CWA: We Can't Allow the 1 Percent to Set our Public and Economic Policy

In the Wisconsin recall election, Democrats gained control of the state senate for the first time since Republican Gov. Scott Walker took office. Though voters failed to recall the governor himself, there's now a firewall to block his divisive, anti-worker agenda.

CWA members and leaders in Wisconsin did amazing work, a model for political work going forward. Hundreds of CWAers from 11 states provided critical support, calling Wisconsin members so CWA's state activists could focus on worksite and other turnout activity. CWA volunteers made 9,000 phone calls and 10,000 robocalls in the days leading up to the election. There were worksite contacts and get-out-the-vote efforts that lasted long into Tuesday's election night.

In Racine, Democrat John Lehman was able to topple Republican Van Wanggaard in their tight race for the 21st senate seat.

Unfortunately, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett couldn't compete with millions of dollars being spent to support Walker and stop workers from having bargaining rights. The election results demonstrated once again the reach of the 1 percent into nearly every aspect of Americans' economic and political lives. And it was more proof that the Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling, which allows unfettered corporate spending in elections, has dramatically tipped the balance of power in US politics.

Right wing billionaires dumped $40 million into a sophisticated ground campaign as well as paid media, overwhelmingly outspending workers. The Republicans outspent the Democrats 7 to 1 in this recall campaign. Just three donors to the Walker campaign provided him with $3 million — more than Barrett's entire campaign fund.

"We are now the only democracy in the world with that kind of unregulated spending, that at this point is obscene," said CWA President Larry Cohen on "The War Room with Jennifer Granholm." "And there is no other word for it."

Working people will never have economic and social justice if the country continues to allow big money to flood the political system. To go deeper, workers need to invigorate a renewed progressive movement — in workplaces, in the streets and at the ballot box — to start to reverse results like those in Wisconsin.

"We need to fight for our basic values and link the fight to restore our democracy to those values," Cohen wrote in a letter to CWA local presidents. "Our fight for secure jobs and fair trade, health care coverage for all, retirement security and most importantly bargaining and organizing rights cannot appear to be just for us, but a renewed commitment to fight for all of us. Our commitment to getting the big money out of politics and reversing Citizens United, reforming the Senate rules, stopping state legislation that is intended to hold down voter turnout, and supporting immigrants with a path to legalization so they can join us in this fight are all directly linked to our economic issues."

Watch the video.