Media Myth: Liberals Never Use Violent Rhetoric or Imagery | NewsBusters.org

Media Myth: Liberals Never Use Violent Rhetoric or Imagery

By Noel Sheppard | February 17, 2011 | 11:43
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In the weeks following the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) there was a constant media barrage dishonestly contending liberals never use violent rhetoric or imagery.

As Wisconsin's Republican Governor Scott Walker tries to balance his state's budget with a bold move limiting the collective bargaining rights of public employees, the Left have come out in force dispelling the myth that only the Right uses harsh tones to make its point (video follows with commentary):

As the Associated Press reported moments ago, "Protesters clogged the hallways of the Wisconsin state Capitol on Thursday as the Senate prepared to pass a momentous bill that would strip government workers, including school teachers, of nearly all collective bargaining rights."

Many of these demonstrations have been organized by the various unions inside Wisconsin that are against the Governor's proposal. "The head of the 98,000-member statewide teachers union called on all Wisconsin residents to come to the Capitol on Thursday for the votes in the Senate and Assembly."

But here's the truth of the matter:

In addition to eliminating collective bargaining rights, the legislation also would make public workers pay half the costs of their pensions and at least 12.6 percent of their health care coverage — increases Walker calls "modest" compared with those in the private sector.

Republican leaders said they expected Wisconsin residents would be pleased with the changes and that the bill was about saving money. The union concessions would save the state $30 million by July 1 and $300 million over the next two years to address a $3.6 billion budget shortfall. [...]

Under Walker's plan, state employees' share of pension and health care costs would go up by an average of 8 percent.

Unions still could represent workers, but could not seek pay increases above those pegged to the Consumer Price Index unless approved by a public referendum. Unions also could not force employees to pay dues and would have to hold annual votes to stay organized.

In exchange for bearing more costs and losing bargaining leverage, public employees were promised no furloughs or layoffs. Walker has threatened to order layoffs of up to 6,000 state workers if the measure does not pass.

So, instead of the state having to layoff thousands of employees, it is asking for what most would consider modest increases to their health insurance costs, an increase to their share of pension contributions, and to tie future pay increases to inflation unless the voters approved more.

And for this Walker is the equivalent of Adolf Hitler.

The reality is that states across the country are virtually all facing similar choices as union-negotiated benefits to public employees have become absolutely impossible to fund. It is a metaphysical certitude that any proposals reducing said benefits in order to balance budgets will be greeted by the type of protests happening in Wisconsin at this very moment.

With that in mind, please remember the video above the next time some media member dishonestly claims only conservatives use violent rhetoric or imagery to advance their agenda.

Read more: http://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2011/02/17/media-myth-liberals-never-use-violent-rhetoric-or-imagery#ixzz1EHfJLDAz