Why the revolt downtown is even bigger than it appears

[CLANG]

Robin Vos, a Republican state representative, was telling television talk show host Mike Gousha how he escaped the "howling and chanting" in Madison this weekend and retreated to his barber shop and bar in Burlington in southeast Wisconsin, where he says "real people" are fully backing him and Gov. Scott Walker.

But more than any talking head, the commercial that followed crystallized the cynical essence of recent days in Madison.

The black-and-white ad featured working-class faces and superimposed newspaper headlines about the economic downturn, asserting that public employees have made no sacrifices while ordinary people have suffered mightily. Concessions for workers at Harley-Davidson, Mercury Marine and Sub-Zero were all cited.

Somber music played. The narrator continued: "But state workers haven't had to sacrifice. They pay next to nothing for their pensions, and a fraction of their health care. It's not fair. Call your state legislator and tell them to vote for Gov. Walker's budget repair bill. It's time state employees paid their fair share, just like the rest of us."

http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/madison_360/article_1e4e7a30-3dec-11e0-905e-001cc4c03286.html