Unions Hope Patronage Translates to Leverage (Virginia)

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Democrats Balance Pro-Business Ties
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/05/AR2009060503657.html?hpid=topnews

Organized labor is attempting to capitalize on Virginia's shifting political landscape by investing as never before in the race for governor, a gamble union leaders are hoping will bring them leverage in a state that has long resisted their influence.

After helping Barack Obama capture Virginia in last year's presidential race, trade unions are emboldened. They are pouring in millions of dollars and placing armies of volunteers on the ground in the run-up to Tuesday's primary. Union members are making phone calls and staking signs in all parts of the state.

Union officials hope recent elections have brought lasting change and will produce a more labor-friendly administration in Richmond. But as they have become more bold, Democrats have been forced to balance that against their own effort to hold onto the centrist, business-minded voters who helped create their electoral majority.

Organized labor's largest investment has been made to start an early assault on the Republican nominee, Robert F. McDonnell. Unions have injected $1.15 million into the Democratic Governors Association, which has financed an ad campaign designed to define McDonnell as an enemy of working people, even before Democrats have chosen a candidate.

[fairfaxvadem]

1. Let us ask again, how ignorant is the WP???

Democrats DO NOT WIN Virginia without its labor membership, as "small" as it is numerical. Period.

Labor is not "investing" more in this race. Virginia union members invested for Warner, Nye, Periello, Connolly, Webb, Kaine, Warner (the first time), on and on. Give me a break.

Yes, Mark Warner won his Senate election in 2008 handily. That was NOT the case in 2001 when he ran in the governor's race. VA Labor took a chance on him, and got him elected. Period. He owes his political life to the non-existent labor movement in Virginia.

Here is the bottom line: VA union members agreed to put on their cars and in their yards the signs of these Democrats and voted them in to office. In exchange, do we see a SINGLE yard sign from Warner, Webb, Periello or Nye, publicly supporting the Employee Free Choice Act? No. We wore their bumperstickers, but they won't wear ours. Gerry Connolly is the only freshman from '08 in VA to sign on as a co-sponsor. Rick Boucher is a solid friend, but he's been in office for a while, and his support is firm.

Don't tell me how you support Trade Reform,or Health Care Reform,etc. Our members believe that all of those issues EXTEND from support of the Employee Free Choice Act. Don't tell me, "well...I have to win the next election, so if I co-sponsor now, the Chamber will be mad at me, and I'll lose next year. But, I promise I'll vote for this as soon as it comes back to the floor." Our members don't think you are entitled to any more "nuance" then they had at the ballot box. Stand up.

Jim Webb, union member, straight shooter (usually), says, "now is not the right time for this, based on the current economic conditions." BS. And Jim Webb knows it, as a card-carrying union member. It's all about Mark Warner, and the upcoming Gov race. So, my question is: who is the junior senator in this relationship? Warner? Webb?

Bob McDonnell, R running for Va Gov, is a nut. We call him "Taliban Bob." Regent Univ Law School Grad. Look them up. They had a hard time passing the VA Bar for a while. One of the hardest bar exams in the country. Why? They want a Biblical interpretation of the Constitution. They finally got a clue about the state testing, but I'm pretty sure it hasn't changed their indoctrination.

Come on, Virginia. Wake up. We have elections EVERY YEAR. Why are you surprised when I knock on your door, again?

There is a DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY on Tuesday, June 9. Brian Moran, Creigh Deeed, Terry McAuliffe.

Vote.