Exploring Militant GOP Tactics In Wisconsin/New York Times "Cronon Affair"

William Cronon (right), a University of Wisconsin-Madison professor, has become something of a cause celebre in American media and political circles. An Op-Ed piece he recently wrote for The New York Times discussed the recent political events in Wisconsin involving its governor, legislature, public service unions, and collective bargaining. Cronon explored the efforts of political conservatives both within the Badger State and outside Wisconsin to cut the unions down to size and, ultimately, eliminate them. An entry in Cronon's blog goes into considerable, thoughtful detail about the conservative movement, its influential institutions, powerful backers, and formidable discipline. He includes links to websites of various right-wing organizations, and demonstrates a seriousness of purpose that gives his opinion a desirable sense of gravitas.

The appearance of Cronon's Op-Ed piece, combined with his web links to information about the conservative movement, led to a curious development. The deputy executive director of the Wisconsin GOP requested, under the state's strict open records laws, e-mail from Cronon's state e-mail account. As UW-Madison is a state school, Cronon's e-mail account is subject to an open records request. The university has taken the matter under consideration, with one eye toward academic freedom.

At first glance, it would seem the GOP tried to swat a fly with a baseball bat. However, this line of reasoning would assume Cronon is the target of the Republican effort. He's too small a fry for this highly visible style of action. Something else is in play here.

Since the 2010 mid-term elections, the Republican Party and its conservative networks have schemed to aggressively advance their political agenda in Congress and in state legislatures. The nation, in effect, has become a laboratory for political tactics. Various states are made to order for this sort of experimentation. The union-busting activity began in New Jersey; its success emboldened the GOP to go on an anti-union offensive in the Midwest.

Scott Walker, the newly-elected Wisconsin governor, serves a useful purpose for the Right. He is not running for national office (unlike Indiana's Republican governor). His state can be sacrificed in the 2012 presidential election for the "greater party good." He has majority votes in both houses of the legislature to make his proposals politically unstoppable.

Walker's legislative actions and the protest movement against them offered tremendous opportunities to test the conservative movement's most extreme forms of legal and possibly illegal actions. In a small state, tactics could be refined that would contribute toward a larger, strategic prize. In that sense, Wisconsin 2011 resembles the Spain of 1936, with Walker playing the role of Francisco Franco. It is in this context that the GOP's move against Professor Cronon and The New York Times makes best sense.

The right-wing's play in the Cronon affair is to intimidate those who would cooperate with The New York Times. This e-mail fishing expedition, like a Mafia warning, is designed to deliver a message. All forms of harassment are considered fair game in this exercise. And what can be done in Wisconsin can be done, with some modifications to local conditions, in other states. The Times took it seriously enough to have a Sulzberger write an article about the most recent wrinkle in the Cronon situation.

According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's article about the GOP e-mail request, any e-mail with "references to any of the following terms" need to be released:

"Republican, Scott Walker, recall, collective bargaining, AFSCME, WEAC, rally, union, Alberta Darling, Randy Hopper, Dan Kapanke, Rob Cowles, Scott Fitzgerald, Sheila Harsdorg, Luther Olsen, Glenn Grothman, Mary Lazich, Jeff Fitzgerald, Marty Beil, or Mary Bell."

Most of the names, the Journal-Sentinel article continues, are Republican senators. Marty Beil is the head of the Wisconsin State Employees Union and Mary Bell is the head of the Wisconsin Education Association Council.

Will the right-wing find any dirt that will appear on its propaganda vehicles? Maybe. That's not as important as chilling relatively open communication, freedom of thought, and implying pro-union linkage between individuals or institutions. Does that atmosphere feel familiar? If you're thinking the bad old days of the Bush-Cheney secret police state, with all the ugly implications of blackmail and extortion connected to it, you're on the right track.

I doubt the GOP cares about Cronon; the Grand Old Party cares a great deal about the Times and its national reach. When one eliminates sources, gathering and reporting news becomes far more challenging. It also becomes far easier to present "fair and balanced" reporting which reflects right-wing ideological assertions, as opposing voices become muted or distorted.

Resisting intimidation is not an easy matter. No amount of politically liberal bravado will change that psychological reality. However, to successfully resist first means understanding one's adversary. Professor Cronon attempted to provide pathways to that useful goal. He deserves our gratitude for his actions, and for his opposition to Mafia-style, right-wing strongarm tactics.