." [Premiere Radio Networks, The Glenn Beck Program, 2/17/11]
Beck Cites WI Protests To Claim That "Evil [Is] Spreading Around The Globe." On the February 16 edition of his Fox News show, Beck stated that protests in Madison, WI, as well as in the Middle East and Mexico are part of "evil spreading around the globe." [Fox News, Glenn Beck, 2/16/11]
Fox & Friends Co-Hosts Dismiss Protesters' Demands, Say It's "Simple" To "Eliminate Collective Bargaining." On the February 18 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends, co-hosts Steve Doocy and Brian Kilmeade discussed the protests in Wisconsin and dismissed the protesters' demands. Doocy said that Walker's proposal is "simple. He wants to eliminate collective bargaining, he wants public employees to pay half their pension cost and at least 12 percent of their health care coverage." From the show:
KILMEADE: Wisconsin is a state, like many states in this country, that has a bit of a budget deficit, to the tune of over $100 million. So one way in which new Gov. Scott Walker wants to close that gap is to go revisit the public employee deals, government worker deals that have been cut between union workers and the state government. So, why not put that forward? Why not have them pay into their pensions? Why not have them pay into their retirement, health care, because we, together, have to balance the budget, and the people have spoken out in November. They want Republicans to do the cutting. And that was the easy part.
DOOCY: That was the easy part. And now you're looking at these crazy pictures out of the state capital from yesterday. Twenty-five thousand people showed up. John Fund's going to join us in a couple minutes. Wait until you hear -- his sources are telling him these are not all union members who are showing up in these pictures right here. But the proposal -- it's simple. He wants to eliminate collective bargaining, he wants public employees to pay half their pension cost and at least 12 percent of their health care coverage. For a teacher --
KILMEADE: Join the rest of the world.
DOOCY: Right, that's still a good deal. It would amount to essentially 7 percent of their pay. [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 2/18/11]
O'Reilly: "Insurrection In Wisconsin" Means "Class Warfare" Could Be "About To Break Out In America." On the February 17 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor, during his "Talking Points" segment, host Bill O'Reilly referred to the protests as the "[i]nsurrection in Wisconsin" and said, " 'Talking Points' believes that class warfare is about to break out in America":
O'REILLY: Insurrection in Wisconsin: That is the subject of this evening's "Talking Points" memo. Thousands of state workers are objecting to Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's call for an immediate eight percent cut in their benefits and things got nasty today.
[...]
Well, the state of Wisconsin has a $3.6 billion- short fall through 2013 and simply cannot afford to pay its bills. This is happening in many states and public workers are the first ones to take the hit. Obviously that's not going over well in Wisconsin.
[...]
But if state workers will not give back some of their benefits, there is no solution to the fiscal crisis anywhere. You can't raise taxes anymore. The folks are tapped out, right?
Where I live on Long Island some elderly people are actually selling their homes because they can't sell the high property tax rate. The solution in bankrupt states is where these two agree to some kind of give back perhaps over a few years, that way they can look for other jobs in the private sector if they don't believe they are being compensated fairly in the public arena. I think that would be fair.
"Talking Points" believes that class warfare is about to break out in America. Union benefits are strangling not only state budgets but also the private economy.
Yes, workers do need protection. They need some kind of security in the marketplace. But, the cold truth is, that federal and state workers have reached the top of their earning pyramid. Bankruptcy looms in California and other states and give-backs are coming. The blow back to that will be nasty.
And that's the memo. [Fox News, The O'Reilly Factor, 2/17/11, accessed via Nexis]
But Fox Has Aggressively Hyped Tea Party Protests And Protesters
Media Matters April '09 Report Found Fox Aired At Least 20 Segments And 73 Promos On Tea Party Protests In Lead Up To Tax Day Protests. In April 2009, Media Matters reported that Fox News had frequently aired segments not only covering tea party protests but encouraging viewers to get involved. An April 15, 2009, study found that from April 6-13, Fox had aired 20 segments and 73 in-show and commercial promotions on the tea party protests scheduled for April 15. Many of those segments aired during one of Fox's supposedly objective news shows, America's Newsroom. [Media Matters, 4/8/09, 4/15/09]
Fox News Hosts Attended "FNC Tax Day Tea Parties." In the days leading up to the "Tax Day" protests, Fox repeatedly aired on-screen text describing protests Fox news hosts would be attending as "FNC Tax Day Tea Parties." [Media Matters, 4/9/09]
Fox's Tax Day Coverage Promoted Protesters' Cause, Urged Viewer Involvement. As Media Matters has previously documented, Fox News and Fox Business also hyped the tea party during its coverage of the "Tax Day" protests on April 15, 2009. Hosts and guests on several shows, including the supposedly objective Happening Now and America's Newsroom, promoted the protesters' cause and urged viewers to join the protests and visit tea party websites. [Media Matters, 4/16/09]
Hannity Scheduled To Speak At Ticketed Tea Party Event; "Furious" Fox Execs Forced Cancellation Of His Appearance. Leading up to the April 15, 2010, "Tax Day" tea party protests, Fox host Sean Hannity was scheduled to tape his April 15 show at the Cincinnati Tea Party's 2010 Tax Day Tea Party, which required paid admission. The appearance was promoted on 18 different editions of his Fox News program. On April 15, 2010, the Los Angeles Times reported that "[a]ngry Fox News executives" ordered Hannity to drop his plans to film from the rally. [Media Matters, 4/15/10]
Fox News Hosts Participated In More Than A Dozen Tea Party Events. Despite News Corp. Chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch's statement that he didn't think Fox News "should be supporting the Tea Party," Fox News hosts participated in more than a dozen tea party events the week of April 15, 2010. [Media Matters, 4/15/10]
Fox Repeatedly Promoted Glenn Beck's 8-28 Rally. Although Fox & Friends co-host Steve Doocy declared that "Glenn Beck -- not Fox News" was hosting Beck's August 28, 2010, "Restoring Honor" rally, Fox hosts repeatedly hyped Beck's rally. [Media Matters, 8/24/10]
M.C.L Comment: The tea party defend the interest of the rich and powerful that's why Fox News defends them while the people in Wisconsin are fighting for regular people.
