Surprise! Obama Favors Wisconsin Unions Over Taxpayers

So much for Obama the Great Uniter... and Obama the Centrist, for that matter. But it's all Bush and Cheney's fault-- somehow.

The only surprise is that the Community-Organizer-in-Chief has so openly backed union interests over tax payers and fiscal responsibility. After all, the OFA have been openly supporting the protesters from the beginning and had a hand in the organizing the protests to begin with.

From The Washington Post article:

"President Obama thrust himself and his political operation this week into Wisconsin's broiling budget battle, mobilizing opposition Thursday to a Republican bill that would curb public-worker benefits and planning similar protests in other state capitals.

"Obama accused Scott Walker, the state's new Republican governor, of unleashing an 'assault' on unions in pushing emergency legislation that would change future collective-bargaining agreements that affect most public employees, including teachers.

"The president's political machine worked in close coordination Thursday with state and national union officials to get thousands of protesters to gather in Madison and to plan similar demonstrations in other state capitals.

[...]

"The White House political operation, Organizing for America, got involved Monday, after Democratic National Committee Chairman Timothy M. Kaine, a former Virginia governor, spoke to union leaders in Madison, a party official said.

"The group made phone calls, distributed messages via Twitter and Facebook, and sent e-mails to state and national lists to try to build crowds for rallies Wednesday and Thursday, a party official said.

"National Republican leaders, who have praised efforts similar to Walker's, leapt to his defense.

"House Speaker John A. Boehner (Ohio) issued a stern rebuke of the White House, calling on Obama to wave off his political operation and stop criticizing the governor.

"'This is not the way you begin an "adult conversation" in America about solutions to the fiscal challenges that are destroying jobs in our country,' Boehner said in a statement, alluding to the president's call for civility in budget talks. 'Rather than shouting down those in office who speak honestly about the challenges we face, the president and his advisers should lead.'

[...]

"By aligning himself closely with unions, Obama is siding with a core segment of the Democratic Party base - but one that has chafed in recent weeks as the president has sought to rebuild his image among centrist voters by reaching out to business leaders."

Surely, it is not the role of the president to meddle in local politics, especially after his party's spending policies were soundly rebuked in Wisconsin and all across America in the last election.