CWA Members gather at the State Capitol to Protest Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's proposal to eliminate collective bargaining rights for state workers.

Wisconsin public employees have recruited a star player to their team. President Obama took to the airwaves Thursday, voicing his disapproval of Republican Gov. Scott Walker’s “assault on unions” in an interview with a local Milwaukee station.

Meanwhile, House Speaker John Boehner voiced his disapproval of President Obama, chiding the president for “shouting down those in office who speak honestly about the challenges we face.” The president was protesting Wisconsin Gov. Walker’s proposed budget that would end public worker’s collective bargaining rights in an effort to trim the state’s $137 million budget deficit.

While Obama appeared on TV, his political operation, Organizing for America, rallied protesters via Twitter, e-mail, and Facebook to boost turnout at pro-union rallies across several states, reports the Washington Post.

Things came to a head Thursday, as Democrats in the Wisconsin Senate forestalled the budget vote by hightailing it out of the state.

Read original story in The Washington Post | Friday, Feb. 18, 2011