Without mentioning the Wisconsin budget debate specifically, President Barack Obama said Monday that "it does no one any good when public employees are denigrated or vilified or their rights are infringed upon."
Obama, speaking to the nation's governors, said all workers should be prepared to give up something to solve budget challenges, "and I think most public servants agree with that."
But Obama added that the nation needed to attract the best and brightest to public service.
"These are times that demand it. We’re not going to attract the best teachers for our kids, for example, if they only make a fraction of what other professionals make. We’re not going to convince the bravest Americans to put their lives on the line as police officers or firefighters if we don’t properly reward that bravery.
"So yes, we need a conversation about pensions and Medicare and Medicaid and other promises we’ve made as a nation. But as we make decisions about our budgets going forward, I believe everyone should be at the table, and the concept of shared sacrifice should prevail.
און דא אטאקירט ער די רייכע, און שטעלט די פאבליק יוניאן'ס אין די זעלבע קאטעגאריע ווי די אלטע לייט און ארימע.
"
If all the pain is borne by one group – whether it’s workers, or seniors, or the poor – while the wealthiest among us keep getting tax cuts, we’re not doing the right thing. I think that’s something Republicans and Democrats should be able to agree on."
איין מינוט. דאכצעך מיר אז גאווערנאר וואלקער איז פארדאמט געווארן און פארגליכן געווארן צו היטלער ימ"ש, נישט די יוניאן'ס. ווער האט זיי קריטיקירט? (חוץ פון איך...)
.Obama did not specifically mention organized labor in his remarks, nor did he specify an instance where public employees were criticized
