Fake "Koch brother" calls up Wisconsin governor

Ian Murphy, editor of the Buffalo Beast, just did something wonderful. Murphy, pretending to be billionaire industrialist and secretive conservative political activist David Koch, called Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, currently in the midst of attempting to crush the public employees' unions. "Koch" got through to Walker (who hasn't been taking calls from the Democratic state Senate minority leader). He taped the call and put it online.
So Walker will happily take a call from a Koch brother. He says that he considered "planting some troublemakers" among the protesters. He is convinced that everyone is on his side. Like most people who only watch Fox, he has a skewed impression of the popularity of his union-crushing proposals. (His plan is, nationally, roundly unpopular. Except on Fox.)
When "Koch" calls Mika Brzezinski "a real piece of ass," Walker does not respond by saying something awful, which is a bit of a disappointment.
Walker does reveal that he is planning to trick the Democrats into coming back into town for a "talk," despite his lack of interest in compromising anything. He will ask them to open a session in the Assembly, and then take a recess for this talk. At that point, the Senate Republicans would hold the vote on the bill while Walker distracts the Democrats with this entirely pointless discussion:

They can recess it ... the reason for that, we're verifying it this afternoon, legally, we believe, once they've gone into session, they don't physically have to be there. If they're actually in session for that day, and they take a recess, the 19 Senate Republicans could then go into action and they'd have quorum because it's turned out that way. So we're double checking that. If you heard I was going to talk to them that's the only reason why. We'd only do it if they came back to the capitol with all 14 of them. My sense is, hell. I'll talk. If they want to yell at me for an hour, I'm used to that. I can deal with that. But I'm not negotiating.

Walker also thinks that Reagan crushing the air-traffic controllers' union was "the first crack in the Berlin wall," because he's been stewing in the propaganda of conservative mythology for years.
And finally:

Koch: [Laughs] Well, I tell you what, Scott: once you crush these bastards I'll fly you out to Cali and really show you a good time.
Walker: All right, that would be outstanding.
time to boycott coke cola who with me


So! A Koch brother can call up a nationally prominent Republican elected official and get an audience whenever he likes, basically. That is not particularly surprising, I guess.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Fake
• Koch
• brother
• talks
• governor

[MrJpreed15]

Collective bargaining is giving the Unions and private workers the rights to bankrupt the state. If Walker takes away these corrupt rights we will be able to balance the budget in the future and get rid of the worthless teachers. I'm glad he was going to try to trick the dems, lol. In the words of Obama, "We won". They need to vote! Also, it is just wrong that these Unions are using the Union dues for the Democrat Party. Many are not Democrats but their dues go to them anyway. That's wrong!

[tcs042]

@MrJpreed15 your crazy all the those Unions are going to give that money back,,

[mln1949]

@Cowboyjlove

If Scott Walker's staff had done their jobs and verified the caller, then Walker would have never gotten the call. Regardless of who the caller was, Walker admitted that his only agenda is the break the unions and take away collective bargaining to public workers. It isn't about the budget at all, the workers agreed to paying what he originally wanted but he refused. And, he admitted that he intended to trick the 14 democrates so that the republicans could vote without them.

[SanFranciscoVoice]

SMOKING GUN!!!! THIS SHOULD BE SHARED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE IT DISAPPEARS > THE GOVERNOR AND HIS STAFF ARE OBVIOUS IDIOTS>>> HE LAYS OUT HIS ENTIRE PLAN> RIGHT HERE> PASS THIS ON NOW!

[teddy516]

Walker didnt say anything that could be considered unethical or wrong. I dont know why the libs are all excited about this phone call.

[FSFchannel]

that takes a lot of balls. i am trembling just thinking about it, balls to you

[davehutchinson67]

I think most Americans are fucking asleep on this. Our rights are being stripped away by greedy fucking multinationals...period...The fuckers just aren't happy until EVERYTHING is privatized...I guess most Americans won't be happy that we are going back to paid off fire brigades and the police will come if you can pay the fee...I mean..WTF is happening in this country. I stand in 100% solidarity with my brothers...it's time Americans dropped the right/left bullshit and united for our rights

[superjtrdr]

Crush these demo bastards and then we will go party

Beautiful

[datarecoil]

Ignorant people, racists, doom-sayers, that voted these bastards in office better listen hard to this Dictator Gov. its your freedom and rights being flushed. This WI. GOV. should be moved out of office!

Support them in WI. OH. everywhere the battle is. Attend the rallies, try to attend one near you! there are many coming up, some this weekend. 2/26.

Bye bye Republican party , Fox News, Glen Beck, Palin and the rest!

Good riddances will be the history lesson here.Stay strong stay together.

[garydreamweaver]

History reminds me that unions were first formed to protect the rights of the citizen employees that were being abused by employers. Throughout my lifetime, most unions have supported the Democratic Party.. in fact, as one reflects back in time, most causes that protect or defend our rights have found a home in the Democratic Party.During a time when this government was to work in pulling everyone together, it is clear that there is a "us and them." If you are not us, then you have no rights.

[garydreamweaver]

History reminds me that unions were first formed to protect the rights of the citizen employees that were being abused by employers. Throughout my lifetime, most unions have supported the Democratic Party.. in fact, as one reflects back in time, most causes that protect or defend our rights have found a home in the Democratic Party..During a time when this government was to work in pulling everyone together, it is clear that there is a "us and them." If you are not us, then you have no rights.

[utahaztec]

Walker only cares about destroying the unions. He represents only the rich despite what his dumb supporters may believe.

[yankeedoodlecajun]

@Cowboyjlove -- Walker has made no secret about what he wants to do, and it is in the best interests of the state that he succeeds. And, Walker, btw, does not sound like some crazy Rahm Emanuel kind, he is calm and deliberate. In fact, the caller tries to set him up many times throughout and Walker does not really bite.

[SanFranciscoVoice]

I find it fascinating there are so many here who do not see the obvious implications in this phone call. It has to be denial.. or perhaps a wax buildup.

I am thankful and hopeful for us all on this fragile planet in that there are still people here who may not agree with my position but argue with logic and facts. As opposed to name calling and vitriol. I know Wisconsin.... this is not over. Being star struck by "Koch" he said things that border on unethical at best. Too much here to ignore