Gilbert Brown, Famed Green Bay Packer, Urges Wisconsin Voters To Recall Republicans

WASHINGTON -- As Wisconsin voters head to the polls Tuesday for the first of two critical recall election days, the labor backed coalition We Are Wisconsin is pulling out the big guns.

The group released a robocall campaign on Tuesday featuring mammoth former Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Gilbert Brown. The call urges voters to replace six Republican state Senators who supported Governor Scott Walker's controversial budget bill.

"Hello, this is Gilbert Brown, defensive lineman for the '97 Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers, calling on behalf of We Are Wisconsin. I have a message for you about Tuesday's election, I know a little bit about playing defense and right now it is time to defend Wisconsin. We are holding the line, putting our children's education before big corporate tax giveaways. It is up to voters like you to make the difference. Please gather your friends and neighbors and go to the polls on Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and support Nancy Nusbaum for Senate."

Famous for his girth -- he weighed in, by conservative estimates, at 340 pounds during his playing days -- Brown anchored a Green Bay defensive line that led the Packers to two Super Bowls, one of which they won. Nicknamed the Gravedigger, Brown wasn't exactly known for getting involved in progressive political causes. But perhaps his time as a member of the National Football League Players Association compelled him to help push back against a Walker budget that stripped collective bargaining rights from public sector unions.

Tuesday is a big day for union forces on the ground in Wisconsin. Picking up three seats would give Democrats control of the state Senate. More broadly, losses by multiple sitting Republicans would send a message to other state legislatures that there are consequences for pushing harsh anti-union measures.

With those stakes, there are few spokesmen in the state more revered than beloved former Packers. Current Packer cornerback Charles Woodson spoke out forcefully against the Walker budget when it was being debated in February.

Comments

[MChile124]

01:51 PM on 08/25/2011

I dislike that the article attempted to rationalize Brown's reasons for supporting the recall effort. Look at Warren Buffet's recent comments and you will see even more proof that doing "the right thing" requires no personal incentive. Right is right and wrong is wrong. Gilbert is supporting a cause because he knows it is the right thing, whether that comes from his perspective as a union member or simply as a human being who sees injustice and a way to fix it.

[adarps5]

11:15 PM on 08/21/2011

Packers and Wisconsin, god bless the unionized Packers and the unions in Wisconsin from a true Wisconsinite! RECALL WALKER!

[Eidolas]

03:06 PM on 08/10/2011

Gilbert missed the tackle.

[vicbar88]

12:31 PM on 08/10/2011

The political opinion of someone who plays a game for a living or pretends to be something they are not (actors) holds no relevance to anything in the real world.

[Juda Farmer]

11:28 AM on 08/10/2011

Recall em all, not just the Repubs.

The left are so blind to their own parties complicity, in our troubles. Its fine to be Liberal, but when you start blaming everyone else and ignore your own shortcomings, you become your own enemy.

Naw, Liberals are Gods chosen and can do no wrong. All the Dem corporate big wigs, Union leadership, politicians, all have your best interest at heart. None of them are getting rich, off of your sweat. They all pay their taxes, are faithful to their spouses, never get involved in shady back room deals or get huge contributions from shady people...Nope, Gods chosen. I think their is a special wing of Heaven, just for liberals and their perfection.

[robc317]

07:26 PM on 08/10/2011

What a load of tripe!

Perhaps it would be easier for liberals to see the shortcomings of their own representatives if we were not so busy trying to fend off the pure unadulterated evil and lies coming from the other side. I have no trouble getting rid of guys like Blagoyovich, Nelson, Lincoln and Landrieu and others who will sell out the little guy as soon as it suits them personally, but there are bigger fish to fry at the moment who are actively and continually selling this country out to the highest bidder and practically bragging about it, and all the while the baggers and cons are cheering them on.

[Juda Farmer]

09:24 PM on 08/10/2011

So then you still say "The guys on the right are worse". Are you actually implying, that we settle for the lesser of the same evils?

Is it worse to brag about it or to hide it behind walls of deceit? which is what the left is doing. They use words and ideals that appeal to you, making you biased and less likely to notice when they are being the bad guys. They cover their crap with a veneer of "righteousness", just as the right does.

You can keep blaming everyone, but your own. In the end, its your own that are able to take better advantage of your bias.

There is only the middle. There is no such thing as left and right. These things are perceived, by whomever is looking and agreeing. It doesn't make your way right, just makes it right for you and last I checked, you are unique. Turning a blind eye to the wrongs of your own side, will only lead to you being blinded.

[drichfatcat]

09:59 AM on 08/10/2011

One too many blows to his head.

[Kate Lynn]

01:21 PM on 08/11/2011

At least he has a ring to show for it.

[BassguyGG]

09:50 AM on 08/10/2011

YAY! Thanks, big guy!

[derspado]

09:50 AM on 08/10/2011

Nice job Gilbert. Loser

[no1homeboy]

09:31 AM on 08/10/2011

He needs to stick to what he knows best...cheeseburgers and deep fried anything. Leave the heavy lifting to someone else.

[MChile124]

02:03 PM on 08/25/2011

If Brown had urged voting for Rob Cowles would you have been equally annoyed? Dude has an opinion and is sharing it. You surely have some influence over a few people in your life, and I'm sure you talk about politics to them. Gilbert Brown is doing the same thing, exercising his influence, spreading his message. If you disagree, I'm sure Gilbert would accept that you have a differing viewpoint.

[no1homeboy]

06:00 PM on 08/25/2011

Why didn't you just call me "pee pee head" and take away my keyboard.

[no1homeboy]

06:07 PM on 08/25/2011

...and...why use a guy that only has credentials on the football field. His message was to welfare recipients and those on the government dole in some form or fashion. This tactic is akin to saying "The big bad fiscally responsible conservatives are trying to reign in spending and give away programs, if you are not careful, they'll be taking yours and throwing you out into the streets"

Shameful, wasteful, despicable, encouraging folks to sit squarely on their assets and do noting but reproduce, all the while blaming anyone else for the trouble they've caused themselves...and I assume you approve of this slovenly lifestyle.

[Casey Collier]

09:24 AM on 08/10/2011

Noticeable that the defense lineman's robo call mentions not one single word about what the Wisconsin guv's Union/budget debate was all about -- merely limiting a Union's bargaining demands on benefit packages and contribution to retirement. Instead, the call distracts to peripheral, false accusations to hide what the Unions battle for -- ultimate power. Trace back to the 1970's to regard what ultimate power translates to; ultimate destruction of this nation's prime industry -- automobile manufacturing. That industry's near demise started the decline of nation wide industries dependent for existence of auto making as corporations began moving their products to lands free from Unions. (Go ahead people, make supercilious comments about the evils of big corporations, but they once ruled our nation that led the world in manufacturing. And then Detroit happened.)

[Bexarpaw]

08:53 AM on 08/10/2011

Always makes me wonder, why do the celebities who are usually sitting on mountainous piles of cash and securities, all come out and urge and suggest that you vote for Blah Blah Blah or they suggest that you follow the path of Blah Blah Blah or whatever!

Just what makes them so special, that they would dare to address total strangers and be so presumptive as to tell me how I should vote, or that I need to change my political views to theirs?

Take Gilbert for instance.....a overweight man who plays football, albiet for a championship team! How does that qualify him to influence me, other than he is big and a champ? Politically I would tend to believe Al Gore in his convoluted thinging about all the ills of the world weather and how to change it! Movie and TV "Stars" constantly tell you how to think and act too like they have achieved some special gift of devine providence since achieving "star" status.

Just saying............

[MChile124]

02:09 PM on 08/25/2011

I think you're looking at it all wrong. You have some influence over some people in your life, and I'm sure you talk to them about things like politics. You have an idea and want other people to think the same way. That's how politics and debate and discussion work. If you found yourself in a position of notoriety or fame, you can't tell me that you too wouldn't use that as your soapbox if you truly cared about an issue. I don't think any celebrities think themselves to be any smarter than us, or more thoughtful, or carrying opinions that matter more--they just are taking advantage of their position to promote something they believe in. Like you commenting on a post on the internet--doing what you can to have your side heard.

[DaniFoxy]

08:45 AM on 08/10/2011

We should definitely take advice on how to run the a government from an ex-footbal player. The GOP should find an ex-Porn star to give an endorsement for their cause. Shouldn't be too hard, most of them probably have a few on speed dial.

[Juda Farmer]

11:24 AM on 08/10/2011

Well if they don't, they can always get the number from a Democrat....unless you infer that only the GOP has these types in their ranks...nah, you wouldn't do that.

[DaniFoxy]

11:28 AM on 08/10/2011

Nope! I sure wouldn't! ;-)

[cerdayes]

07:43 AM on 08/10/2011

I’ll never understand how the rich and corporations are able to convince Americans that taking away a liberty, the right to collectively bargain, is good for them.

In other news, the rich get richer and corporations report records profits for the 10th quarter in a row.

[jadada2]

08:20 AM on 08/10/2011

Take it away...no. Just don't force me to join a union, then have my dues go to democrats only. I was a union member once and I know how that dance goes. Once I found out I had no control what the union was doing with my dues, I drop them like a hot potato. Of course, they came after me calling me a free loader, but I (we) don't owe those bullies a thing. Sure the rich and corps get richer but they are taking all the risks. Aren't they hiring you (us)?

[bluejean1951]

08:30 AM on 08/10/2011

Um NO they ARE NOT hiring us that's the problem and that's why they have RECORD profits.....PAY ATTENTION to what is going on around you! The corporation are DOWNSIZING to make that profit and making the employees they have work longer hours without overtime (be lucky you have a job bubba!). Or they're sending the higher paying jobs overseas to India, China or Taiwan to take advantage of the $1.00 day labor force.

[jr3houpe1849]

09:57 AM on 08/10/2011

No they are not hiring except over seas. and oh by the way were it not for unions min. wage would still be $2.50 per hour

[joseshema]

07:23 AM on 08/10/2011

Man he needs to kick the KFC habbit and loose some weight.

[paintppa1]

07:00 AM on 08/10/2011

he shoulda worn a helmet.