Gov. Scott Walker could explain a few things to Mitt Romney

By Richard K. Barry

I guess we should have seen this one coming. After Mitt Romney proclaimed the results of the recall election in Wisconsin proved that Americans want fewer firefighters, cops and teachers, the very guy whose job was saved through the recall said, "not so fast."

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, speaking on CBS's Face the Nation, said:

Come on,  Mitt. Pay attention.
It's not that hard.

I think it's slightly different -- I think in our case what they wanted was people willing to take a tough stand on the tough issues not only here but across the country. I know in my state our reforms allowed us to protect firefighters, police officers and teachers. That's not what I think of when I think of big government.

No, what Scott Walker thinks of when he thinks of big government are programs he doesn't like. It's never really about the size of government in the abstract for these conservatives. It's about what, precisely, government does with taxpayers money. Lots of cops and fireman? That's okay. Hugely expensive and futile wars? They're all for that. Subsidies for economic activity of their friends? Sure. Programs to help people get a fair shot at the American Dream? No, that's not a legitimate exercise of state power. Bargaining rights for the only organizations, trade unions, that could stand up to Walker and his out-of state-money? Certainly not.

Gov. Walker is clearly more sophisticated than Mitt Romney. Walker understands that if you are going to successfully pit working people against each other, you have to pick and choose wisely what you cut. Do what you can to keep people onside, like cops and fireman, who might be more inclined to support you. Make sure you only cut programs that are not easily traced to people they will hurt. And when cuts can be easily traced, make sure the people being hurt have little political clout. Make sure you only make cuts that will effect people unlikely to vote for you anyway or that you are specifically trying to crush.

As I have said before, class warfare is nasty business, but it take some cleverness and Mitt Romney is too damned ham-fisted about it. Walker is a clever little bastard when it comes to keeping working people down and in their place. You'd have thought Romney would have been better at this by now.

I guess for Romney, the little people don't merit the kind of attention that requires cleverness. They'll have to take what they're given and be glad for it.

(Cross-posted at Lippmann's Ghost.)