DNC Expands Role In Labor Protests To Ohio, Indiana

[kpete]

Source: Huffington Post

DNC Expands Role In Labor Protests To Ohio, Indiana

WASHINGTON -- Building on the momentum in Wisconsin, where tens of thousands of protesters have turned out to oppose Republican Gov. Scott Walker's effort to strip collective-bargaining rights from the state's public-employee unions, President Barack Obama's campaign organization is mobilizing its followers in Ohio and Indiana, where similar measures are being considered.

Thousands descended upon the Ohio statehouse Thursday to protest a bill that would eliminate collective-bargaining rights for state employees and curtail the rights of local-level government employees. The debate is similar to that in Wisconsin: Supporters say it's necessary to deal with budget problems, while opponents say it's nothing but a vicious assault on unions.

Now folded into the Democratic National Committee, Obama's campaign group Organizing For America is already actively engaged in Wisconsin and is beginning to ramp up organizing efforts in Ohio, though observers say the latter process is about a week behind that in Wisconsin. The group is also beginning to dig into Indiana, whose legislature is considering a bill to limit collective bargaining by teachers.

A DNC staffer told The Huffington Post that the group upped its efforts in Wisconsin after Chairman Tim Kaine spoke with local legislators last week. OFA then began organizing turnout for Thursday's statehouse rally and running phone banks in Ohio targeting state senators, which are slated to continue next week. This weekend, organizers have set up door-to-door canvassing in key districts that they hope will likewise put pressure on swing lawmakers.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/17/dnc-expands-mobilization-protests-ohio-indiana_n_824743.html

[HereSince1628]

1. Obama's presence has been overwhelming here in WI....

NOT.

And neither has the DNC's. These news releases are DNC using the situation to serve itself.

[redixdoragon]

2. This is awful

They're trying to take credit for something they don't deserve. Frankly I don't want to see the DNC or Obama's commitees oranything near these protests. WE created this opposition, this rally, this protest, not the DNC or Obama or any of that.

In fact all Obama so far has had to say about this is that we need to become "accustomed to new fiscal realities." Take it and shut up basically.

These protests are good, but if they become hijacked by a political machine bent on the re-election of some candidate then they will be soiled and their efforts put to waste.

[Kingofalldems]

3. K and R