OFA and Obama Wake Up in Wisconsin

From someone who has been pretty critical of the president, especially as his policies have related to working people and organized labor, major kudos for this:

MADISON, WIS. - President Obama thrust himself and his political operation this week into Wisconsin's broiling budget battle, mobilizing opposition Thursday to a Republican bill that would curb public-worker benefits while planning similar action in other state capitals.

Obama accused Scott Walker, the state's new Republican governor, of unleashing an "assault" on unions in pushing emergency legislation that would nullify collective-bargaining agreements that affect most public employees, including teachers.

The president's political machine worked in close coordination Thursday with state and national union officials to mobilize thousands of protesters to gather in Madison and to plan similar demonstrations in other state capitals.

Not just words, but resources as well:

WASHINGTON -- Building on the momentum in Wisconsin, where tens of thousands of protesters have turned out to oppose Republican Gov. Scott Walker's effort to strip collective-bargaining rights from the state's public-employee unions, President Barack Obama's campaign organization is mobilizing its followers in Ohio and Indiana, where similar measures are being considered.

Thousands descended upon the Ohio statehouse Thursday to protest a bill that would eliminate collective-bargaining rights for state employees and curtail the rights of local-level government employees. The debate is similar to that in Wisconsin: Supporters say it's necessary to deal with budget problems, while opponents say it's nothing but a vicious assault on unions.

Now folded into the Democratic National Committee, Obama's campaign group Organizing For America is already actively engaged in Wisconsin and is beginning to ramp up organizing efforts in Ohio, though observers say the latter process is about a week behind that in Wisconsin. The group is also beginning to dig into Indiana, whose legislature is considering a bill to limit collective bargaining by teachers.

A DNC staffer told The Huffington Post that the group upped its efforts in Wisconsin after Chairman Tim Kaine spoke with local legislators last week. OFA then began organizing turnout for Thursday's statehouse rally and running phone banks in Ohio targeting state senators, which are slated to continue next week. This weekend, organizers have set up door-to-door canvassing in key districts that they hope will likewise put pressure on swing lawmakers.

This makes perfect sense. There is a huge crossover between the protestors, people siding with the protestors, and OFA members. Getting these groups together and getting all of them envolved in this fight is smart for the short term, and very important for the 2012 elections.

Here's my question: What the fuck took so long?

Evidently someone who had been asleep on their job during the first two years of Obama's administration woke up on Thursday and did some simple math:

Unions = Democratic Party Education and Mobilization

Wisconsin Governor's Plan = No Unions.

No Unions = No Democratic Party in Wisconsin

The same equation remains true with the whole Democratic party and their electoral fortunes. So why did Obama and his staff govern his first two years in office with what seemed like contempt for organized labor and their goals?

Who the fuck knows.