There seems to be a trend developing in the coverage

[socialist_n_TN]

of the union protests and I don't like it. It seems several of the articles I've read just today are beginning to make this into a Dem/Rep battle, when up to this point it's been a people/financial elites battle. As I've said numerous times, if this is framed as a Dem/Rep clash, it will lose ALL of it's impact because it will be seen as "politics as usual".

May I suggest that all signs and interviews given stress the income and power disparity that these draconian laws will enable. If you feel you MUST mention the Republicans, paint them as just TOOLS of the people who are BEHIND this push to roll back our rights. That's the truth and it will keep the focus on who's REALLY responsible for what's going on. Ex: "Walker=Koch tool" "Why are you selling our resources to Scott? Don't the Koch's have enough?" You can adapt to individual situations in different states. IOW, KEEP THE REAL MASTERS IN THE FOREFRONT!

[inademv]

1. The Dem/Rep line practically IS the people/Elites

I may be giving them too much credit but the line seems to be drawn in where the respective organizations spend most of their political donations since Unions are virtually the only donors to Democratic candidates (non blue-dog anyways).

[liberal N proud]

4. +100

[socialist_n_TN]

8. And that's fine, BUT most people aren't going to think.....

that way. Like it or not, MOST people are apathetic about politics until the election rolls around and a presidential election at that. So in between times what they see is the Republicans and the Democrats scrapping over arcane things THAT THEY DON'T THINK AFFECTS THEIR DAILY LIVES AT ALL! So they tune it out as "politics as usual".

That's what's been different about THESE demonstrations. They're NOT seen as politics as usual and so they have more widespread and deeper support. IF we can keep the focus on the economic aspect instead of the political party aspect of it, it'll carry on and MAYBE be the imputus for a REAL change.

The "which party to vote for" WILL arise organically out of these demonstrations. Eveybody KNOWS which party is a wholly owned subsidery of the wealthy. And, in spite of their blue dog faults, it ain't the Dems.

[leftstreet]

9. Keep in mind half the people in the US don't vote

Any time something is politicized in the country it becomes easy to ignore

[socialist_n_TN]

11. BINGO! Thanks for putting what I am worried.........

about so succinctly. These protests have been about the curtailing of economic freedoms, NOT Democratic Party rallies. I'm just saying let's KEEP it that way. The Dems will benefit in the long run IF THEY KEEP ON THE SIDE OF THE PEOPLE.

[leftstreet]

13. No kidding. Just try to think of "Walker" without thinking "Republican"

Now list the names of Egypt's political parties


The M$M started politicizing WI the day the story broke

:grr:

[socialist_n_TN]

15. I actually hadn't noticed that much politicization......

before today. Mostly it's been ignored, but when it HAS been framed, it's been framed as the UNIONS against Walker's "reforms". Seemingly overnight, it's gone from the UNIONS to the "Democratic Party".

As I said, IMO, this is an attempt to portray it as "politics as usual" and consequently, turn off the average, non political Idolator. And as a bonus, maybe taking some of the steam out of the protesters themselves.

[leftstreet]

16. ...not to mention fundraising

:argh:

[socialist_n_TN]

18. Money is always a part of the equation in politics....

isn't it. Fuck 'em. Keep the spotlight on the PUPPET MASTERS not the puppets.

[TBF]

29. No it's not. We talk all the time about repubs who vote against their own

financial self-interest, whether it is due to perceived "family values" or "limited government" arguments.

The fight is worker v. owner, and until we get that down we will never have the widespread solidarity that we need.

[socialist_n_TN]

32. + at least a million.....

Spotlight on the puppet MASTERS not the puppets.

[Shagbark Hickory]

2. You're just now noticing this?

Every issue has to pick sides.

[socialist_n_TN]

10. What? Noticing that the media is on the side of the....

capitalists? Nope, I've seen that all my life.

What I AM noticing is that the media has gone from IGNORING the protests (mostly) to, all of the sudden, making it into a "Democratic Party" protest.

THAT is what I consider counterproductive. Because in spite of the fact that unions support Dems mostly, the people have NOT, so far, looked at this as a "Democratic Tea Party".

I'm just saying keep the focus on who the ULTIMATE villians are, the puppet masters who CONTROL the Republican politicians. That way the Dem Party will benefit too.

[Shagbark Hickory]

25. That's partially true, partially nonsense.

The media will air what gets viewers.
Like I've said a hundred times in the past 3 days, molotov cocktails, broken glass and burning police cars gets viewers.
A bunch of unhappy workers peacefully rallying and singing songs does not get as many viewers and people are losing interest because nothing is happening and nothing will happen because the only way you're going to win against the forces of evil is to kick some ass.

This has become a partisan issue, yes, because why? Because RW media has said "ooh, unions bad. Workers, bad." Lefty-ish media said: "Democracy at it's finest, unions good, workers good, republican govnuh wrong."

The governor of wisconsin was caught on tape saying he considered putting instigators in the crowd to cause trouble.
If that does not trigger an instant recall, then hey... we're all fucked.

have a nice day.

[socialist_n_TN]

28. Not time for the molotov cocktails yet.......

That time MAY come, but as long as it can be kept peaceful AND militant, we should keep it so.

[Shagbark Hickory]

33. I'm not saying to do one thing or the other. Only if you're wondering why the coverage is dwindling

rapidly, it because the country has tuned out.

[socialist_n_TN]

35. Actually I didn't say, and don't even think, that ......

the coverage HAS been dwindling. I'm MUCH more concerned that what media coverage there IS out there, is trying to change the FOCUS from economic inequality to Democratic/Republican "politics as usual". The whole point of the OP was to try and get people to keep the focus on the economic injustice.

[Shagbark Hickory]

41. This isn't politics as usual?

[socialist_n_TN]

43. When was the last time you had this outpouring.....

in this many places in this country OVER ECONOMIC ISSUES? Maybe in Seattle over the G-8 summits? I wasn't there so I don't know, but that was localized no matter how big it was.

It hasn't happened in my lifetime and I'm nearly 60. It's also MUCH more widespread. The closest I can come is in the reading of history and the labor struggles of the 30s.

No, definitely NOT politics as usual.

[Jackpine Radical]

3. Twist, turn, misdirect--Those are basic journalistic skills.

What you can't ignore, you simply lie about.

Been going on for years, although they're getting more sophisticated and coordinated about it. It used to be that every little corporate lickspittle newspaper in the country had to make up their own lies. Now they can just copy the Republican Talking Points instead of having to continually strain their own creative powers of fabrication.

[socialist_n_TN]

12. And lying about it is what they're TRYING to do........

now that it's becoming too big to ignore. They WANT to turn this into a "Democratic Party" rally because that's what they understand and that's what the PTB WANT them to do. If it's politics as usual, it's easier for a large segment of the populace to then ignore it.

HOWEVER, if it's blowing the lid off who REALLY controls the Republican Party and whose trying to control the country, then it becomes harder to portray it as "business as usual". That's why I say, keep the focus on the puppet masters and not the puppets (Walker and the Republicans).

[Jackpine Radical]

20. Oh I agree entirely with you.

I think what makes things different this time is that we have such widespread peer-to-peer communications (FB, Twitter, blogs, DU, whatever) that their control of M$M is becoming rapidly less relevant.

Deception only works when you don't have other sources of information. That's why it used to be a crime to own an unauthorized mimeograph machine in the old Soviet Union. Remember Samizdat?

[socialist_n_TN]

31. All those personal devices are also VERY helpful.....

for organizing. It was amazing to me how fast that General Strike authorization and education committee came together the other day. I think that speed of organization is due to those personal communication devices too.

Hey, I will FREELY admit that a lot of the posts I make on here I WANT somebody to take as a suggestion for action. We don't have much going on in Tennessee, YET, but what we DO have going on, I fully expect to take my own advice.

[HereSince1628]

5. You mean something like this?

[socialist_n_TN]

6. EXACTLY! That's says it perfectly.....

Put the focus on who ULIMATELY benefits, i.e., the rich capitalists.

[socialist_n_TN]

14. Darn fine sign, BTW.......

DARN fine!

[Jackpine Radical]

21. I just forwarded this to a bunch of progressives (& 1 wingnut).

It is SO stolen.

[snot]

7. Very helpful post; K&R'd.

[eleny]

17. Seems like the media has jumped back to the "First they ignore you" stage

They did that at first and then they laughed. Now they bounced back to ignoring. I guess that phone call knocked them off their pins.

I expected some "keeping them honest" bullshit from Anderson Cooper last night. But he completely ignored Wisconsin opting to give Christine O'Donnell's "Dancing" invitation several minutes. Surely Walker's clown show phone call qualified for Cooper's "Ridiculist" segment.

[socialist_n_TN]

19. Well that is up to us to keep us off "ignore".......

As I've said in other posts, if you want some attention, stage a sit in and chain yourself to the front entrance to Faux Noise. And maybe CNN too. Just make sure to keep the spotlight on the PUPPET MASTERS and not the puppets.

[eleny]

23. I watched a segment the other day featuring people picketing at Fox

I've watched so darned much this past week that I can't remember what cable station aired the piece nor the city. It might have been a demonstration in NYC. But they picketed outside the building and sure enough it made the news. You're spot on.

[socialist_n_TN]

37. Well, I saw a little something about it on MSNBC......

and Ed's show one night this week. It needs to be more than one and done though. And escalate the militancy. Not to violent levels, but don't be afraid to be arrested to make the point if necessary.

My wife already knows that I've made my peace with my eventual arrest this year at some time, over something. It's happened to me twice in the past and I survived. It's part of the gig.

[upi402]

22. The media only wants to cover the horse race

and avoid real political issues. Like a 'Dancing with the Stars' mentality forced on the people. ...Makes me furious.

[socialist_n_TN]

39. Once again, IMO it's up to US to keep the focus.........

on the billionaire puppet masters rather than the Republican puppets. Make your signs and chants at the rallies and demonstrations reflect that dynamic rather than a political party dynamic. KEEP THE FOCUS WHERE IT BELONGS!

[DearAbby]

24. Democrats better engage in this fight

"The American Labor Movement has consistently demonstrated its devotion to the public interest. It is, and has been, good for all America." ~John F. Kennedy

The Democratic Party has always supported the American worker. The line has been drawn.

[socialist_n_TN]

44. Only Dems who have good labor or economic .........

populist cred. I'm sorry, but I don't want a blue dog centrist who's only a friend of labor during elections glomming on to a class struggle.

Dems who have some credibility in this area, sure, and maybe a STRONG generic statement from the national Dems in support of collective bargaining. That's it for now. Keep it at a PEOPLES struggle.

[GeorgeGist]

26. That trend might change if people started marching on the Koch headquarters in Witchita ...

or better yet on Wall Street.

[socialist_n_TN]

27. That is IT. We've got to keep the focus on the.......

puppet MASTERS, like the Kochs, and NOT the puppets, like Walker.

EVERY time a big corp is found with it's hand up a Republican's ass or pulling the strings, THEY need to be the focus.

[TBF]

30. Of course - and it is because the very wealthy own the media.

I know you know all of this ... but just to spell it out. Whose interests does it protect to separate everyone into repubs v. democrats and also separate folks by race, sexual orientation, family values, etc...? All the division does is cause bickering amongst folks who should be aligning on economic issues.

If we all align on economic issues WE win because there are so many more of us than them (the billionaires). We can take down capitalism if we don't buy into their game.

[socialist_n_TN]

34. BINGO! Or maybe I'll start saying "YATZEE!".......

since I'm getting tired of bingo, :)

These demonstrations have been remarkable to me in that it's the first time in a LONG time, probably since the 30s, that a mass movement has spontaneously erupted over ECONOMIC issues. Even in my youth it was the Vietnam War and civil rights. But this is ECONOMICALLY based and the focus needs to STAY on economics. Who benefits from these Republican moves? Who will it hurt? Up to now, we've had the PERFECT framing of the issue. Let's keep it that way and not let the MSM turn it into something it's not.

[Critters2]

36. If it's Rep/Dem, where are the Dems?

Incidentally, I asked this same question of the nice young man who called asking me to make a donation to the DCCC. He couldn't answer it, either.

[socialist_n_TN]

40. I know! Where are the Dems? But that's good.......

at this point, IMO. The ONLY thing I want the national Dems to do is to come out with a STRONG statement supporting collective bargaining. Do it as a general statement of principle and leave it to the people.

My OP was not about the realities on the ground (where are the Dems?). It's about the way the MSM is trying to PORTRAY the demonstrations. The MSM is trying to MAKE it about Rep/Dem, when it's about economic injustice.

[Generic Other]

38. Most of the union membership are Dems

No news there.

[socialist_n_TN]

42. Yep, but they're not doing this at the behest of the .......

Democratic Party. They're doing it as a response to economic injustice. As a matter of fact the national Dems have, mostly, stayed away from it AS THEY SHOULD.

My ultimate point is that WE DON'T WANT TO LET THE MEDIA PORTRAY IT AS A REP/DEM SPAT. That trivializes it.

[Generic Other]

45. I think more people will join in the coming days

It is true that both the tea party and our party should be able to agree that screwing American workers is a very stupid shortsighted way to behave. We need to frame the politics of it that way. It is about workers. In unions. Whose members are both Democrats and Republicans. Yet united under the banner of Labor.

All our states are going to face similar crisis moments in the next round of budget cuts. A government responsive to our needs is all we ask. If it falls short, all will be lost. Politicians are seen as the problem, not the solution at this point.

This is a really frightening time in our history.

[socialist_n_TN]

46. We actually haven't seen this type of economic ........

outpouring of passion from the working class since the 30s.

The antiwar demonstrations of the late 60s/early 70s and even in the early Aughts were maybe bigger and as passionate, but they were a one issue thing and a minority opinion at that. This encompasses EVERYBODY who's not rich. THAT'S why the MSM is trying to frame it as "politics as usual". There's nothing usual about this. At least not for 80 years or so. So the media HAS to keep the lid on by framing it as "usual".

It's up to US to resist that framing.