Wisconsin Protests, Sunday, March 6, 2011

Share this

12:30 p.m. - AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY TOUR ROLLS INTO MADISON

Mary Bottari reports:

After a disastrous bus tour around the state where protesters regularly outnumbered a small number of participants, the Americans for Prosperity "Stand with Walker" Bus Tour rolled into the Alliant Energy Center in Madison and about three people got off, according to a person on the scene. About a thousand protesters lined the driveway to the Alliant Energy Center with festive signs: "Atlas Shrugged, Workers Mugged" "We Changed our Mind, Now Resign!" "Americans for Plutocracy" and more. Inside, a few dozen people were at the Americans for Prosperity gathering at around noon. Speakers included Nancy Mistele, perennial republican candidate for multiple Dane County offices, AFP State Director Matt Seaholm, and "Joe the Plumber," Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher who gained a small measure of notoriety for questioning Obama about tax policy during the 2008 campaign. Channel 27 News in Madison reported Mistele as saying: "the local unions are high on opium, O-P-M, other peoples money." Channel 27 estimated there were about 500 supporters inside the building. I estimate about 1,000 counter protesters on the outside. While the photos on the AFP touting the success of their awkward foray into grassroots organizing look impressive, the news media in each town visited made it clear that the tour generated a very small number of supporters and a substantial number of counter-protesters. No shock given recent polling numbers showing Governor Walkers support tanking among independents and even republicans. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports, 62% of independents think the state is on the wrong track, 57% disapprove of Walker's job performance, and 59% have an unfavorable view of him. Hundreds of cars pulled into the Alliant parking lot for a Home Show that was also on the premises at the time. While many Home Show goers had no idea why protesters were at the Center protesters and drivers honked waved and exchanged pleasantries. Only one truck was observed with a "Stand with Walker" poster in the window, and one car drove in with a "Clone Walker" T-shirt prominently displayed in the window. More on the bus tour Monday.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS, SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2011

• 12:00 p.m. - KOCH BROS. FUNDED AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY BUS TOUR ENDS AT ALLIANT ENERGY CENTER IN MADISON, meet Joe the Plumber!
• 12:00 p.m. - LABOR RALLY AT THE CAPITOL

Learn more about Americans for Prosperity and the Koch Brothers at our SourceWatch site.

Learn more about the Americans for Prosperity Wisconsin Bus Tour at the AFP site.

View PR Watch's photo montage of the protests in Wisconsin.

Go to live report.