Unions Bash Democrats, Warn of Political Fallout

[Joanne98]

by James Hohmann

Labor groups are furious with the Democrats they helped put in office - and are threatening to stay home this fall when Democratic incumbents will need their help fending off Republican challengers.

The Senate's failure to confirm labor lawyer Craig Becker to the National Labor Relations Board was just the latest blow, but the frustrations have been building for months.

"Here's labor getting thrown under the bus again," said John Gage, the national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents 600,000 workers. "It's really frustrating for labor, and a lot of union people are thinking: We put out big time in money and volunteers and support. And it seems like the little things that could have been aren't being done."

The 52-33 vote on Becker - who needed 60 to be confirmed - really set labor unions on edge, but the list of setbacks is growing.

The so-called "card check" bill that would make it easier to unionize employees has gone nowhere. A pro-union Transportation Security Administration nominee quit before he even got a confirmation vote. And even though unions got a sweetheart deal to keep their health plans tax-free under the Senate health care bill, that bill has collapsed, leaving unions exposed again.

Union leaders warn that the Democrats' lackluster performance in power is sapping the morale of activists going into the midterm elections.

Continued...
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/02/11

[TheCowsCameHome]

1. This is going to get nasty by this coming November

... and why did 15 senators not vote on the becker confirmation?

[pasto76]

14. my civics may be rusty, but I thought confirmations were a majority vote, not supermajority?

[xchrom]

2. Pain can be a good teacher. Nt

[T Wolf]

3. TEACHING a lesson IS the purpose of pain. But it has to be severe enough to make an impact.

Dems in Congress and the WH are notoriously tone-deaf except to the callings of their corporate owners.

[tom_paine]

4. Problem is, the Democratic "Leadership", with damned few exceptions

are members of the Bushie Corporate Class and therefore are benefitting themselves and their offspring when they (purposefully) play Washington Generals.

Our pain and the liquidation of the lower 50-70% of our nation is their pleasure and securing the future of the Aristocracy, of which they are a part.

[Unvanguard]

9. But destroying the country (and perhaps the world) to prove a point

is not really a particularly constructive response.

[Recursion]

11. It's not "proving a point"

When Democrats act like Republicans, there's no point keeping Republicans out of office.

For that matter, the Republican plan, vigorously pursued, would suck, but would suck less than half-hearted "compromise" from our side. We keep ending up with the worst of both worlds; at least with the GOP we get the worst of one world.

[Unvanguard]

12. Democrats not acting as purely as you would like is not the same

as Democrats acting like Republicans.

One of the most astonishing things about the Obama Administration is that, in perhaps the most polarized political climate ever, so many liberals nonetheless dogmatically insist that somehow the two parties have merged.

[Enthusiast]

15. Democrats selling out to corporate

interests must have consequences. The American people, even the stupid Republicans, will soon know the face of the real enemy.

Imagine to total fucking mess 2010 and 2012 elections will be with unlimited corporate cash.

[Vidar]

5. We need a Labor party to counter the two corporate parties.

[w4rma]

8. No, we need to smash the DLC in Democratic primaries. (nt)

[Vidar]

10. That would certainly help.

[Enthusiast]

16. I guess we do.

I can't think of any other solution.

Look how blatant the banks have been in their greed and theft. Like the insurance industry and pharmaceutical industry, the banks and financial services industry apparently feel they deserve a massive bribe just to exist for the country.

[zoff]

6. Well Rahm, what say you?

[w4rma]

7. Rahm and his brother are packing their golden parachutes. Weasels. (nt)

[Jefferson23]

13. This is sad and so unnecessary and almost impossible for the Senate

to defend.

"Union leaders warn that the Democrats' lackluster performance in power is sapping the morale of activists going into the midterm elections."

Their plans are, "we don't really need you", certainly seems to be the pattern and message.