Incoming A.F.L.-C.I.O. Chief Warns Democrats Not to Side With Insurers

[subcomhd]

Source: New York Times

The man who is set to take the A.F.L.-C.I.O.’s helm next month warned Democrats on Monday that organized labor would challenge those who ultimately supported insurance companies in the push for a health care overhaul.

“Today, more than ever, we need to be a labor movement that stands by our friends, punishes its enemies, and challenges those who, well, can’t seem to decide which side they’re on,” Richard L. Trumka, who is running unopposed for the presidency of the A.F.L.-C.I.O., said in the text of a speech to be given Monday morning to the Center for American Progress in Washington.

Mr. Trumka added, “I’m talking about the politicians who always want us to turn out our members to vote for them, but who somehow, always seem to forget workers after the votes are counted.”


Read more: http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/31/incoming-afl-cio-chief-warns-democrats-not-to-side-with-insurers/

[kimmerspixelated]

1. Yes! Score!

[subcomhd]

2. I think this is turning around. n/t

[saigon68]

48. Ass clown Senators like Nelson (R) FLA are not impressed

FLA BUTT BOY nelson says no public option.

[jannyk]

3. Yeah! People Power!!!! nt

[LonelyLRLiberal]

4. Damn straight!

[Selatius]

5. Bold words. Let's see him back it up come the mid-term elections.

If it came down to a Republican vs. a corporate Democrat, I doubt the AFL-CIO would tell its members to vote for the Republican or simply stay home. Its only option is to pay big money to run primary challengers against Blue Dog Democrats and the remnants of the DLC. If the primary challenger fails, the organization is caught in the awkward position I outlined at the beginning.

[subcomhd]

6. I have a feeling the "come to Jesus"

meetings are happening now.

[704wipes]

32. yes, like all those unionists who volunteer on your campaigns

We could pull them and let them have a break in 2010, EVAN BAYH !

[No Elephants]

41. Third Party.

[hootinholler]

7. I think a friendly reminder via the teamsters...

Like nothing moves for a day would be helpful in getting the attention of Congress.

-Hoot

[windoe]

8. K & R Way to go!! nt

[byebyegop]

9. Unfortunately the Blue Dogs do not rely on Union support.

So although the gesture is welcome, it will not have much effect on the people it needs to have an effect on. Blue dogs largely come from conservative states with little union influence.

[subcomhd]

10. Democrats in swing districts are often very dependant on Labor

for money, phone-bankers etc.

[Bluenorthwest]

11. Those Blue Cross Dogs are dependent on the Party

And the Party is dependent upon Union support. And we, the Unions, have done this before, so those lacking imagination can sit back and learn.

[subcomhd]

15. mwahahahahahaha!!!!!

Hey BNW, what can I do? I live in the redest district in Texas and I'm broke an un(der)employed.

[byebyegop]

21. Are they?

They are acting as independents at best and Republikkkans (Ben Nelson) at worst. Then there is wrong way Lieberman. That asshole needs to have all his Dem seniority revoked and dared to switch parties.

[subcomhd]

24. swing districts does not always = blue dog

There are a bunch of fence-sitters out there in swing districts. If they want people to stuff envelopes, phone bank, walk blocks, etc., they had better support a public option. And as one good organized worker pointed out - BDs depend on the party, the party depends on organized workers. So this affects them too.. Definitely.

[byebyegop]

26. Then threaten them with primaries. Once they have the nomination they get Dem support..

That is how it works. The Dems produce a potential challenger and vow to support the challenger. Unless you can do that you have ZERO leverage over them. They already know who the potential candidates are and how well they will likely do against them. So there is not much you can do but try find good primary challengers. In North Dakota I'm guessing there aren't many options.

[subcomhd]

27. That's one option

the other is "you can face a strong GOPer without our spit on you envelopes, our feet on your district's doorsteps" but yeah, primary challengers are good too!

[valerief]

37. Lieberman is not a Dem, but you knew that, didn't you? nt

[byebyegop]

47. Yes, but he made a deal to keep most of his Dem seniority on committees....

which annoys the hell out of me. After the "we should do nothing about healtcare right now" comment I say to hell with him and his lousy one vote which he swings GOP on half the time anyways!

[GrantDem]

38. Three Blue Dogs from IN rely heavily upon labor's support

Ellsworth: $74,000, #2 donor
http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00027575&cycle=2008

Hill: $72,250, #5 donor
http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00003875&cycle=2008

Donnelly: $80,000, $67,000, #4 & #5 donor
http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00026586&cycle=2008

[Uncle Joe]

12. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, subcomhd.:thumbsup:

[subcomhd]

14. You are welcome

I'm actualy starting to feel good about this.

[indimuse]

nice...

knr*

[cloudbase]

13. I doubt this will make much difference at the local level.

I spent ten years as a delegate on my local labor council, three of them on the executive board. Too many locals get screwed by democrats, but just bend over and ask for more.

I'll say this, though. Rich Trumka has more balls than Sweeny or Kirkland (who had none, but he was MM&P, so that was understandable). I wish Trumka well.

[diane in sf]

16. Good, AFT member here (part of AFL-CIO).

[mbperrin]

17. Very good! AFT in Texas! For those who aren't sure there are any

unions down here.

[subcomhd]

18. Then let me ask you what i asked another organized worker

I live in the redest district in Texas (Gohmert, ick!) and I'm broke an un(der)employed.

What can I do? (edited to actually ask the question.)

[mbperrin]

34. I teach a 6 week unit to my high school seniors on microentrepreneurship.

It involves starting a tiny business with only the assets and skills you already have. The summative project for the class is to start with no more than $20 cash and turn it into $500 in 2 weeks or less.

It helps to reinforce the idea that jobs from others are not the only jobs around. Over the years, several of them have actually turned these projects into real businesses here in town.

You have to learn why you are valuable and then use that as you can. As long as you let others set your value, there's a problem.

Way too short an answer condensed into a very limited format.

[No Elephants]

43. Really neat.

[TwixVoy]

20. AT&T is also union in almost all of Texas!

A lot of people don't realize that.

Proud CWA AT&T member here!

[subcomhd]

22. Glad to know I'm supporting a union shop.

I have them for my cel because they work seemlessly between (and within) here and MX, so it's hard for me to drop them (as per Glenn
Be()k boycot) Then they dropped him, and they are union here in TX. That's good to know. Go Ma Bell. that feels kind of weird but yeah, go Ma Bell!

[madmom]

19. K & R !!!!

[fascisthunter]

23. awesome! (nt)

[eagertolearn]

25. Someone needs to talk to Wyden. He will lose a lot of voters if he continues

to push his bill which uses the insurance companies with no public option. I've always liked him but at a town hall meeting last week he said that there are the fars rights and the far lefts and they are not willing to work on things and that there was not enough support for a public option (among the people). I was very disheartened. I'll be looking for someone else to vote for next time around.

[unkachuck]

28. K&R....n/t

[happygoluckytoyou]

29. UNIONS TO PUSSY WHIPPED DEMOCRATS...."grow some... and support LABOR... you wankers!!!!"

[OhioChick]

30. Good. Time for the Dems to grow a set. n/t

[windowpilot]

31. AHHHHHHHHH Push it.

PUSH IT REAL GOOD.....

[flyarm]

33. Richard L. Trumka sendthat memo to the WH and tell them to call off their "DEALS" with big Pharma

and the insurance companies and hospitals!

and tell Rahm to suck eggs!

[DemOkie]

35. Go Trumka!

K&R

[David__77]

36. Time for a major and deadly serious ultimatum.

Labor should totally shut off money if this doesn't happen.

[barbtries]

39. way to go

we need so much more of this.

[mod mom]

40. Great! They need to remember how union people & progressives were the legs of their

election victories!

[rhett o rick]

42. The line in the sand is drawn. Either you support a robust public option or you

are on the side of the repubs. You decide.

[No Elephants]

44. Told my Senators: no public option, no more Dem votes or Dem donations from me.

It really is that clear for me. (And not bc I need insurance myself.)

[rhett o rick]

45. I agree 1000% . nt

[Libertas1776]

46. I agree

1000% infinity...plus one.

[TankLV]

49. PLEASE COME TO VEGAS!!! WE HAVE TO GET RID OF HARRY REID!!!