You would think that trial lawyers as a group would band together to help Democrats but that’s not happening in Wisconsin and there’s a reason why.

The trial lawyers are angry that many dems supported medical malpractice award caps but in politics where campaign contributions decide whether a seat will be won or not, the trial lawyers have been virtually worthless.

Yes, the right likes to complain that trial lawyers support dems but have the picked up many campaign statements lately? The answer is clearly no. Apparently even trial lawyers who are making six figures don’t find it at all necessary to support candidates who support them.

On the other side is Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC) and the Wisconsin Hospital Association. Both support caps and both despise trial lawyers. In campaign season, WMC tosses its weight around and runs some really horrendous ads which beat up on people who don’t support their views. Inevitibly the ones getting the pummeling are the democrats.

So dems have a choice. They could make the trail lawyers happy and vote against any caps on malpractice awards but the trial lawyers won’t lift a finger to help the dems, or the dems could side with the WMC gang and not have the snot pummeled out of them in their next election.

There’s the real choice. Side with your friend who will do nothing for you or side with the bully on the block who will pummel you into the pavement if you don’t give him your lunch money. This is not to judge whether the dems are right to give in, but if you’ve already got a broken lip and a black eye, you’re not craving another beating.

Links: Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers