Wisc. Governor Gives Obama Brewers Jersey, Not Finger Wave, on Tarmac
When Air Force One landed in Milwaukee on Wednesday, Wisconsin’s Republican Gov. Scott Walker greeted the president on the tarmac.
“We’re certainly pleased the president’s here,” he told White House reporters. “It’s a great focus for Wisconsin. We love manufacturing. That’s our number one industry. The bottom line is we’re one of the biggest, most dependent on manufacturing of any state in the country. We appreciate the fact that the president’s focusing on manufacturing.”
One year ago Walker drew national attention and the Wisconsin state capital flooded with protestors against his actions targeting state workers in union jobs. Walker has been the subject of a recall drive.
The governor put that aside when presenting President Obama with a baseball jersey as a gift.
“Last year I gave him a Packers jersey right after we beat the Bears in the playoffs,” Walker explained. “This year I said he probably was more appreciative of this jersey because the White Sox are not in the same division as the Brewers.”
Walker said there was no mention of campaigns. “Today’s the president’s day. I’m appreciative he’s in Wisconsin, appreciative he’s focused on manufacturing. We’ll leave politics for another day.”
Republican governors are not shy about showing up at official presidential arrivals despite the campaign year and how they complain he is ruining the country. But there are very rarely confrontations. An exception occurred last month when Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer greeted President Obama during his short visit there and could be seen waving her finger at him.

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a GOP member being respectful? wow this is truly news!
Posted by: stoley eisenhower | February 15, 2012, 2:59 pm 2:59 pm
Gov. Walker should have thrown him out of the state for what Obabble’s union thugs are doing to Wisconsin. And Ann Compton still looks like somebody dropped an air conditioer on her head.
Posted by: Zman | February 15, 2012, 3:17 pm 3:17 pm
zman , your respectful and intellectual response is duly noted .
Posted by: davem | February 15, 2012, 3:29 pm 3:29 pm
Funny you don’t hear the left-wing media talking much about Scott Walker these days. Do you want to know why?
Because Governor Scott Walker has achieved great success in a very short time.
All of the hysterics about layoffs predicted by the labor unions never occurred, EXCEPT in districts that were locked into contracts and couldn’t adopt the reforms yet. Overall, Walker’s reforms resulted in MORE TEACHERS being hired, as he promised.
School districts utilizing the governor’s reforms were able to hire 38 percent more teachers than districts that did not use the governor’s reforms. Districts that used the reforms were able to hire 6.78 new teachers per thousand students, while districts that did not use the reforms were able to hire only 4.88 new teachers per thousand students.
According to Governor Walker’s office, if all of the districts surveyed adopted the governor’s reforms, more than 950 additional teachers would have been hired this year. Districts that did not use Governor Walker’s reforms accounted for more than 85 percent of all layoffs. School districts utilizing the governor’s reforms were also able to avoid layoffs at a far greater rate than districts that did not use the governor’s reforms.
Over the last five years the state of Wisconsin school tax levy has increased, on average, by $181 million dollars each year. In recent days, data was released that showed the total school tax levy decreasing by over $47 million dollars. It was the first tax levy decrease in six years. School districts with union contracts that did not adopt Gov. Walker’s reforms showed an increase in their tax levy.
Walker also balanced the state budget and did it while not cutting any services, as he promised. Wisconsin is operating in the black for the first time in a decade.
Given these amazing accomplishments in such a short amount of time, it’s clear those that want to recall Walker are idiots. Walker made them look like fools and he’s not done yet.
Posted by: Stacey | February 15, 2012, 3:30 pm 3:30 pm
Ann, didn’t the President start the conversation off by climbing up her backside for putting stuff about him in her book that he didn’t like and by tossing her note down in the back of the limo?If someone jumped your case might you too do a bit of finger wagging?
Mr. Walker does all us proud by displaying all the right attitudes and we are proud of him for his leadership skills.
Posted by: david | February 15, 2012, 3:31 pm 3:31 pm
zman , your respectful and intellectual response is duly noted . Thank you DAVEM. I think. I just call them as I see them buddy.
Posted by: Zman | February 15, 2012, 3:35 pm 3:35 pm
Soon, Walker, you’ll be leaving the state in handcuffs and put in a prison where you can’t harm people anymore.
Posted by: tstorm | February 15, 2012, 3:49 pm 3:49 pm
Governor Walker at least has some class and he’s not trying to sell a book like Jan Brewer (Sarah Palin wannabe) in Arizona.
Posted by: tmferretti | February 15, 2012, 3:53 pm 3:53 pm
Illinois needs a competent leader like Scott Walker. Our state is a disaster thanks to decades of fiscal mismanagement by Democrats. :(
Posted by: Sean | February 15, 2012, 4:00 pm 4:00 pm
Soon, Walker, you’ll be leaving the state in handcuffs and put in a prison where you can’t harm people anymore.
Posted by: tstorm | February 15, 2012, 3:49 pm 3:49 pm
For keeping his promises and balancing the budget while hiring more teachers?
Posted by: Paul S | February 15, 2012, 4:02 pm 4:02 pm
Walker’s budget is going to throw his state back into the red to the tune of over $100 million by the end of next year. Like all of the Republican scam budgets, he can’t pay for all the massive tax giveaways to all the usual suspects.
Posted by: abc554 | February 15, 2012, 4:04 pm 4:04 pm
Posted by: abc554 | February 15, 2012, 4:04 pm 4:04 pm
Lies. There’s a reason why Scott Walker’s ratings are at an all-time high. Best thing that ever happened to our state. Saved my wife’s job.
Posted by: Martin L | February 15, 2012, 4:14 pm 4:14 pm
Stoley Eisenhower – Exactly.
Posted by: pksk531 | February 15, 2012, 4:15 pm 4:15 pm
Governor Walker at least has some class and he’s not trying to sell a book like Jan Brewer (Sarah Palin wannabe) in Arizona.
Posted by: tmferretti | February 15, 2012, 3:53 pm 3:53 pm
Didn’t President Obama write two or three books?
Posted by: sarah | February 15, 2012, 4:15 pm 4:15 pm
Waukesha teachers are very happy with Governor Walker’s budget reforms. Things turned out much better than we expected.
Posted by: Karen | February 15, 2012, 4:32 pm 4:32 pm
Manufacturing? I thought their #1 industry was cheese with beer a close second?
Posted by: newcountryman | February 15, 2012, 4:45 pm 4:45 pm
Didn’t President Obama write two or three books?
POSTED BY: SARAH | FEBRUARY 15, 2012, 4:15 PM
That, somehow…., will be different!
Posted by: deanbob | February 15, 2012, 4:59 pm 4:59 pm
Ann Compton just couldn’t write a positive piece about a Republican without putting a slam in on another. Why didn’t you mention Obama attacking Govoner Brewer over her book? When will we get real journalists, instead of classless mouthpieces for Obama and the Dems?
Posted by: wheresmymoney | February 15, 2012, 5:07 pm 5:07 pm
Illinois needs a competent leader like Scott Walker. Our state is a disaster thanks to decades of fiscal mismanagement by Democrats.
Sean. You are a true Patroit for this post. I am surpised that you can get away with this post while still living in the Peoples Republic of Illinois. I am also suprised that (ABC) All Boma Channel let you post this. Must be that First Amendment Thingy. Right on Sean.
Posted by: Zman | February 15, 2012, 5:23 pm 5:23 pm
Finally a Republican gets it right – the President is doing an excellent job.
Posted by: Pssst! | February 15, 2012, 5:47 pm 5:47 pm
“Wisc. Governor Gives Obama Brewers Jersey, Not Finger Wave, on Tarmac” – Ann Compton
Wimp.
: o )
Then again I don’t think Obama has sued Wisconsin yet.
Posted by: Noz | February 15, 2012, 5:58 pm 5:58 pm
Walker’s so-called reforms are NOT working. The state of Wisconsin has lost more jobs than any state in the union every month since Walker’s budget has passed. His staffers are being convicted of crimes such as stealing from veterans, child enticement, and illegal campaigning. This is why over one million Wisconsin citizens have signed the petition to recall Scott Walker.
Posted by: josh | February 15, 2012, 7:01 pm 7:01 pm
It takes a good Governor to be civil to a President hates you guts!
Posted by: Common _ Sense | February 15, 2012, 8:59 pm 8:59 pm
wheresmymoney wrote:”Ann Compton just couldn’t write a positive piece about a Republican without putting a slam in on another.”
.
That’s what happens when you get your material from Media Matters.
Posted by: Michelle Shu Jas | February 15, 2012, 9:11 pm 9:11 pm
What a classy headline. What jounalism school wouldn’t want their graduates to aspire to such greatness.
Posted by: free_2_choose | February 15, 2012, 9:12 pm 9:12 pm
Posted by: josh | February 15, 2012, 7:01 pm 7:01 pm
According to a new Marquette Law School poll the governor leads Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, a likely candidate, 50 percent to 44 percent. He leads former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, the only declared Democratic candidate, 49 percent to 42 percent margin, former Rep. David Obey 49 percent to 43 percent and state Sen. Tim Cullen 50 percent to 40 percent.
Posted by: Don | February 15, 2012, 9:26 pm 9:26 pm
nice move walker. he gave her a brewer jersey to say that he feels the same way as Jan Brewer. GENIUS!!!
Posted by: danrock24 | February 16, 2012, 7:09 pm 7:09 pm
. . . Scott Walker also wasn’t given the 3rd degree by Obama on the tarmac the way he greeted Jan Brewer by accosting her and whining like a little girl about her portrayal of him in her book. Somebody call the Whambulance.
Posted by: EPU | February 17, 2012, 1:31 am 1:31 am