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Wisconsin to Missouri: ‘This is our wake-up call’

By   /   June 19, 2011  /   3 Comments

Referring to the battle underway between Democrats and Republicans in Wisconsin as “ground zero,” state Sen. Lena Taylor told a crowd at a Democratic fundraiser in St. Louis that she has been right in the midst of the fight.

The state senator from Wisconsin said the battle is not only a state level fight. “This is a national battle,” Taylor told the Democratic donors at the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner, sponsored by the Missouri Democratic Party.

“I’m here to remind you Missouri. I’m here to remind you Democrats that this is our wake up call,” Taylor said.

“Hear me. Hear the clarion call. This is our moment to stand, to lead, to act.”

Early in her speech someone in the crowd yelled out “solidarity.”

“That’s what I’m talking about,” Taylor said. “Solidarity back. Power to the people.”

The Missouri Democratic Party originally tried to get more Democrats from Wisconsin to attend the event.

A fundraiser invitation lists members of the Wisconsin Senate Democratic Caucus as special guests. Even the program lists state Sen. Jon Erpenbach, along with Taylor. Due to budget negotiations earlier in the week, however, only Taylor made it to the event, with tickets starting at $125 and going up to $2,500 for a front-row table.

In an interview before the dinner started, Taylor told Missouri Watchdog that she thought she was not going to be able to make it because of the budget deliberations in Wisconsin, which wrapped up late Thursday evening.

“It’s great to be able to be here, to be among Democrats and to be able to talk about ground zero for the movement across this nation to save America, and in my opinion save Democracy and save worker’s rights and save the values that we believe in in America,” Taylor said, adding Democrats are still kicking in Wisconsin.

Taylor said she has been making numerous appearances across the country to rally support.

Almost every speaker during the fundraiser mentioned Wisconsin in one way or another on Friday. Missouri Watchdog has more on the night’s festivities. Watch Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon say he has little patience for “right-wing extremists,” along with comments by Sen. Claire McCaskill on how she plans to fight for reelection.

By Brian R. Hook, brhook@missouriwatchdog.org, (314) 482-7944

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Brian Hook

  • Erin Dunn

    Power to the people…as long as they do what the Democrats want them to do. Workers’ rights…but only the right to join a union, not to decide against doing so. They language these people use is misleading at best, but more likely it is intentionally deceptive. I mean, if they were honest, it wouldn’t sound so noble. Telling people, “We believe you should not have a choice as to whether or not you belong to a union,” doesn’t sound nearly as empowering as referring to that exact same idea as “workers’ rights”, now does it?

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