Reince Priebus Shrugs: 'We Need To Have A Country Of Makers And Not Takers'
While discussing his opinions on the Wisconsin recall elections and the Republicans hanging onto their one seat majority in the Senate, RNC Chair Reince Priebus said the elections presented a lesson for the whole nation. One as TPM noted was pretty
MSNBC host Contessa Brewer asked Priebus what message could be 'extrapolated' from the recalls, which were launched by the Democrats and organized labor in a backlash against Gov. Scott Walker's new law eliminating most collective bargaining rights that public employee unions had previously enjoyed. Democrats picked up two seats, just short of the three that they needed in order to flip control of the chamber.
"Well, Contessa, I mean, I view it as a 100 percent, absolute victory for not only the people in Wisconsin, but for all Americans that want to make sure that their government is listening, and that they can start living within its means," said Priebus. "And so after $30 million of big-government union money coming in, and a manufactured outrage that they've tried to put together in Wisconsin, we remain red. We won the Prosser [state Supreme Court] race in Wisconsin, we won again yesterday, we may win one or two next week.
"I think for the country, it's the start of having a debate, and winning the debate, that we need to have a country of makers, and not a country of takers. And I think that's important in saving not only Wisconsin, but a lot of other states that are watching. And I think it's a good signal, and a good sign, and a good tell, for the rest of America as to where the electorate is moving, and they're moving to winning a battle of individual freedom for America."
This is the same guy who just said not to pay any attention to these recalls -- RNC Chair: Pay No Attention To The Wisconsin Recalls, National Reporters:
RNC chair Reince Priebus, a former chair of the Wisconsin Republican Party, says there's no need for national political reporters to try and glean anything about the 2012 elections from the state Senate recall fight underway in his home state, where Democrats seem to have the momentum.
Because heaven forbid anyone should have learned the lesson that boots on the ground and organizing might have a chance to overcome all that Koch money flowing into the state had they managed to regain the Senate. And for all the positive spin the Republicans are trying to put on this, they can't be happy about what it says for the real chance of Scott Wallker being recalled next year. If they get these same sort of results in other ruby red counties, they've got a chance to actually get him out of office.
And surprise, surprise, Walker's saying Wisconsin doesn't want any more recall elections -- Walker Says Wisconsin Doesn’t Want More Recalls (Against Him).