O'Reilly: The Real Reason Obama Won't Go to Wisconsin

O'REILLY: Hi, I'm Bill O'Reilly reporting from Los Angeles. Thanks for watching us tonight.

Why hasn't President Obama gone to Wisconsin in support of the union workers there? That is the subject of this evening's "Talking Points" memo. On November 3rd, 2007, then Senator Barack Obama said this on the campaign trail.

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OBAMA: If American workers are being denied their rights to organize and collectively bargain when I'm in the White House I'll put on a comfortable pair of shoes myself; I'll walk on that picket line with you as president of the United States of America.

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O'REILLY: But so far President Obama has not fulfilled that promise. He is staying out of the Wisconsin brawl and there is a good reason for that.

Writing in the "Wall Street Journal", Kimberly Strassel nails it. Quote, "President Obama is the boss of a civil work force that numbers up two million. Those federal workers cannot bargain for wages or benefits.

In 1978, Democratic President Jimmy Carter backed by a Democratic Congress passed the Civil Service Reform Act. It severely prescribes the issues over which employees could bargain as well as prohibited compulsory union support", unquote.

So federal workers don't have the union rights that Wisconsin workers have; the only thing the federal union can do is negotiate personnel matters. That's why President Obama can't go to Wisconsin. His guys don't have many union rights thanks to President Carter and Mr. Obama has not advocated for any change.

According to a new poll by WisconsinReporter.com, a non-partisan group, 71 percent of Wisconsinites believe that the Governor Scott Walker's union cuts are fair, 71 percent. And 69 percent of Wisconsin residents believe state workers have better benefits than private sector employees.

Now, early this morning the Wisconsin assembly passed a bill that would pretty much put the state workers union on the par with the feds but it can't be voted on the Senate because 14 Democratic senators have fled the state as you know. So that's where we are right now.

Next week Governor Walker is threatening to lay off thousands of Wisconsin state workers but no matter what happens in this very important labor controversy, emotions are now getting out of control.

Here is what occurred in Wisconsin, in the assembly during the vote early this morning.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- there are 51 ayes, and 17 nays, the bill is passed. Gentlemen from the 69 -- all in favor, say aye, all opposed say nay, the ayes have it. The bill is in the senate. The assembly is adjourned.

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O'REILLY: The bottom line on the story, and for public unions all over the USA, is that cutbacks are going to happen and the power of the public unions will be diminished.

And that's the memo.