This Just In ...

As I predicted on InterCHANGE...

Posted by Kevin Fischer on June 25, 2010

A few weeks ago on the Milwaukee Public Television roundtable discussion program, InterCHANGE that I appear on as a regular panelist, we discussed the MATC Board’s foolish call for a boycott of Arizona. 

I pointed out that Arizona could easily reciprocate and decide to boycott our local businesses. Gerard Randall, sitting next to me, quickly nodded in agreement. The resident liberals on the show, Joel McNally and Denise Callaway did what they do best. They laughed, scoffed, and shook their heads.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Patrick McIleran has a must-read column that demonstrates Arizona isn’t kidding. You boycott us, we’re prepared to do the same.

"Thursday morning, the Milwaukee County Board will decide whether to wallop Arizona - and, collaterally, the employees at Phil Walthers' northwest side business, who probably didn't see it coming.

Walthers' company, bearing his family's name, is a big maker and distributor of model railroad stuff. It sells electric trains, tracks, little trees and cars and houses to hobby shops nationwide - including one in Phoenix owned by Bob Kocher.

Kocher wrote to County Board members to say that if they vote to boycott his state over its immigration reforms, he's going to boycott Milwaukee County, starting with Walthers. 'Over the past 4 years, I have made purchases in excess of $425,000 from Walthers,' wrote the owner of An Affair With Trains. 'Should you decide to ignore the facts and endorse an Arizona business boycott, I am prepared to respond in kind.'

He means it, said Kocher on Wednesday, 'and let me tell you, my customers are behind me.' He's got nothing against Walthers, but Arizonans are tired of similarly being the civilian casualties as cities, counties, schools, unions and other moral poseurs declare economic war on their state."

I can’t blame Arizona for fighting back against the ignoramuses that call them themselves Milwaukee County supervisors. I do feel badly for the businesses affected. Hopefully the proprietors and their soon-to-be-unemployed workers will remember the supervisors come election time.