A photo of a billboard in Janesville, Wisconsin, featuring a smiling Scott Walker, was captured on camera and posted as a pic on Facebook. Besides a smiling Scott Walker, the billboard states in Walker-campaign font: Scott Walker Creating Jobs for Wisconsin. Below, the billboard asks the readers to call Governor Walker and thank him. The advertisement is paid for by the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce association, long known in Wisconsin as a powerful arm of the Republican party.
There is one little problem with this billboard: it is placed directly in front of the now closed GM plant in Janesville. Such jarring is the disconnect between the smiling Scott Walker and an empty parking lot of a factory that used to employ thousands of people, that those posting the pic had to clarify that this picture was not photoshopped or altered using a software in any way.
Just to make sure that nobody has any questions, I ventured to the plant this morning and filmed the billboard myself.
The reaction to the photograph on Facebook was so swift and strong, that by noon, a friend who works in Washington DC contacted me inquiring if indeed this picture was taken in Janesville, WI. By 1 pm it was posted on Facebook that the billboard was being removed. Still, here is the evidence of a terrible PR blunder.
Not unlike a recent blunder by Mitt Romney who said that he liked firing people, it does not matter that the General Motors plant closed several years and had nothing to do with Scott Walker's destructive policies. It does, however, fit in the very clear narrative, which is this: Scott Walker is bad for Wisconsin and he's been bad for Wisconsin jobs. His policies are failing, and a billboard with a smiling Scott Walker in front of a shuttered plant acts as a colorful epitaph for his reign.
By the way, the number to call is 608-266-1212. Call him, won't you?
There is one little problem with this billboard: it is placed directly in front of the now closed GM plant in Janesville. Such jarring is the disconnect between the smiling Scott Walker and an empty parking lot of a factory that used to employ thousands of people, that those posting the pic had to clarify that this picture was not photoshopped or altered using a software in any way.
Just to make sure that nobody has any questions, I ventured to the plant this morning and filmed the billboard myself.
The reaction to the photograph on Facebook was so swift and strong, that by noon, a friend who works in Washington DC contacted me inquiring if indeed this picture was taken in Janesville, WI. By 1 pm it was posted on Facebook that the billboard was being removed. Still, here is the evidence of a terrible PR blunder.
Not unlike a recent blunder by Mitt Romney who said that he liked firing people, it does not matter that the General Motors plant closed several years and had nothing to do with Scott Walker's destructive policies. It does, however, fit in the very clear narrative, which is this: Scott Walker is bad for Wisconsin and he's been bad for Wisconsin jobs. His policies are failing, and a billboard with a smiling Scott Walker in front of a shuttered plant acts as a colorful epitaph for his reign.
By the way, the number to call is 608-266-1212. Call him, won't you?
Thanks Yuri, Glad you could make Walker look like the A*S that he is.
ReplyDeleteWow, this is ridiculous. I'm up in Oshkosh for university, but I'm from J-town and remember the plant closing just a few years ago and how it gutted the economy. It's good that you mention it predates him, since we don't need obviously false claims (the GOP does enough of that), but you're absolutely right about his policies leading to more (former) GM plants around the state. If Scooter was serious about the state economy, maybe he should offer some sort of assistance to a manufacturer like GM or another to move in and get the place going again. There's nothing wrong with that site, after all. With a little time and money (maybe money for this project instead of, say, corporate tax breaks), it could be operational again.
ReplyDeleteGrew up in Janesville, went to school in Oshkosh,my dad worked at GM 30+ years, he is rolled over in his grave
DeleteThrow money at the problem. That will make it go away!
DeleteWow, Do you realize that you asked for "assistance to a manufacturer," then bashed "corporate tax breaks" all in the same paragraph? Do you know that they are the same thing? Up holding the traditions of U.W.Zero I see...
DeleteThe former is targeted, provided in exchange for something of value to the community (jobs). The latter is just a handout. Perhaps such a distinction is too subtle for some. BTW, UW-O is a perfectly fine school.
DeletePLEASE make sure this picture makes it into the election cycle! Talk about being out of touch!
ReplyDeleteJust yesterday I was imagining all of the jobs high speed rail would have brought to the area. S.Walker good on jobs? I think not.
ReplyDeleteI also hope this picture is used during the election. Short slogans and visuals make lasting impressions. Good idea.
DeleteNot only is it a huge PR problem, it's also a huge waste of money, regardless of where the money came frome.
ReplyDeleteYes, this plant closed during Doyle's governorship.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.jsonline.com/business/130171578.html
Furthermore, this plant produced SUVs. Since when did Democrats want more SUVs produced?
This plant most certainly could have been re-tooled. But the corporations would rather make massive profits hand over fist by exploiting 3rd world countries instead of strengthening communities here and giving us the opportunity to buy products made in the USA. Then they keep their profits offshore to avoid paying their fair share of taxes. And our governments keep kowtowing to these giants instead of standing up for the little guy...they keep privatizing the profits for the big guys and socializing the costs, passing it all onto the taxpayer. 30 years of corporate welfare by the conservatives hasn't worked...it needs to end.
DeleteWhere was Rep.Ryan when this closed, reading Ayn Rand again?
ReplyDeleteNo, he was failing to graduate from Marquette University.
DeleteThis billboard, pro-Walker ads on liberal radio stations...I'm not sure I understand why someone would want people this stupid handling our tax dollars.
ReplyDeleteThe plant could have been re tooled if the unions weren't so selfish.
ReplyDeleteGM or any other will never move back into this state while the union's are forcing the high pay and excessive benefits. Besides, GM isn't an American car manufacturer. You'd have to find a Kia, Hyundai, Toyota, Nissan, or Mercedes to get a real American car now. Oh, wait, these companies are in NON-UNION SOUTHERN STATES LIKE ALABAMA, MISSISSIPPI AND TEXAS and paying premium wages w/o union strong-arming!!!! Wake up WI, Unions have destroyed your economy!!!
ReplyDeleteseriously??? you idiots dont have a clue what you are talking about.. Its the corporate that screwed things up not the unions!! We unions are not being selfish.. We have given up our benefits, gone without raises, and we are trying to make a decent living and earn what we deserve. UAW jobs at assembly plants are decent pay but far from what people make it out to be. There are alot of better paying jobs that do not tear up your body like working an assembly plant but its us UAW workers who get accused of being the overpaid workers.. Those of you who bash us auto workers have never worked the assembly line at an auto plant and have NO clue what its about! Unions built this country into what it is today for all workers, union or not! The things you get at non union jobs are the things the unions brought into the workforce! Walker is bad for workers. Walker is bad for unions who have raised the standard of living for everyone! But dont bash the unions who gave ALL worker better standards and safety for all workers! Im 3rd generation UAW and I see alot of people better off than me.. Dont blame the union.. Blame corporate greed and republicans who want to take away from average citizens to make themselves rich. If it wasnt for unions, corporate greed would have had EVERYONE working for below minimum wage at all jobs forever just so the CEOs could get multimillion dollar bonuses for sitting on there asses.
ReplyDeleteAmen union brother... Amen!!!
DeleteI am amazed at how some have so little knowledge of what a union is or does!
DeleteHopefully they were intelligent enough to understand your explanation, I couldn't have said it better myself!!!
UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE BEG!
ReplyDeleteBRAVO & well Anonymous! ^^
I used to work in a NON UNION job where the company openly admitted that they paid well and gave us good benefits so that we would not form a union. In other words the company admitted that if it was not for unions, we would have been paid less and had poor benefits. Thank you unions for helping set a livable standard for all workers.
ReplyDeleteWell said!
DeleteEvery taxpayer in WI. You can thank Walker for that, too. Also the $47 million lost when the Transit workers were taken out of CB. If you could tally up all the money that Walker has already cost the state, every state worker could have had $100,000+ salaries, free health care and paid pensions at their 100% vested rate. But - all you can see is that someone is getting something that you, personally, aren't getting.
DeleteI can't wait for this to be over and Walker to stay in office, my question is, who is going to pay for all this recall crap? I think we could have used the money for shelters and food banks instead of wasting it on this recall..I know you wont print this..because I am against the recall...enough said
ReplyDeleteEveryone knows Janesville GM is closed, and has remained closed because of a Federal Government picking winners system. We need to always tell the truth about things like this. Janesville is suffering because of the over reaching arms of the Federal Government.
ReplyDeleteJust to clear this up Scott Walker took office in 2011, and GM closed in 2008/2009.
If Janesville had a Mayor we would have better results working with GM about our empty plant. Janesville has no professional elected person of the people of Janesville to lead a campaign to bring production back to our City.
ReplyDeletebunch of union nazis ...ill lmfao when he is re elected LMFAO what a waste of tax payer dollars
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