The Americans for Prosperity Foundation (R-Koch), a faction of the Conservative group founded by the Koch brothers, is spending at least $700,000 into ads in Wisconsin defending Gov. Scott Walker’s (R-WI) record. Walker’s promise for job creation has failed, and while his campaign did not promise to eradicate collective bargaining rights, he was successful at that.
As a candidate, Walker promised that the State would have 250,000 private sector jobs by the end of his four year term. PolitiFact reports, “our calculations show that he has 236,500 jobs left to go. And this promise remains In the Works.” Or broken.
JSOnline reports, “In a 2006 news release, Walker blasted then-Gov. Jim Doyle when a state employee named Georgia Thompson was indicted on federal corruption charges.
“Unfortunately, we have a Governor and administration that condones unethical and illegal behavior,” Walker said in a statement on Jan. 24, 2006. “The people of Wisconsin deserve better.”
And here we are in 2012, with four of Scott Walker’s aides facing charges.
Greg Sargent reports:
AFP invested heavily in last year’s battle over the recall of GOP state senators who supported Walker’s rollback of bargaining rights. AFP took some heat after it emerged that the group had sent out absentee ballots, in the districts of at least two state senators, that ended up misleading voters about the date of voting.
The group’s massive investment in the Walker recall fight is another reminder that for national conservative and Tea Party groups, the battle to defend Walker against recall has emerged as their number one national cause celebre.
As Andy Kroll reported recently, the Walker recall is a crucial, make-or-break moment for the Tea Party. Walker’s initial election was a major Tea Party victory, and the Tea Party is currently shrinking and a bit adrift. If Walker loses, it will be a major blow to the national movement. In this sense, the battle to save Walker may end up being seen as the Tea Party’s last stand.
With the Republican enthusiasm gap looking bleak, and recall efforts bringing in over one million signatures, it’s appropriate they are worried. The Tea Party is fading out, after Congress’ approval ratings hit a dismal 5%, and their unprecedented obstruction cost this country greatly.
See the video at The Plum Line
Image: The Green Market
