Teamsters President: ‘No Regrets’ After Firey Speech Draws Right-Wing Criticism

[jefferson_dem]

Teamsters President: ‘No Regrets’ After Firey Speech Draws Right-Wing Criticism
Evan McMorris-Santoro | September 5, 2011, 5:29PM



Teamsters union president James Hoffa would say it all again if he could, he told TPM Monday.

Hoffa riled up Fox News and the right wing Monday with a Labor Day speech in Detroit in which he called Republican members of Congress "sons of bitches" and said union workers are ready to "go to war" with the tea party next year and "take out" Republicans at the ballot box.

Hoffa said he'd say the exact same words all over again.

"I would because I believe it," he said. "They've declared war on us. We didn't declare war on them, they declared war on us. We're fighting back. The question is, who stared the war?"

The speech came shortly before President Obama took the stage in Detroit -- and Hoffa's remarks certainly overshadowed Obama's on Fox. But the Teamsters chief said he was just matching fired-up conservative rhetoric when it comes to organized labor and Obama with some fired-up rhetoric of his own.

Presidential hopeful Herman Cain decried the speech as "name-calling" in an interview on Fox News shortly after Hoffa's remarks -- which were repeatedly looped on the network -- but the union leader dismissed criticisms like that one as total hypocrisy.

<SNIP>

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/09/teamsters-president-no-regrets-after-firey-speech-draws-right-wing-criticism.php

[lumpy]

1. I certainly can't fault Hoffa for that, I use that term to describe them

myself. And that's the truth.

[monmouth]

2. His dad would be proud of him..Go Jimmy..n/t

[TheWraith]

3. He doesn't strike me as being big on regret. nt

[Turbineguy]

4. "No Regrets"

Translation: "Fuck Fox News!"

[hedgehog]

35. I would have liked to hear him say that in plain speech!

[CakeGrrl]

5. And of course the Republican name-callers par excellence cry FOUL!!

Nasty hypocrites getting a tiny taste of what they truly deserve and they run crying.

[jenmito]

6. Donna Brazile stuck up for him just now on CNN to Wolf Blitzer. I'm glad. n/t

[tularetom]

9. If a tool like her has finally caught on, we must be onto something

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

7. This, and more needs to be said over and over.

That's how we win.

[Tarheel_Dem]

8. K&R

:kick:

[Bluenorthwest]

10. By Teamster standards, that was sweet talk

The Republicans have far worse words coming to them, and Hoffa was far to nice about it, really. The GOP has become used to kid gloves bipartisan talk. Not going to happen with the Teamsters.

[monmouth]

11. I was married to an Iron Worker. That was sweet talk for sure...LOL...n/t

[livetohike]

12. Sweet talk to Steelworkers too

As the daughter, Grand-daughter and niece of steelworkers (all R.I.P.), I can attest that it was sweet talk :hi:.

[wndycty]

13. Folks that wave that "Don't Tread on Me" flag need to grow a thicker skin

:kick:

[politicasista]

45. and man/woman up n/t

[Tx4obama]

14. FoxNews Doctored Hoffa Speech To Fabricate Call For Violence

FoxNews Doctored Hoffa Speech To Fabricate Call For Violence
http://mediamatters.org/blog/201109050003

[Sheepshank]

34. I can't remember...how did Fox spin "Second Amendment remedies..."

as promoted by Sharon Angle? oh that's right, they didn't cover it at all so the sping wasn't necessary.

As if anything they say has any credence whatsoever.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

15. Indignation?

From a group of people who support bringing guns to politcal rallys.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

17. and whose supporters actually HAVE brought guns to political rallies

n/t

[Number23]

16. Wow! Waters tells them to "go to hell"

Hoffa calls them "sons of bitches."

The Tea Party has pissed off the WRONG Americans! :headbang:

[Proud Liberal Dem]

18. Don't forget about Andre Carson's shout out to the Tea Party last week

it's got the right-wingers here in Indiana apoplectic. And Carson isn't backing down either. The right can always dish it out (in even larger and worse doses) but can't handle it all when they get some of it flung back at them.

[Number23]

19. A bit of info, please? News on Andre Carson hasn't made its way Down Under

Thanks! :hi:

[Proud Liberal Dem]

22. He basically said

that some members of the congressional (Republican) Tea Party want to see black Americans "hanging on a tree".

:wow:

http://www.indystar.com/article/20110831/NEWS05/108310376/Rep-Carson-Tea-Party-wants-blacks-hanging-tree-

[Number23]

23. Oh yeah, I had heard about that!

It really makes me happy to see so many people standing up to the Tea Party. All I can do is shake my head when I remember the number of "liberals" suggesting some ally themselves with the Tea Party.

It blows my mind almost as much now as when it first started happening.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

32. Who advocated an alliance with the Tea Party?

Was that the Hamsher/Norquist thing?

I've heard some progressives suggest that they become LIKE the Tea Party but I don't see how it's logically possible for somebody to be a progressive (or even a Democrat) and be part of the Tea Party and/or support its *goals*.
:wtf:

[Number23]

41. Oh man

When the tea party first came out, there were folks here on DU and all throughout the "liberal" blogosphere encouraging an unholy alliance with them. And yes, Jane Hamsher was all up in it.

A number of black posters here and on other blogs were incredulous by this and noted the blatant racism from within the Tea Party. Many were called "race baiters" (it's almost to the point whenever I see someone even use that phrase, I automatically dismiss them as either racist or racially clueless) by the same people encouraging this alliance, completely ignoring the fact that in addition to their blatant racism, the Tea Party's primary goal is SMALLER government, which would be the complete antithesis of what any liberal could or would stand for.

The calls for the alliance are alot less frequent and vocal now. But I'll never forget that they were made and I'm sure a bunch of other folks won't either.

[Cosmocat]

36. Oh yeah ...

VERY thin skinned, that crew, and ALWAYS on the scan for some kind of indignation.

Frankly, it does not even take moderately strong talk like this, these people MANUFACTURE outrage over nothing anyways.

But, to them, they get to say outrageous stuff and explain it away, and point to the rare counter example as a means of justifying their spewing a never ending stream of over the top crap.

[notGaryOldman]

20. You GO, Hoffa!

:fistbump:

[ellie]

21. Poor things.

[mike_c]

24. Hoffa speaks for me....

:patriot:

[mikekohr]

25. Give 'Em Hell Jimmy

they can't handle someone that punches back.

[quiller4]

26. Hoffa makes me proud we're a Teamster family. n/t

[Indianademocrat91]

27. Priceless

Cain said the speech was "name-calling"

What the FUCKING FUCK have you been doing this last year Herman? Nothing but name calling is the answer. The complete projection and hypocrisy of these people is amazing.

[eilen]

29. Hermann is such a delicate flower. His widdle feelings are hurt.

Now we ruined his good mood.... nt.

[Zorro]

28. Go Herman!

Scold those pussy Teamsters for name-calling!

And encourage your brother and sister candidates to do the same!

[lunatica]

30. My little union joined the Teamsters about a year ago

CUE = Coalition of University Employees. Mostly women in administrative staff. Lots of us are older too. Not your typical Teamster member. At least your stereotypical member.

[quaker bill]

31. Strong rhetoric is long overdue

Yes, the right will complain about it. That actually is the point, if they aren't complaining you need to sharpen the attacks. There are tons of examples in history of sharp, legal, and non-violent rhetoric. You don't need to incite a riot or suggest "second ammendment solutions" as our compatriots on the right have to do it.

We need to take ownership of the "class war" meme and turn it around. The real class warriors are on the right, and lots of evidence that they have been winning it for the rich. The electorate is ready to hear this sort of stuff, much more now than they were in 2008. The Tea Party tapped into this anger in 2010, but haven't delivered any relief. It is time for us to do populism, Huey Long style.

[truebrit71]

33. Really? Fuck the right-wing and FUCK Fixed Noize...

...bunch of cry-baby pussies...

[flamingdem]

37. k and r - no Apple does NOT have to send it all to China nt

[AllyCat]

38. Nor should he! He said nothing wrong. He has not incited people to violence like the RW has

Those people have NOTHING to complain about. This was nothing compared to what they do hour after long hour. On our airwaves. This should not even be an issue.

[The Wizard]

39. Finally

a guy who tells the truth doesn't apologize. Usually the "librul" media demands apologies from Democrats. Remember when John Kerry screwed up the punch line to a joke? The "librul" media was all over him demanding an apology. Kerry's big mistake was apologizing and appearing weak.

[politicasista]

42. Thanks for throwing shade at a good Dem just to praise others

But people still hold grudges against the Senator for a lot of reasons so, this comment is not surprising.

The GOP, Faux news and the left said that same thing so it must be true. Dems are soooooo weak! :sarcasm: :sarcasm:



And Mr. Hoffa spoke the truth, no need to apologize.

[Bake]

40. Give 'em hell, Mr. Hoffa!

There's a Democrat with a spine!

:woohoo:

Bake

[Sherman A1]

43. Give'em Hell

I believe my thoughts are a bit more on the unprintable side, but I can work with his. :thumbsup:

[Sherman A1]

44. Give'em Hell

I believe my thoughts are a bit more on the unprintable side, but I can work with his. :thumbsup:

[Skittles]

46. spoken like a LEADER

[LatteLibertine]

47. Yep give 'em hell! nt