Wisconsin GOP Senators Stand Firm

From The Weekly Standard:

A local NBC affiliate in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and Stephen Moore of the Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that Republicans in Wisconsin are worried that a few GOP state senators are “wavering” or “going wobbly” and may be willing to strike a deal with Democrats on the budget repair bill.

But state senator Alberta Darling, a Republican targeted for recall by unions, tells THE WEEKLY STANDARD that she’s standing strong–and so are her colleagues.

“I am very much committed to doing what I said I would do,” says Darling of efforts to balance the budget without raising taxes. She says that limiting collective bargaining to wages is “necessary to get our fiscal house in order.”

Is there any indication that a few of her colleagues might be willing to compromise on collective bargaining? ”No, no, we’re solid,” she says…

As Darling went on to note, in the end she has her integrity, and there is no reason for her to sacrifice that just to keep office.  Both in terms of honor and practical politics, there is no upside for a GOP compromise.

First off, any compromise would reward illegal and un-American behavior on the part of the Democrats – they have simply refused to abide by the will of the people as expressed by elections and are trying to win by skullduggery what they could not win at the ballot box.  If the GOP caves on this, then the precedent will be set – any time the left loses at the ballot box they will go on a rampage to force through things no in accord with election results.  We cannot allow this to happen.

Secondly, the GOP base and the TEA Party are watching for any sign of weakness.  Memories are still strong about the way the national GOP betrayed core, conservative principles on spending and it is precisely this sort of forceful and risky defense of principle which the base and the TEA Party are looking to see.  If the GOP caves here then it will cost massive amounts of support in 2012 – support which will be vital to win control of the US Senate and, of course, eject Obama from office.

Finally, Wisconsin simply cannot afford to give in to the unions on this.  Polling is allegedly showing a rise in opposition to Walker and the GOP, but that is to be expected.  When you stand forth for reform – real reform, which will actually make things better – fear causes opposition.  Just all the more so when the MSM reports on it are almost all slanted in favor of one side.  The people are holding back, unwilling to declare themselves until they see whether or not those leading the charge for reform have the guts to carry it out…if Walker and the GOP stand firm and do what is right, the majority will follow them.

Kudos to Walker and the Wisconsin GOP for showing courage – all they need do at this point is stand firm; all will come our way.

Read more at Noonan for Nevada