Richard Trumka Threatens To Abandon Democrats In 2012 Unless They Fight Harder For Labor

[kpete]

Source: Huffington Post

Trumka also says in the prepared remarks that party affiliation alone won't determine how the federation allocates its resources in 2012. If Republican lawmakers embrace parts of the AFL-CIO's agenda, the union federation will respond in kind. If Democrats abandon the union community's principles -- or if they fail to protest as those principles are attacked -- they can expect similar treatment.

***** We will spend the summer holding elected leaders in Congress as well as the states accountable on one measure: Are they improving or degrading life for working families?”

We are looking hard at how we work in the nation’s political arena. We have listened hard, and what workers want is an independent labor movement that builds the power of working people -- in the workplace and in political life … Our role is not to build the power of a political party or a candidate. It is to improve the lives of working families and strengthen our country.

It doesn’t matter if candidates and parties are controlling the wrecking ball or simply standing aside -- the outcome is the same either way. If leaders aren’t blocking the wrecking ball and advancing working families’ interests, working people will not support them. This is where our focus will be -- now, in 2012 and beyond.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/20/richard-trumka-democrats_n_864518.html

[UrbScotty]

1. Enjoy President Pawlenty (nt)

[atreides1]

4. Like things are so different now!

[nobodyspecial]

12. Look at Wisconsin and Florida

Seriously. I'm so sick of this crap. Can it get worse under Republicans. Yes it can and it certainly will. Perpetuating this silly notion that they are the same is ridiculous. Are Dems where they should be. No. Are they better than the GOP. Yes. To pretend any different does not help your argument.

[mitchtv]

19. the D's are pulling the same shit in

places like MA and IL, I'll follow my union's advice

[No Elephants]

107. Local Boston media have been pointing out a very odd phenomenon.

Demonstrations and headlines for days when a Republican administration does something anti-labor, not a whimper from anyone when a Democrats in Massachusetts do something anti-labor.

Btw, when I refer to Boston media, I mean the mainstream media. I never listen to RW radio.

[defendandprotect]

191. It's also an "odd phenomenon" ....

here at DU --

Though I don't see how anyone could think that rightwing anti-labor policy is any

better when it's served up by Democrats than when it's served up by Repugs?

[robinlynne]

46. agreed. Now it is the RIGHT THING to do to push Dems to the left. It is the only thing to do.

[No Elephants]

109. Could not agree more, but HOW do we do that?

[robinlynne]

210. the union's stance is terrific. I was supporting it.

[txlibdem]

146. Absolutely! NOW is the time to push - they're marching farther right at every opportunity

We should inundate all Democratic congress critters, governors, sheriffs, and dog catchers: you work for US -- and you CAN be fired -- so DO YOUR DAMN JOB and fight for the poor and middle class.

[No Elephants]

170. If by "inundate," you mean calls, letters, emails and online petitions, they don't respond to

things like that anymore. Or to polls.

About 70% of Americans wanted a public option or single payer and people marched, wrote, called everything. Look what happened.

About the same number wanted the Bush tax cuts to die a well deserved death. Look what happened.

[defendandprotect]

192. It's going to take Americans understanding we are all LABOR --

and uniting together -- organizing.

Labor has to support ALL Americans -- women, minorities --

Corporations/elites are organized up, down and every other way possible --

Americans aren't organized at all --

And, certainly no longer politically since the Democrats long ago gave up

neighborhood representatives and embraced the wealthy!




"All that does harm to labor is treason" -- Abe Lincoln

[comtec]

237. We need a LABOR party

not dem, not gop,

LABOR

and it's going to be fucking hard to pull it off, because it will siphon ALL it's votes from the democrats.

that means we'll weaken the dem party significantly.

the only hope is that the LABOR party will be filled with those "undecided" (lazy) voters who finally come down off the fence.

but a 3rd party, the Labor party would do wonders for this country if it works.

the problem being of course that the gop's votes are pretty much all goose steppers now. there are no votes to siphon off from them anymore.

but how and when?

[txlibdem]

201. Yes, we did all those things, but also said "but we'll support you no matter what"

The outcomes you detail in your post are exactly what you get when you tell a politician they are the lesser of two evils and we'll be "behind them all the way" no matter how they vote.

Instead, our polls and marches need to be given some teeth. Listen to us, fight for us tooth and nail and we MAY open our wallets and pound the pavement for you. Break our trust and you are DONE.

Backbone is hard to grow when nobody is saying you have to have one: so most Democratic politicians have a spine made of jelly. We need to tell them that this will end. And it will end NOW!

[robinlynne]

211. bingo!

[Ken Burch]

55. For labor to say it will back the Dems no matter what is for labor to give up

All the parts of the progressive Democratic coalition have the right to ask for some things in exchange for our support. You just want us to settle for Clinton's second term.

[No Elephants]

110. Anyone who says "no matter what" has not only given up, but has become part of the problem.

[chervilant]

209. Indeed...

Patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings.

[whathehell]

140. I agree....They've been taking labor for granted for ages. n/t

[Bandit]

165. "Where else can they go"

Isn't that Obama's mind set? I guess he is going to find out..

[defendandprotect]

193. It's been the overall perspective of the Dem Party for decades ....

Guess we have to find out if there is any place to go?

Liberals are a huge voting bloc -- we all have to come together and develop

a Plan B -- vote together -- move together --


I'd love to see support for drafting Sen. Bernie Sanders for president -- he can run

on a Dem ticket --

We need two strong anti-war candidates -- how about Tom Hayden for VP --

There are TONS of democrats outside the party who we can call on to serve --

We need to move away from elected officials who are pre-bribed and pre-owned by corporations!




Rightwing Koch Bros. Funded the DLC --

http://www.democrats.com/node/7789

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x498414

If you knew about this, why didn't you tell us?

If you didn't know, pass it along -- !

:)

[whathehell]

225. They may not have to "go" anywhere in terms of donating money

unless they want to try and start their own "labor party", which might not be a bad idea for them.

[txlibdem]

292. According to his nephew, Nader tried to shake up the Dems in 2000

And we got Bush because Nader fought too hard in Florida and Colorado, either state would have given the win to Gore. That may have been a tactical error or Nader had no clue just how much of a F-up Dubya would turn out to be.

But what did we get in 2008 by circling the wagons? A third term for "Dubya" except this time he's got a really great tan. He still talks about "the people" out of one side of his mouth while giving away our futures to the corporations out the other side.

[Auntie Bush]

143. We'd be lucky to hane things back like Clinton's term. Jobs & a balanced budget with

he wealthy paying more and the Gov paying less for military...plus almost world peace.

[bulloney]

162. Clinton also threw labor under the bus by pushing for passage of NAFTA and WTO.

He also signed legislation that ended Glass-Stegall and opened up the pandora's box of deregulated markets that has this country in the mess it's in today.

I agree with Trumka that too many Democratic politicians have taken labor's support for granted. The thing to do is just not spend money with either party.

[No Elephants]

173. Clinton set the table for a lot of the problems we're having today.

Saying he wanted repeal of Glass-Steagall on his desk ASAP, NAFTA, etc.

"Almost world peace" Really? Whose world?

[defendandprotect]

198. Correct -- people have to understand that Nixon was to the left of Obama... but Nixon...

was setting the groundwork for the next level of destruction to benefit

elites/corporations!!

Just as so much of what Clinton did, gave W the means to move everything much further

to the right --

Can we truly believe that a Repug president would have passed on a huge surplus to a

Democratic president?




Rightwing Koch Bros. Funded the DLC --

http://www.democrats.com/node/7789

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x498414

If you knew about this, why didn't you tell us?

If you didn't know, pass it along -- !

:)

[defendandprotect]

195. Clinton engaged in a huge attack on 60 years of Welfare Guarantees ...

a Democratic Party attack on the New Deal --

which btw Gore gave the nod to -- !!

Combined with Clinton's trade agreements which continue to suck tens of thousands of

jobs out of America every month ...

As we can see now that has only created more homelessness, more joblessness and

more corporate arrogance --

At this point, even unemployment benefits are under attack --

Capialism is suicidal -- and unregulated capitalism is merely organized crime --

What the elites are after isn't labor, it's slavery.

And, they aren't buying just one party --




Rightwing Koch Bros. Funded the DLC --

http://www.democrats.com/node/7789

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x498414

If you knew about this, why didn't you tell us?

If you didn't know, pass it along -- !

:)

[lark]

235. Sorry, BO is much worse than Clinton

Clinton did DADT which was a huge advance for his time and FMLA which kept tens of thousands of working people in jobs - what the hell did Obama ever do for working people? I haven't seen anything postivie yet in that arena.

[Blacksheep214]

86. Nicely said! nt

[No Elephants]

108. The critical issue is: How do we stop the ever rightward drift?

Both Parties keep moving further right. And the more Democrats continue to go right, the more Republicans will go right.

Today's Democrats may well be to the right of Nixon and, on some issues, even to the right of St. Ronnie. In another 20 year, they may be to the right of Dummya, while the Republicans will be--good grief.

If we keep quietly accepting the lesser of two evils decade after decade, we are screwing ourselves and our descendants royally.


I am not saying I know the ansswer. But history tells me what the answer definitely is NOT. And the answer definitely is NOT being sheeple as long as a Democrat is involved or continuing to defend or accept "the lesser of two evils."

[defendandprotect]

203. Liberals are a huge voting bloc --

we need to organize it and decide on a Plan B --

We could draft Sen. Bernie Sanders for president in 2012 --

he can run on a Dem ticket --

We need two strong anti-war candidates -- Tom Hayden might make a good VP --

Basically, we need democrats who aren't pre-bribed and pre-owned by corporations --




Rightwing Koch Bros. Funded the DLC --

http://www.democrats.com/node/7789

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x498414

If you knew about this, why didn't you tell us?

If you didn't know, pass it along -- !

:)

[Beartracks]

245. +1 to you!!

Dems are fond of pointing out false equivalencies in the media, and yet many perpetuate this self-delusion that Democrats and the Republicans are the same. Someone here pointed out that the difference is telling, although not obvious from voting records: Republicans actually are heartless bastards, while Democrats are just spineless cowards. Being a spineless coward is fixable; but bastards will always be bastards. Don't vote for bastards.

------------------------------------

[pnorman]

106. "There's Not A Dime's Worth Of Difference Between....."

...." (Sigh!)

[No Elephants]

117. No one but you used those words.

[Auntie Bush]

139. No there isn't a dimes worth. There is a hundred+++ dollars worth.

So let's all just sit back and complain, not donate, not help,not vote just keeps saying the two parties are the same so it doesn't matter who you vote for. Then we can have 50 states with Governor's like FL, MI, OH, AZ, OK and maybe Palin. Then we can all sit back and get screwed! How'd you like that? :shrug:

[lark]

238. What would be different, really?

WE gave, we wrote, we called & we voted and guess what we got - the governors in FL, MI, OH, AZ, OK. ME, MA and CA have "D" governors and they are cutting union wages too. What difference does it make? We don't have the money or resources to match Rupert & the Koch brothers - we are the poor, students and working class folks for the most part. Buffett & Soros don't spend the portion of their money to affect social policy the way the Koch's do - they aren't heavily invested in polluting industries so get no payback which the Koch's sure do. Now Dems are screwing the Union and I 100% agree with Unions not backing Obama until he gets off his ass and supports us!!!!!

[kjackson227]

244. We have to fight WITHIN this party to bring about the change...

we need. And, what do we stand to lose if Republicans take over??? PLENTY. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid AND PUBLIC EDUCATION. Republican governors and senators of certain states have already begun to stick the knife of death in these agencies, if they get more power, say goodbye to them for sure!

[defendandprotect]

204. Whatever the differences, they are fading fast --

[stevenleser]

269. Then you have nothing to worry about. n/t

[villager]

6. gosh! He might even keep extending the Patriot Act! Oh. Wait...

n/t

[frylock]

38. maybe the fucking dems should do something rather than hold us hostage..

with threats of president pawlenty. it's getting fucking old and tiresome and pretty soon people are going to call the bluff.

[Terry_M]

45. Crude, but exactly how I feel.

[bread_and_roses]

47. Amen, Brother. And a K & R - I just wish Brother Trumka had been

even stronger and more specific. But it's a word in the right direction, at least. I wish all the Nationals would follow the Firefighters lead and stop all political contributions at the Federal Level - and for that matter, at the State and local levels as well. The few good people who would lost donations will just have to understand that until their leadership stands up for working families and puts the screws to their members to do the same, a few good people can't have any impact.

Labor has been watching its ranks disappear year by year while they spend their life's blood supporting Pols who, for the most part, totally ignore working families to protect and advance their big $$ donors' agenda. We cannot compete with $$. Our so-called "friends" in the D party want us our feet on the ground, our door-knockers and phone-bankers and workplace leafleting and and and. For nothing. For fear of what is happening anyway.

Time to take another path. Labor is not there yet, but creeping closer. I don't expect any real change by '12 ... the leadership is too mired in this failed paradigm. But the members are pushing them, and I think they'll get there yet - just not soon enough, alas. Probably too late already.

[Hardrada]

97. We only were in political activities last year because we had a

union member teacher friend to support and he was really one of us. Otherwise we won't do much anymore unless the other candidates come around also.

[emilyg]

101. +1

[No Elephants]

111. As of 2008, unions were still the single largest donor group for Democrats.

So, yes, unions can compete.

[Auntie Bush]

149. But all those angry and dissatisfied Dems stayed home in 2010

Look what that got us? Tell me again how many seats we lost? That approach did us a lot of good. Intelligent people learn from their mistakes!

[bread_and_roses]

184. Exactly. "intelligent people learn from their mistakes..."

And we in Labor have been stupidly doing the same thing over and over for years and years - spending to elect politicians who, for the most part, at best ignore and at worst screw us once they are elected. The few exceptions are candles in the wind.

If you are a union member you have some notion of the all-out effort Labor put into '08. The $$ were nothing in comparison to the footwork, the worksite efforts, the huge, difficult task of countering the racism of many members. The only group of older white men who voted for Obama over McCain were union members - and that was the result of really hard work from bottom to top. If you are not a union member then I can tell you that for those of us working this in the trenches it was both the most exhausting and the most exhilarating effort most of us had ever engaged in.

http://prospect.org/cs/articles?article=why_we_need_efca

Molyneux surveyed 1,487 members of AFL-CIO unions -- about half in battleground states -- and compared the results with all voters. What he discovered is nothing short of astounding.

Fifty-seven percent of white men favored McCain, but 57 percent of white male union members favored Obama. White gun owners cast 68 percent of their votes for McCain, but 54 percent of white gun owners who are also union members preferred Obama. Among white weekly churchgoers, McCain scored a landslide, receiving 70 percent of their votes. But Obama had a slight edge (49 percent to 48 percent) among white weekly churchgoers who were union members. Similarly, 58 percent of white non-college graduates voted for McCain, but 60 percent of white union members who didn't graduate from college tilted to Obama. Overall, 53 percent of white women cast ballots for McCain, but Molyneux found that a whopping 72 percent of white women union members favored Obama.

These numbers show the tremendous power of grass-roots organizing. Nationwide, according to Molyneux, 67 percent of union members of all races -- and 69 percent in swing states -- supported Obama.

Now, look around - look at the Dem Gov in NY eviscerating the public unions, for one small example. Look at the near-total lack of effort on the part of this Administration to address jobs, freedom to organize (EFCA, ha ha ha - weak as it was, it was something) - look at who won the health care battle - and how.

The point is, that all that work gets us nowhere. We still lose. So yes, maybe Labor is finally learning from its mistakes. Maybe we're finally remembering that our only power lies in our own solidarity, our own actions - in the streets, not in back rooms smarming with some Pol who talks pretty and then turns his/her back on us.

(however, I doubt the lesson has been well-learned enough - I think you can all stop wringing your hands- I have little doubt that Labor leadership will be out there in '12, doing the same old dance. Now, whether the membership will respond as they did in '08 is another question - and I have no clue on that. Might depend a lot on what happens between now and then)

[Auntie Bush]

246. Thanks, you just made my point. Unions elect our president and if they stay home

and don't vote or donate we're screwed. How could you possibly want that? All this talk about not voting is synonymous with Tea party's refusing to raise taxes or the debt limit.
I'm not saying we shouldn't help unions, we should work as hard as we can to get congress to pass laws we favor...but not doing everything in our power to help Obama get elected is stupid! As cutting ones nose off or taking their ball home if you can't get everything you wanted! Obama has a hard enough job fighting ReThugs without you guys and your lack of faith in Obama. No wonder Dems can never join together. Some are just a bunch of losers...like the ones who didn't want to donate or stayed home in 2010. Look what that got us!

[stevenleser]

263. Everyone should listen to their auntie! Well said!!!!!! n/t

[bread_and_roses]

276. So remind me how much "change" unions got for "electing our President?"

How I love the way the phrases like "taking their ball home if you can't get everything you wanted!" are thrown around here. I am not going to run the litany of the reality down again - it's all here on DU and elsewhere - you can find it for yourself, I'm sure.

We poured our time and money and energy and effort into Obama's election, and our members know what he has and hasn't done. Your arguments are not going to work with them - it's already pretty much as bad as it can get - and an awful lot of Ds are joining in kicking us when we're down.

It's hard to make the "could be worse!" argument work for us when we're drowning in our rickety little boat - along with the rest of the working class - and Obama is sailing past with his good buds in a yacht.

But don't worry - I have little doubt that Obama will start talking pretty again and our leadership will kiss and make up with him in good time for the election. There's a lot invested in that pattern, and I doubt the lesson is fully learned yet. By the time it is, it is quite likely to be too late.

[stevenleser]

280. Dude, stop supporting Obama and Democrats by all means. You just made life easy for me.

It's a tough job fighting to get pro-union talking points in when debating folks on the right. If unions are decided on committing political suicide like this, let me know. I'll keep working for liberal and progressive causes where the constituencies are going to still be around in a few years.

[defendandprotect]

186. If that's true, then we'd stop voting for "the lesser evil" -- in fact,

we would have stopped doing that decades ago!!

And -- since then, how hard have you been pushing for Obama and the party to move to the left?

80% want an end to the wars -- 76%+ want MEDICARE FOR ALL --

And Obama's reaction was to suggest he was willing to move further to the right!!

:rofl:


"Bispartisanship is just another name for one party rule" --

Howard Zinn

[bread_and_roses]

175. You think unions can compete with 1.4 million per day?

That, according to Common Cause, is what the major health interests were spending on lobbying in 2009:

http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=5281465

• The major health interests have spent an average of $1.4 million per day to lobby Congress so far this year and are on track to spend more than half a billion dollars by the end 2009. That comes out to about $2,600 per day per member of the House and Senate. The pharmaceutical lobby alone spent $733,000 per day in the first quarter of 2009. Since 2000, the industries have spent over $3 billion on lobbying, with the total increasing every year and rising more than 142 percent over the course of the decade. In each of the past four years health interests have been the number-one lobbying force in Washington, measured in expenditures, and have averaged over $1 million per day.

Now, tell me what good it does for Labor to spend money electing candidates who, as soon as they are in office, are going to face that kind of money from industry - either for or against them, depending on their stance?

It's a mug's game for Labor.

[defendandprotect]

185. Unions give 1 penny for every $1 corporations give --

The only thing that seems to keep this idea alive of selling the party to corporations

is that a large percentage of those representing the party in Congress now are themselves

millionaires and multi-millionaires --

However, as clumsily as Pelosi did it -- even her wealth doesn't seem to be keeping her

from seeing the catastrophe building and 2010 is a huge example of it ...

$4 billion in the campaign -- Dems got $1 for every $7 the Repugs got!!


So even selling the party and its representatives to corporations doesn't work because

the rightwing will always be willing to debase themselves further for a buck!!

[Divernan]

113. "Unitl leadership stands up for working families & puts screws to members to do the same"

Because that is what leaders do - and Lyndon Johnson was a master of that. Obama and his spokesmen also do that, but against the interests of us middle class/working class/ non-independently wealthy Americans. Witness multiple criticisms of and threats to progressive democrats all the while voluntarily conceding issues to the GOP before negotiations have even begun, and enabling the Blue Dog Democrats. Having Rahm describe progressive critics as fucking retarded. The obvious difference is that Johnson pushed (put the screws to Dems) for the traditional Democratic values while Obama and the Circle D gang push for the corporate good, i.e., health care "reform" lining the pockets of Big Pharma and Big Insurance, giveaways to Big Banking, continuing the wars to benefit MIC, supporting vouchers to benefit private charter school operators and screw public education.

Nothing in politics is fixed. It's a constant battle between interests. And right now the big money/campaign contributors are lined up three deep against traditional Democratic values. We knew this two years ago. That's why we worked our butts off for Obama. We believed his campaign rhetoric that he would turn things around.

If we don't speak up and shout out, if we lay down and roll over, the profiteering, the exploitation of taxpayers, the endless war mongering will not only continue but worsen. The two huge targets for the privatizers - profiteers are Medicaid and Social Security. I have personally heard investment bankers salivating over the prospect of making billions from management fees from "churning" social security accounts. I firmly believe that if we progressives had not raised the hell we have about other issues, that Medicaid and Social Security would have already been privatized.

You end your post by commenting "Probably too late already" and I sadly agree that may be the case.

Nowadays I take my inspiration from the lines: "Do not go gently into that dark night, but rage, RAGE against the dying of the light."

[ccinamon]

159. Here in Texas a majority of the union membership votes

for Republicans and many STILL have a Bush sticker on their lunch box (according to friends who work in union shops)....maybe the democratic politicians would be MORE responsive if the GOT VOTES NOT JUST MONEY from the unions....just something to think about.

[defendandprotect]

187. How long does it take Texans to figure out who's eating their lunch?

[Autumn]

53. Can I just say

right the fuck on.:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[No Elephants]

112. Dems should do something--How about maybe, you know, change?

I recall someone telling me, starting around the Democratic Convention of 2004, that I should have the audacity to hope for change. Fierce urgency of now.

Whah, whah, whah.

Sounded so inspiring at the time, though.

Still kicking myself.

[defendandprotect]

189. Democrats unfortunately have been growing more silent over decades ....

More and more of them are millionaires and multi-millionaires --

but we still evidently expect them to vote in our interests?

According to Wm. Greider's book "Who Will Tell the People?" written in 1992 --

As far back as 1978, well before Reagan, Democrats were collaborating with GOP

on breaking the tax code for the benefit of elites/corporations --


Needless to say, Reagan took it even further --



Rightwing Koch Bros. Funded the DLC --

http://www.democrats.com/node/7789

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x498414

If you knew about this, why didn't you tell us?

If you didn't know, pass it along -- !

:)

[Lorien]

138. A campaign based on "yeah we suck, but the other guy is way worse"

really isn't a winning strategy. Most of us want to start voting FOR a candidate, not just AGAINST some far righter whackadoodle.

[ccinamon]

157. +1...

it's one of the reasons I got more active in local politics,,,however, I reside in the reddest part of the reddest county in Texas: NE Tarrant. It seems about 80% of the seats don't even have democrats entering! I would, but do not have the money or the resources....after a few years of local club activities, I might have the knowledge and backing of enough people to give it a try.

[proud2BlibKansan]

181. +1

[defendandprotect]

205. We voters do not have leverage over the Democrats -- that's obvious ....

Elites/corporations are organized every way possible -- up, down, crosswise and every other way!

Americans aren't organized at all --

Even Seniors dependent on Social Security and Medicare aren't organized --

except via AARP which is an insurance company!!





Rightwing Koch Bros. Funded the DLC --

http://www.democrats.com/node/7789

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x498414

If you knew about this, why didn't you tell us?

If you didn't know, pass it along -- !

:)

[stevenleser]

272. Go ahead. While Unions are trying to hurt the Dems they are digging their own graves...

if that is their intention, please let me know. I won't waste my time defending people or groups who are determined to commit suicide.

[txlibdem]

278. Get informed on the Democratic collusion with GOP to destroy unions and working families

Your comment would have been acceptable in 1980 when none of the facts were known. But, knowing what we know of the voting records of the co-called Democrats that we worked our butts off and gave money to -only to get a kick in the teeth time and again- we would be stupid (possibly suicidal) to just repeat the same over and over again. Sanity has to set in eventually.

We should give selectively to Democrats who have shown they are on the side of the Unions and working families --by their voting records, not their pretty speeches!

[stevenleser]

279. You can try to deny reality all you want. It's over for Unions if Obama goes in 2012 and possibly if

Democrats lose the White House in 2016. The attacks you have seen on Unions in several states like Wisconsin will be repeated with full support from the White House. You'll see Federal right to work legislation and various other bills that are anti-Union, and they will pass.

If Unions are going to try to undermine Obama and the Democrats, then I for one will stop defending them on TV and elsewhere because there will be no point to that defense. If they go that route, they are done. They just don't know it yet.

[txlibdem]

281. Learn the difference between a Democrat and a "conservadem/DLCer" only one is on your side

A Democrat would not take Medicare for All/Single Payer off the table BEFORE negotiations even start.

You want to choose between a death by a thousand cuts or a Guillotine. I want to put my money on politicians who will try to keep me alive.

[stevenleser]

289. You can keep trying to spin that crap. The point remains. Unions are dead men walking if they stop

supporting Obama and Democrats in general. I'm done supporting them until I see how they act. As I have said, I'm not big on wasting time on people or groups bent on destroying themselves.

[txlibdem]

291. We had a super-majority in congress and the Prez and Unions were still attacked

Open your eyes. Just because someone has a "D" next to their name on the ballot does NOT mean that they want the future that YOU want. Vote based on their record, their deeds, not their campaign promises and pretty speeches.

[iwishiwas]

300. I sincerely second the e-motion.

[frylock]

284. yet here you are, defending the democratic party..

digging their own graves by their continued support of the entities that have skullfucked us all.

[stevenleser]

290. Like Unions? Like women? Like the GLBT community? You are wrong AGAIN. n/t

[frylock]

294. unions?! you're fucking shitting me, right?

you might want to let trumka know that obama supports unions then. someone seems to be a little confused.

[Ken Burch]

54. Bullshit

The only way to get this party to act like Democrats again is to make it clear that our support isn't unconditional. To promise unconditional support as you do is to give up on fighting for anything more and to allow the party leaders to treat us with contempt.

Besides...the GOP is clearly not going to do well presidentially in 2012. We should be switching a ton of money from re-electing Obama to actually trying to take down Boehner's mob in the House. Re-electing Obama without improving our situation in Congress isn't worth much. We don't ever need to settle for Clinton's second term again.

[No Elephants]

114. +1

I would say, though, that we've been "treated" to a mash up of Bush's third term and Bubba's third term.

[txlibdem]

141. Well said! If politicians will not fight for us then we will close our wallets to them

None of the current batch of Democrats in congress (with a few shining examples) have the backbone to even question the Rethugs, let alone stand in their way as they let the wrecking balls fly.

This OP is the model that ALL labor and liberal groups must unite around.

[defendandprotect]

206. We have to do more than that --

Americans have to organize -- we are all labor --

Elites and corporations are organized every way possible -- up, down and every other way

and busy buying government and elected officials.

Liberals are a huge voting bloc -- we need to organize and develop a plan B --


Why not draft Sen. Bernie Sanders who can run on a Dem ticket?

How about Tom Hayden for VP -- ?

We need two strong anti-war candidates --


80% of the public want an end to these wars --

76%+ want MEDICARE FOR ALL

Yet the nation is repeatedly pulled in the direction of what the elites/corporations want!!



Rightwing Koch Bros. Funded the DLC --

http://www.democrats.com/node/7789

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x498414

If you knew about this, why didn't you tell us?

If you didn't know, pass it along -- !

:)

[Initech]

231. I agree with this but we do have a major hurdle now: Citizen's United

Now that it's legal to throw unlimited amounts of money at politicians, the corporatocracy is going to fight for what's best for the corporatocracy. I know there's a lot of talk of an amendment to get CU overturned but I don't think it's gonna happen immediately. The thing is though - is this - if we don't get Citizen's United overturned by the 2012 elections, what happened in Wisconsin is gonna look like a cake walk in comparison.

[Auntie Bush]

243. We did that in 2010...Look what that got us! Loss of congress and many governers.

If we do it again in 2012... We can say goodbye to medicare, medicaid, SS, UNIONS, safety net, abortions, gay rights and all regulations. We'll all be poorer as they decrease taxes, manufacture more weapons, and have more wars. Everyone would carry guns! Anything else? Oh yeah, the SC justices will all be like Roberts and Aleto. Corporations will rule the world and we'll be their minimum wage earners and count on a lower the minimum wage.

That's the picture I see if we don't donate to Dems and we lose this election with the help of the Koch brothers. Maybe I'll get Raptured tonight and it won't make any difference.

[txlibdem]

295. Did we live through the same 2010??? Cause mine didn't make any demands of politicians

And the corporate Dems floated into office on a raft of union and workers money... then started voting with the GOP on anti-union and anti-worker issue again and again.

But maybe you weren't in the same 2010. Did yours have rainbows and never had Harry Reid claiming that 40 beats 60 in the Senate? That must have been a nice place to be...

[TxVietVet]

150. I'm with you on that.

[dotymed]

156. I hate to be a pessimist.

When President Obama was first elected, we had a "super-majority." Still they acted like the R's were in charge. So the D's showed their dissatisfaction by staying home during the next elections. Of course, R's gained seats. It did not seem to matter. The R's were still the power.

IMO, until we remove all private money from all elections, this is just going to get worse. Of course, I do not want the R's to really run the show. They are worse than locusts, IMO.

We need a citizen rebellion (peaceful) nationwide. With clearly defined goals.

[femrap]

169. +1000! nt

[defendandprotect]

220. "Bipartisanship is another way of saying one party rule" --

that's Howard Zinn, thanks to another poster here!


That whole Dem business of turning Democratic majority control over to Repugs is an

act that's been going on for decades --

I personally watched as Sen. George Mitchell with a majority Dem Senate turned it over

to Sen. Bob Dole -- no other way to describe it -- watched it on C-span!!


It's all a joke -- remember when the entire scene shifted to the mighty Joe Liebermann

as the SUPERMAN of Congress? Too much for Obama/Democrats to compete with:

:rofl:


And agree with you on the private money --

Meanwhile, how about we think of drafting Sen. Bernie Sanders -- he can run on a Dem ticket --

and maybe Tom Hayden for VP -?

We need two strong anti-war Democrats --

There are tons of democrats outside the party who aren't pre-bribed and pre-owned by

elites/corporations --



Rightwing Koch Bros. Funded the DLC --

http://www.democrats.com/node/7789

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x498414

If you knew about this, why didn't you tell us?

If you didn't know, pass it along -- !

:)

[dotymed]

242. Man,

I'd give anything(almost) to have Bernie as President.

[defendandprotect]

207. Liberals are a huge voting bloc -- but unorganized --

We need to come together and decide on a Plan B --

How about drafting Sen. Bernie Sanders for president -- he can run on a Dem ticket --

We need two anti-war candidates --

How about Tom Hayden for VP?

We would do better supporting democrats who aren't pre-bribed and pre-owned by elites/

corporations --



Rightwing Koch Bros. Funded the DLC --

http://www.democrats.com/node/7789

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x498414

If you knew about this, why didn't you tell us?

If you didn't know, pass it along -- !

:)

[fredamae]

230. I agree! I am giving to

Specific candidates of My choice. Nothing for the Dem Fundraising Groups unless and until they and the candidates they support "come around" to Us and Our terms!

[txlibdem]

283. +1000 - My thoughts exactly -- I'm donating based on voting record not pretty speeches

To hell with the nice smile and the great speeches. Give us action *for* the people or get the hell out of our way!

[MNBrewer]

61. So you're saying that Democrats will continue to abandon labor and the working class?

[TxVietVet]

152. Yeah, sure, you betcha.

[defendandprotect]

212. Duh? Have you been totally unaware of what Obama/Duncan have been doing to teachers?

Working with those who were already attacking teachers, it's a disaster --

PLUS, Obama is working on pushing thru two new trade agreements -- Korea and Colombia --

which there has basically been NO discussion of here at DU!!

[chervilant]

70. My goodness!

Such a predictable response.

So, you think the behavior of leading democrats has been stellar? Unimpeachable? Dedicated to the welfare of our nation? Would you assert that the democrats du jour embody the principles of our party?

It's past time to get off the corporatists' merry-go-round. Desperate times DO call for desperate measures. If this is what it takes, so be it.

[AllTooEasy]

88. Predicatable response, but True; enjoy President Dirtbag Repuke in 2012

[chervilant]

100. Actually,

since the corporatists are quite happy with Obama, and the republicans can't seem to find a decent candidate, you don't have to worry. You'll get exactly what you deserve.

[emilyg]

102. ok

[defendandprotect]

213. Actually, I'd like to be enjoying a Dem President Sen. Bernie Sanders in 2012 ...

Bernie Sanders could run on a Dem ticket --

so could Tom Hayden for VP --

Two strong anti-war Democrats --

80% of Americans want an end to these wars --

76%+ want MEDICARE FOR ALL --

Plenty of democrats who can run on the Dem ticket!!



Rightwing Koch Bros. Funded the DLC --

http://www.democrats.com/node/7789

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x498414

If you knew about this, why didn't you tell us?

If you didn't know, pass it along -- !

:)

[SoapBox]

72. Oh ya...

...bringy on-y the Flippy-Floppy Timmy!

It's gonna be fun to see him try and lie his way out of some the crap he's done.

[AllTooEasy]

91. SCREW UNIONS if they are stupid enough to support Repukes;

a union supporting a Repuke is like a Jew supporting a Nazi party member. You are suppporting your own destruction. To even suggest that is beyond insane. I especially like the part about "if Republicans embrace parts of union agendas (paraphrasing)" - like that will come close to happening!

Don't generalize either - most Dems are pro Union, but some are not. Recognize the later individual Dems and replace them with pro-Union Dems...not Repukes?!

Whichever Union that supports a Repuke will see personally cross their picket lines with 2 middle fingers in the air.

[No Elephants]

115. Replacing incumbents is not easy. Party policy is to support incumbents and incumbents have a

natural advantage as well.

[whathehell]

148. No union should support repukes, but why should they give money to Dems

if they do nothing to support them?

The attacks by the Midwestern states, and the subsequent pushback

are the biggest thing that's happened in Labor for years

and the Dems, including the president were quite notable in their

absence...It's been absolutely embarrassing...If they can't

find the courage or sense of principle to defend a core

constituency like Labor, I see now reason why Labor doesn't

tell them to go fuck themselves, at least when it comes to

campaign financing.

[defendandprotect]

215. Maybe they'll support Sen. Bernie Sanders for president in 2012 ... he can run on Dem ticket!!

And how about Tom Hayden for VP --

We have tons of democrats who can run on the Dem ticket --

We need two strong anti-war candidates --

Not Democrats who are pre-owned and pre-bribed by elites/corproations --





Rightwing Koch Bros. Funded the DLC --

http://www.democrats.com/node/7789

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x498414

If you knew about this, why didn't you tell us?

If you didn't know, pass it along -- !

:)

[Le Taz Hot]

219. Woah!!!!

Woah!! Woah!! Woah!! I have NEVER seen that Koch/DLC link. Holy shit! Thanks for the link.

[Le Taz Hot]

218. It seems you've missed the entire point which was . . .

the union exists to support labor and the working class and whatever candidate, regardless of party, working for workers rights is who the union will support.

Because you have no counter you find it necessary to morph the argument into a blanket accusation of "supporting the repukes" without ever once addressing the very valid issues laid out in the article.

As for your "SCREW UNIONS if they are stupid enough to support repukes," I have the same sentiment towards those who would cross a picket line "with 2 middle fingers in the air."

[dotymed]

287. I used to believe the same way. I still have

not met a Pro-union repub, now I say: Screw the Union if they are stupid enough to support any candidate who will not guarantee to put workers first. Many Democrats lately, are not the Democrats of yore.

[Sherman A1]

104. Yeah, right....

:crazy: like that is going to happen.

[olegramps]

188. I don't believe that is the issue.

The working class have to accept the reality, regardless of how distasteful it is, that they have for the most part been abandon by the Democratic Party. Little was done to stop outsourcing when they enjoyed a majority in Congress. They failed to put forth bills that would have stop massive corporate abuse to the extent of even supporting so-called "Free Trade" agreements.

I would like to remind our citizens that until the Civil War the totality of Federal government revenue was obtained through tarifffs. Our Forefathers were determined to make this nation independent resulting in the growth of manufacturing. When our nation was faced with entering WWII it had a powerful manufacturing base that allowed us to produce munitions that assured our eventual victory. When you hear a candidate for office who is determined to level the playing field for the American worker, that is when to get out your checkbook and jogging shoes.

Revitalization of unions is the sole hope of the American worker ever regaining their rightful share of the wealth that they produce and which has been stolen from them through tax breaks for corporate millionaires. When it came to addressing one of the most vital issues, recinding the wholly unfair tax breakes for millionaires, Obama caved in without even a wimper. The same as he did in regard to health care. What will he do when they come after medicare and social security? More of his bipartisan bull crap is what I expect judging on his track record so far. The fact is that a more viable Democratic candidate for president that would represent the workers interest would be Trumka.

[booley]

239. Really getting sick of this false dichotomy

that we either never demand anything of those we put into office or else we are secretly helping those that seek our destruction.

It's not even supported by reality. Even teabaggers know better then this.

[defendandprotect]

256. Same logic as "pink pony" ... if you want to move left, then you're going right--!!

:evilgrin:

[Brickbat]

2. Good. As a union member, I support this utterly.

[cyberpj]

9. Ditto. But it should have come a decade or two earlier. I'm afraid corporate support trumps union

support now if we truly understand the power behind each.

Thanks to WI and others though, perhaps the time is ripe for a resurgence of union power?

Hope so.

[Brickbat]

10. I agree that we have gone on to long hoping that throwing money and volunteers will somehow

"educate" a candidate about the importance of labor. I disagree about corporate support trumping union power -- in cash, perhaps, but if we a true in what we stand for and use moral weight to prevail, we can do so.

[blindpig]

21. 'moral weight', gimme a break...

Capitalism got nothing to do with morality.

Until the profit flow is disrupted they will do nothing, that is the lesson of the 19th & 20th centuries.

The only power we have over the Capitalists is to withhold our labor and not participate in their economy.

[Brickbat]

23. Oh, there is definitely moral weight in showing people that withholding our labor is the right thing

to do in many circumstances. But yes, our primary strength is the strike.

[No Elephants]

116. The strike and the vote.

[TBF]

171. The vote?

Strikes are the key - I'd love for you to show me an instance in which legislation directly benefiting the working class was passed without strike/protests leading up to it.

[defendandprotect]

216. Exactly ... but has to be done in a measured way -- showing and growing strength as it goes ...

[jwirr]

28. Are you old enough to remember the way unions abandoned Carter

for Reagan? That is when we should have stopped it but we did not and anyone who thinks it cannot get worse under a rethug should not only read The Shock Doctrine but talk to any of the union activists around the world who may have survived the torture, prison camps and disappearing that was so popular back then and right up to this day. A hell that was supported by the US government, IMF, the World Bank and most of all the trickle down theory of economics sold to us by the University of Chicago and Milton Friedman.

This is not just about jobs. The right is out to destroy the government and labor unions entirely while they privatize everything and create a class of throw away people in the place of the middle class.

I support the union but not when they abandon people like me to the whims of people like Paul Ryan. If you choose another rethug puppet like raygun or booosh then we are through as a nation. You will be voting for pure corporatism and you will be it's enemy.

[hulka38]

49. To that extent Carter shares a large part of the blame

for the conditions that led to Reagan just as would Obama and the circle Dems if a Pawlenty won in 2012.

[jwirr]

52. Yes, I agree but what I am trying to say is that there are a great many

people who get hurt when we let the rethugs take over. Yes, we would probably survive another rethug term but some of us would not. In example since they want to end health care as we know it there will be more and more without the care they need to live. With Democrats at least we have a chance that there would be less. Same way with all the other targets they are aiming at. Four years allows a lot of pain in a lot of people.

[sulphurdunn]

62. If things need go to all the way

down the rabbit hole before we wake up then let's go there now and get it over with before our kids have to deal with the same Mad Hatter's Tea Party and Tweedledum -Tweedledee corporatism that infects us.

[jwirr]

66. It is my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren that I am

thinking about. Our family is one that is slipping below the middle class level, which we just reached this generation. Some of us are already too far to save but there is still hope for others IF we hold the line.

[No Elephants]

118. There is no "holding the line" as long as we allow Dems to move right. See Reply 108.

[bvar22]

208. Show me who is "holding the line",

...and I will vote for them.

You DO know that the Obama White House is working for even MORE "Free Trade",
and MORE outsourcing of American jobs to India?

"...and when I am president, EFCA (Employee Free Choice Act) will become the Law of the Land!!!"(2007)



Who will STAND and FIGHT for THIS American Majority?
Speeches and Promises are nice, but
"by their WORKS you will know them."

[defendandprotect]

223. Obama's 2 new trade agreements -- Korea and Colombia ... and little discussion here ...

of what will be a new sucking of jobs out of US!!

:)

[drm604]

93. How many families are you willing to throw down that rabbit hole?

And how sure are you that we'll ever be able to climb back out?

[No Elephants]

119. Probably as many as others insist on throwing down the rabbit hole of "lesser of two evils.'

Please see Reply 108.

[drm604]

136. I'm sorry but if I'm forced to choose between two evils

then I will always choose the lesser. It seems like a no brainer to me. Why would anyone choose the greater evil? Why would anyone sit it out and risk the greater evil winning? You do the best you can to reduce the evil in this world. Insisting on all or nothing is a useless exercise. Allowing the greater evil to win because of this insistence is almost aiding and abetting that greater evil. Obviously we should all work to make the world better but you have to work with the hand dealt to you.

You're the one actually advocating intentionally going down rabbit holes, not I. If I choose the lesser evil, it's not because I like evil or want things to get worse. My motivations are exactly the opposite of that.

[No Elephants]

151. Thing is, no one is forcing you to choose between two evils.

"You're the one actually advocating intentionally going down rabbit holes, not I."

I disagree. I think your way only makes our current rabbit hole deeper and more permanent. I'm saying, "when you're in a hole, stop shoveling and do something different.

[drm604]

154. Fine. I'll throw my vote away on a third party.

That way I can go around feeling smug and superior as the Republicans take over. Would that make you happy?

The answer is to change things during the primaries, and to work to take over the Democratic party starting at the local level. But when the general election rolls around and the only viable choices are a greater and lesser evil then I am being forced to choose between two evils I have a moral obligation to reduce evil. If my only option is to slow down the digging of the hole than that is what I will do.

[defendandprotect]

224. It's elites/corporations who are in control of the downward spiral -- and their $$ buys it ....

We are all labor -- and they are pro-slavery --


"Bipartisanship is another way of saying one party rule" --

Howard Zinn




Rightwing Koch Bros. Funded the DLC --

http://www.democrats.com/node/7789

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x498414

If you knew about this, why didn't you tell us?

If you didn't know, pass it along -- !

:)

[chervilant]

73. Wow.

I get so hopeful when I read posts like yours. If more people can get a clue about the vile agenda of the Corporate Megalomaniacs, perhaps we have a snowball's chance to turn things around.

One small thing: the corporatists are carefully cultivating a culture where the hoi polloi remains divided and divisive, but ultimately ENSLAVED to the corporate model that sustains THEIR wealth and THEIR primacy. Some of the hoi polloi already believe that 'they too can be rich, if they work hard enough and save money' (and, the corporatists carefully nurture this 'wealth carrot meme'). Some of the hoi polloi are resigned to a lifetime of earning 'just enough.'

One thing is perfectly clear: we CANNOT continue on this path. It is completely untenable. I wait for the day the vast majority of us get this.

[No Elephants]

120. +1

[defendandprotect]

96. Remember "ABC" ... "Anybody but Carter" -- Everyone abandoned Carter ...

Cater was under 24/7 attack from outside his administration and inside of it --

Remember the desert rescues set up rescue hostages?

How many helicopters went down or collided?

Gues who headed up that operation -- ? Ollie North --

Second in command was Secord!!


And if Carter wasn't immensely weakened in the public's eye -- the final sledgehammer

that came down on him was "The October Surprise" -- with Poppy Bush and Gates primary

players in that one!

[Auntie Bush]

155. You certainly said that bettter than I could. Agreed 100%.

We have to all just work harder to take control of congress and get rid of some more blue dogs who won't vote with Dems. Denying Dems money and not voting or helping the campaign will be our demise. How can we help unions, gays, and give the lower class a leg up and save our safety net
if we take the attitude of you haven't done enough for me so I'm going to screw you and the rest of the country. That will do us all a lot of good! Obama is our President...Let's do everything we can to support him and get him the congress he needs to help our causes. Donate as much as you can and out spend those Corporations and Koch brothers. That's who I fear!

[ccinamon]

163. Very well put jwirr!

You are right, when the unions abandoned Carter for Reagan, the rest of the dems should have pointed out that if the unions were NOT going to be loyal to electing dems, the dems saw no reason to be loyal to the unions!

Put right back on them...that is the one thing that gets me the most. As dems we are expected (especially during campaign season) to support union shops by buying ALL of our campaign material from a union shop....which costs 2 to 5 times as much as anywhere else...unless you know someone who works in a shop and will give you a "discount"...YET, there is no guarantee that after spending money in a union shop, that you will get their support...or even a single vote.

Seems a bit one-sided to me.

I'm not saying it needs to be a tit-for-tat sort of thing, nor am I talking about "buying" votes...over the years, I remember that at least once a printers union put their support to a republican when a democrat was the better choice...can not remember the year or the location...it was probably 12 - 15 years ago.

Politics IS a two-way street, many of the current dem politicians are probably tired of being battered by all the union members voting for republicans...pols need more than money, they need support and votes to show them that it is worth while to support the workers/unions.

Just saying.

[chervilant]

71. hmm...

Look at what Gandhi accomplished with litte more than the masses of like-minded humanity acting in solidarity to end England's hegemony.

Would that the hoi polloi here would achieve such a noble goal by ousting the Corporate Megalomaniacs...

[No Elephants]

122. Corporatists succeed by sowing division and also by converting as many workers

as possible into investors, via pension funds invested with Wall Street. Also via massive propaganda.

[defendandprotect]

94. How do you "educate" a corporate elected official of the importance of unions?

[Brickbat]

158. That's what unions have been trying to do for the past 30 years and it's gotten them nowhere.

Because it can't be done.

[defendandprotect]

92. Agree -- Look at what Obama and Duncan and Rahm have been doing re teachers ...

And they're expanding their efforts --

And we were worried about Repugs knocking out Dept of Education -- !!

We won't need one!!

[Sherman A1]

103. Agreed & Well Said

As a Union Member of some 37 years I too agree with this statement. I have given up on the Current Democratic Party. I certainly support what used to be the principles of the Democratic Party and I will vote for some of the candidates in 2012, but there will be no more partly line voting from me. If the Dems can't put up a candidate that i find acceptable, I will skip that office.

And certainly no money for any of them.

[Cal Carpenter]

3. "what workers want is an independent labor movement"

This is the key. It has to be an independent movement to succeed. It cannot rely on any politicians of any party. The power of the working class comes from its work, not from big money lobbying of the ruling class and begging for crumbs. Relying on these things is taking us backwards.

[defendandprotect]

183. Agree --

however, note that even the British Labor party was finally infiltrated sufficiently

to destroy it and its goals --

Too many among us who will sell themselves for a buck -- !!

But we have to keep trying because in this battle the corporations are pro-slavery!


:evilgrin:

[villager]

5. Republicans *won't* embrace parts of the agenda the corporate Dems are likewise abandoning...

Trumka may have to utter the unspeakable, and talk out loud about forming, say, a Labor Party...

[provis99]

7. why would unions support Democrats?

Democratic Governors Turn on Unions
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1141471

[No Elephants]

124. At some point, people and principles have to trump party, or we're all doomed to

end up part of some corporatist nightmare. Please see reply 108. However, I don't think switching from Democratic to Republican is the answer. I do believe in the strategy of working holding all politicians accountable, though. That may help stem the ever rightward march this nation has been locked into since McGovern's loss.

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[hay rick]

17. "Where else are you going to go?"

Time to answer a question with a question.

"How are you going to win without us?"

I am quite willing to forgo a second Obama term on the chance that future Democratic candidates will seek to represent the economic interests of the majority of Americans.

[frylock]

39. i've been saying all along that 8 years of bush wasn't enough to wake these dumbnuts up..

i honestly think things are going to have to get a whole lot worse before dems start acting like dems again.

[hay rick]

41. Sadly, agree.

Median incomes have been declining for a decade and, lulled to sleep by the complicit media, almost nobody is talking about it. Significant change must require a higher level of misery...

[AllTooEasy]

87. If Obama goes down in 2012; Unions will be permanently and completely destroyed

Look at Wisconsin. Imagine that happening nationally with a Republican president. The Dems WANT to win, but Unions NEED to survive. The Dem politicians like Obama will stay rich, but all Union members will lose their livelihood.

How about this: Stop allowing asshole Repukes like Scott Walker to get elected.

[No Elephants]

123. I'd like to stop asshole politicians from getting elected, period.

Inasmuch as they are in both major Parties, someone needs to stop spouting knee jerk slogans and start getting very specific about exactly how I stop asshole Democrats and asshole Republicans from getting elected when everything favors incumbents, including both the DNC and the RNC.

See Reply 19.

[hay rick]

166. If Obama is re-elected, the decline will only continue.

The central problem of our society is that we have a small, vastly over-privileged elite that is looting everybody else. Obama refuses to deal with this problem which continues to get worse on his watch. He may be better than the Republicans, but he is still worse than useless. At this point, our electoral process is broken- it yields a choice between two candidates who are indifferent or hostile to the interests of the majority of our citizens.

Unions are a tool, not an end in themselves. If they wither under a Republican administration, successor institutions that defend American workers and citizens will be forged when the time is ripe. Until the voters figure out that they are being had, our elections will be shams and our unions will be an inadequate counterweight to plutocracy.

[defendandprotect]

261. Everytime Dems "win" they move further to the right ... and when they lose ...

they also move further to the right --

Haven't you figured this out yet?

Also note Obama's immediate response to 2010 and those who gave him a mandate

in 2008 staying home . . .

Obama immediately declared a new willingness to move to the . . . RIGHT--!!

:eyes:


Here's what you need to know to stop the losses ....

80% of the public want an end to the wars --

76+ want MEDICARE FOR ALL --




Rightwing Koch Bros. Funded the DLC --

http://www.democrats.com/node/7789

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x498414

If you knew about this, why didn't you tell us?

If you didn't know, pass it along -- !

:)

[No Elephants]

121. There is always the danger that an Obama loss would be spun the same way

Democratic losses have been spun for decades--"He lost because he was too liberal, so the Democratic Party needs to go further right if it expects to win in the future."

That was used to create Super Delegates and to create the DLC and its clones, e.g., New Democrats, Third Way and No Labels.

[defendandprotect]

262. Exactly ... when Dems win, we lose ... when Dems lose, we lose ...!!

Exactly the way it's been being played for decades --


According to Wm. Greider's book "Who will tell the people?" written in 1992 which

I happen to be reareading now ...

In 1978, Democrats collaborated with the Repugs on overturning the tax code for the

benefit of elites --

Reagan, of course, took it even further after that --


I personally watched via C-span when Sen. George Michell, Majority Leader turned the

US Senate over to Sen. Bob Dole -- no other way to explain it!



Rightwing Koch Bros. Funded the DLC --

http://www.democrats.com/node/7789

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x498414

If you knew about this, why didn't you tell us?

If you didn't know, pass it along -- !

:)

[Little Star]

24. I hope you emailed him with this idea. It's a good one. n/t

[MidwestTransplant]

11. Sure and bring Wisconsin to the nation.

[No Elephants]

127. Please see Reply 19.

[stevenleser]

255. Amazing that people don't see this. n/t

[MannyGoldstein]

13. "Who the &$*# else 'ya gonna vote for, chumps?"

"Now 'scuse me while I bust teacher's unions. And don't worry, Simpson and Bowles will do a great job of saving your Social Security."

[ProSense]

14. Sam Stein does a little editorializing there

<...>

Trumka also says in the prepared remarks that party affiliation alone won't determine how the federation allocates its resources in 2012. If Republican lawmakers embrace parts of the AFL-CIO's agenda, the union federation will respond in kind. If Democrats abandon the union community's principles -- or if they fail to protest as those principles are attacked -- they can expect similar treatment.

We will spend the summer holding elected leaders in Congress as well as the states accountable on one measure: Are they improving or degrading life for working families?”

We are looking hard at how we work in the nation’s political arena. We have listened hard, and what workers want is an independent labor movement that builds the power of working people -- in the workplace and in political life … Our role is not to build the power of a political party or a candidate. It is to improve the lives of working families and strengthen our country.

It doesn’t matter if candidates and parties are controlling the wrecking ball or simply standing aside -- the outcome is the same either way. If leaders aren’t blocking the wrecking ball and advancing working families’ interests, working people will not support them. This is where our focus will be -- now, in 2012 and beyond.

The labor community -- the AFL-CIO especially -- has been taking steps towards greater independence from the Democratic Party as its disappointments with the Obama administration and congressional Democrats have mounted. The typical response from party insiders has been dismissive assumptions that labor has nowhere else to go.

<...>

Trumka said nothing, not in the excerpt above nor his speech, about supporting Republicans.

This is a smart move by the AFL-CIO. Remember, the organization pulled support from candidates who didn't support health care reform and a public option. Also focusing resources at that state and local levels is going to be key in taking back governorships and legislatures.

From an interview before the speech.

<...>

“We’ll be less inclined to support people in the future that aren’t standing up and actually supporting job creation and the type of things that we’re talking about. It doesn’t matter what party they come from. It will be a measuring stick,” Trumka told POLITICO during an interview in his spacious eighth floor office.

Asked how President Barack Obama measures up, Trumka paused, gazed toward a window overlooking the White House and said, “I think the president has done a good job in articulating the problems and some of the solutions. I think scale has been the problem, the scale of the solutions. I don’t think the scale of the solutions have measured up.”

Worried that labor supporters will be tougher to mobilize than in 2008, Trumka said he is giving the speech to set the table for next year.

“Our national conversation right now is in a destructive place and the debate that we’re having is really over the moral character of the country . and it’s just going in the wrong direction with all of this cuts and all of this talk that we can’t afford secure jobs, good jobs anymore. We can’t afford health care. We can’t afford pensions,” he said. “The nation, right now, we feel poor. But we’re not, we’re a rich nation. We feel poor because most of the money is going to the people at the top. And yet the debate’s about how we can give more tax cuts to corporations who have had two years of record profits.”

Trumka said the union decided about a month ago to begin building a year-round mobilization effort to replace the traditional six-month pushes. Union officials will spend time educating their members on local, state and federal policy issues as well as tracking votes.

<...>

[CBHagman]

84. Thank you for pointing that out.

The Stein piece appeared before Trumka delivered his remarks. I suggest viewing the video on C-SPAN or reading a transcript. The address is being spun as a big threat to Democrats, and some people on this thread are in full "let's teach 'em a lesson" mode and/or third party mode, which of course has worked so brilliantly before. :eyes:

[No Elephants]

126. Good catch. He never praised either Party. Blind support of any Party is not the answer.

At some point, we have to stand up for people and principles or we'll all be "screwn."

From his speech (bolding and italics are mine):

"Then we will spend the summer holding elected leaders in Congress as well as the states accountable on onemeasure: Are they improving or degrading life for working families?

<snip>

Working people want a labor movement strong enough to help return balance to our economy, fairness to our tax system, security to our families and moral and economic standing to our nation. Our role is not to build the power of a political party or a candidate. It is to improve the lives of working families and strengthen our country.

It doesn't matter if candidates and parties are controlling the wrecking ball or simply standing aside—the outcome is the same either way. If leaders aren't blocking the wrecking ball and advancing working families' interests, working people will not support them. This is where our focus will be—now, in 2012 and beyond.

We will uphold the dignity of work and restore respect for working people. In this season's political battles, teachers, nurses and firefighters have been vilified. Decent jobs with economic security have been cast as more than America's workers deserve. Low-wage, part-time, temporary, no-benefit work is being sold as the "new normal" for our economy."

[ClarkUSA]

15. Republicans are thrilled to hear it. Good luck under Republican rule, union workers!

[blindpig]

25. Sure thing, look Duncan's support of teachers unions....

Not to mention a bunch of Democratic governors who are engaged in union busting.

Your threat is terribly empty.

[ClarkUSA]

30. IS Duncan running for office? Does Trumka mention Duncan?

Your comment is terribly empty. I know teachers who are fully supportive of this President. A few whiners don't represent all teachers.

[blindpig]

34. So it is just a few whiners who oppose this 'charter' scam?

Hell, I know a former teacher who is a Republican county chair, big deal. But what this administration's Secretary of Education is doing is union busting on behalf of those who will profit by his actions. Trying to disassociate the President from his cabinet is hysterical.

[ClarkUSA]

37. Again, is Duncan running for office? Did Trumka mention Duncan? Your red herring is lame.

I'm not interested in your axe-grinding.

[kelly1mm]

67. Are you serious? My wife is a teacher and USED to support this administration.

I will let her know the President's supporters think she is a whiner. I am sure she will appreciate it and SO look forward to phone banking again like she did for the President in 2008.

[proud2BlibKansan]

182. Lots of teachers USED TO support the president

I can't think of any other group he's alienated as badly as he's alienated teachers.

[Name removed]

74. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Nay]

179. Thank you, chervilant. At age 60, I also am glad I'm in my twilight years. I

ache for the kids and grandkids, but I realize this shit has been rolling downhill and gathering speed for more years than I can count, and humanity is just going to have to take the licks. Maybe, just maybe, the next time around we won't be so dumb. I wouldn't bet the rent, tho.

[No Elephants]

129. The guy who put Duncan in charge of national education policy is running.

Talk about a distinction without a difference.

And Trumka expressly mentioned teachers.

[olegramps]

197. Are you serious. Look who appointed him along with the Wall Street insiders.

[Enthusiast]

249. I know lame.

Duncan is the administration's face of education policy. To believe otherwise is LAME.

[MannyGoldstein]

56. So who appointed Duncan and continues to support him?

Please remind us.

Thanks.

[Enthusiast]

248. Why is Duncan Secretary of Education?

Why would Obama appoint an anti-labor Secretary of Education?

[defendandprotect]

264. Same "Fox in charge of chicken coop" game-playing GOP has been giving us ...

How about Bernie Sanders for 2012 --

He could run on a Dem ticket -- he's a better democrat than most!

We need two strong anti-war candidates --

80% of the public wants an end to the wars --

76%+ want MEDICARE FOR ALL --


There are tons of democrats outside of the party who are not pre-bribed and

pre-owned and who we can run for office on Dem ticket!!

[mountainlion55]

42. Organized labor is the last best hope for a decent middle class

Your coercive tactics are not liked or needed by this union man.. The best thing that has ever happened to the middle class is organized labor. To be against it is just ignorant---IMO! :smoke:

[BIGFOOTSDADDY333]

59. thank you. cwa4340 here.nt

[No Elephants]

125. "Good luck under corporatist rule, union workers!" would have been a more accurate post.

Please see Replies 19. and 108.

[vi5]

16. Good and I hope they stick to it....

I'm sorry but when it comes to labor and worker's rights, national Dems have not been a lick better than Republicans. Yes, on other issues (gay rights, abortion rights, etc.) the dems and Obama have some faint hints of daylight between their positions and decade old republican positions. But on labor Dems and Obama have done little more than take them for granted at the least and flat out betray them at worst.

[florida08]

18. He's right

Extending the Bush tax giveaway was ludicrous. Didn't help us. Unions are being simultaneously attacked across the nation by GOP governors. Peoples homes are being foreclosed on even if they're current. Ratigan had that discussion already. Going along to get along ain't working.

[brooklynite]

20. Much better to let unemployment insurance end...

Who cares how many unemployed people would be out of financial resources, right? Much more important to stand on principle.

[jtuck004]

29. I care. Because unemployment is not going to go on forever and I want someone

who understands that this country has only succeeded when funded from the bottom up, with good jobs. States are hundreds of trillions of dollars in debt, and can no longer count on the federal government to subsidize unemployment.

Our current model is unsustainable on two fronts. Beyond the millions of jobs that have vaporized, we have and are replacing those that pay at least a living wage with those that don't at a wholesale rate. (Check the government BLS statistics for last month - as it has been for years our largest job growth is in home health care aide positions, hotel\motel\restaurant work, i.e. wages so low as to not be able to afford a home, education for the kids, taxes to support public employees, maybe not even living without food stamps.)

Second is the rate of job creation - assuming it continues without interruption (which has never happened in the history of this country) we will not see a normal unemployment rate (5-6%) until perhaps 2025 or later.

We can't survive this over the long term, and until we get a jobs program that is built for this century we are making it easier and easier for those who want to destroy this country from within to do so.

[Donnachaidh]

31. let's ask the 99ers what they think of the help they've received from the Dem reps

oh wait -- yeah, they got so much help

:crickets:

Another empty threat.... :eyes:

[hay rick]

36. Much better to pay the ransom again and again

until we all have nothing left.

[frylock]

40. unemployment DID end for the 99ers..

why do you hate them?

[No Elephants]

137. Unemployment would not have ended. .The "compromise" was a convenient fiction for both Parties.

Geithner wanted those tax cuts extended, no matter what.

[olegramps]

202. That is a red Herring. They could have demanded two separate bills.

Obama failed miserably in not taking the issue to the people who overwhelmingly supported rescinding the tax breaks. Get for real. He caved in like a cheap suit.

[Enthusiast]

254. I think Obama did exactly

as he was expected to do. That was my last day as an Obama supporter.

[Enthusiast]

252. It wasn't simply on principle.

Extending the tax cuts and the FICA tax holiday gave the right wing deficit hawks all their ammunition. It was exactly the wrong action.

A different course could have enhanced the Democrat's position by painting the GOP as the anti-worker, anti-family and pro-wealthy party. Instead we got complete capitulation resulting in the massive media focus on cutting the deficit on the backs of the needy and working class. This was all planned and carried out successfully and they got exactly what they wanted -mission accomplished. That was the day Obama lost me.

[defendandprotect]

265. We say we want to move to the LEFT and you say we want to move to the right?

It is for the sake of protecting what is left of the New Deal -- including Social

Security -- that we have to stop Obama's march to the right --

We expected the GOP to attack Social Security and Medicare -- but look at what's been

going on during the Democratic administration!

Looks more like a Wall St. administration -- !!





Rightwing Koch Bros. Funded the DLC --

http://www.democrats.com/node/7789

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x498414

If you knew about this, why didn't you tell us?

If you didn't know, pass it along -- !

:)

[xphile]

275. And what has been done for the99ers?

Oh right. Nothing. They're not spoken of, they're not alluded to, hell the word jobs hardly comes out of the mouth of the administration unless it's to crow about the number of jobs added. Of course they don't bother to mention that it's jobs paying minimum wage or slightly higher, can't sustain a family but who cares about being able to live on one's wages right?

WTF is being done for the unemployed? Not a damn thing although a lot is being done TO the unemployed.

[No Elephants]

130. Bush tax cuts expired and Bush was out of office before they expired. Tax cuts now in effect are

Obama tax cuts, not Bush tax cuts.

Unions are being attacked in Massachusetts and Illinois, too.

And Obama apparently forgot in which closet he mothballed his comfortable shoes.

(Nonetheless, Ratigan can shove his Libertarianism.)

[Enthusiast]

250. " Going along to get along ain't working."

It sure ain't.

[PFunk]

22. About f'ing time.

Seriously. Only when the current democratic party starts to respect (and maybe fear) their base instead of taking them for granted they will start taking us seriously.

[Little Star]

26. What took so long? Should have been done long ago. n/t

[w4rma]

27. Purge all the DLCers. Good. (nt)

[KamaAina]

32. If Republican lawmakers embrace parts of the AFL-CIO's agenda,

look up in the sky...

[Tarheel_Dem]

33. I think this is good for both the unions and the Democratic Party.

Each can stop being an albatross around the neck of the other. Repubs went after unions because of their funding and troops on the ground for the opposition. People must understand that 90%+ of the electorate aren't represented by unions. I think a public split with the union bosses is a good thing. And I wish that corporations would make the same pledge.

Even if it means being a permanent minority, Dems should let the unions go their own way, and vice versa. And when union membership drops even further nationwide, we'll begin to get a clearer picture of just how relevant unions still are. Unions are almost nonexistent in my part of the country, so I'm not sure what the big deal is. :shrug:

[chervilant]

77. Sigh...

If you appreciate earning a decent wage, thank a union.

If you enjoy working in a safe environment, thank a union.

If you like having weekends off, getting vacation and sick days, and receiving benefits; thank a union.

There's a reason unions are under attack, Tarheel_Dem, and it's NOT because they're irrelevant.

[quakerboy]

105. Just wow

1: corporations have made the same pledge. They support the politicians who support their right to do whatever they want unchecked. And they do not support those who do not. Which makes watching who they support an interesting exercise.

2: You seem awful eager to see Dem's in a permanent minority. But when they walk away from labor, they might as well just cross the isle and call them selves R's so they don't have to be in a minority.

3: You also seem awful happy at the idea of destroying the last protector of workers rights. That seems counter intuitive for anyone who isn't financially benefited by the destruction of the aforementioned workers rights.

[Tarheel_Dem]

232. "Happy"? Where did I sound happy? I just want Washington to stop

being held hostage to ALL special interests. Downthread tells a revealing story about the history of union membership in this country. Unions are less than 10% of the electorate. Let me be clear, I'm not advocating that unions no longer exist, just that neither party is beholden to them for support. And in case you missed it, I wish the corporations would pledge to do what Mr. Trumka is proposing.

Can you imagine if both unions and corporations tempered their support? It would make for an even playing field. My B-I-L, who's a union member in Philly, never supports Democrats and is always pissed that any portion of his union dues are used for that purpose. Having never belonged to a union, I could just imagine hearing that my dues were being spent to support Newt Gingrich or Mitt Romney.

I think Trumka's suggestion that he'll support "individuals" who support their agenda will be met with some groans by the members, but some cheers as well.

If being a permanent minority means you no longer have to be subject to threats by interest groups, then you're right, I say go for it. Individual members will still be free to vote and work for Dems if they so choose. What's the problem? :shrug:

[bread_and_roses]

288. Union dues are NOT used for political contributions

and if your b-i-l is a union member he ought to know that. Political fund contributions are voluntary.

[No Elephants]

132. LOL!

[Enthusiast]

257. Funny. I agree. nt

[olegramps]

214. The workers bought the corporate propaganda hook, line an sinker.

The workers became their own worst enemy when they bought the massive corporate propaganda program that unions only wanted their dues and that management would take good care of them. When they bought into that crap was the beginning of their downfall. Union membership went from approximately 36% to 6%. They were taken great care of. Their jobs outsourced, pensions cut and their health insurance canceled. I lived the during the best years that this country had to offer any working class person that was solely attributable to the unions demand for decent wages and working conditions. The way it is going I wouldn't be surprised to see child labor laws revoked because their families will be needing them to work so they can eat. The forty hour work week for white collar workers is a joke with most, if they want to keep their job, putting in 50-60 hours.

[defendandprotect]

266. Unions are the underpinning for all wages and conditions of employment -- !!

Elite/corporates are after it all -- count on it!




Rightwing Koch Bros. Funded the DLC --

http://www.democrats.com/node/7789

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x498414

If you knew about this, why didn't you tell us?

If you didn't know, pass it along -- !

:)

[Tarheel_Dem]

273. Just in case your reading comprehension isn't up to snuff, I'm agreeing with Trumka.

What's the problemo? :shrug:

[defendandprotect]

274. Think I was probably replying to someone else --

[Name removed]

277. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MasonJar]

35. I don't blame him one bit. If the Dems don't support Labor why should Labor support them?

[Dappleganger]

43. Unions are fighting for their very existence...

seems to me they are funneling the money to where the real warriors are instead of those who pay lip-service during election time.

[ClarkUSA]

44. Bullshit HuffPo/AOL anti-Dem shit-stirring media spin. Trumka meant and said nothing of the sort.

Read the facts here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=1143691&mesg_id=1144171

[boppers]

50. HuffPo as accurate as FAUX? How could that be?

:eyes:

[No Elephants]

133. He did state clearly that unions will not be in the pocket of ANY party.

That would have been the more accurate description of his speech. However, saying that is a big statement, so Huffpo read between the lines. It took too many liberties, though, seeming to assume there are only two Parties.


Please see Replies 126 and 142.

[No Elephants]

135. Probably best and quickest to read his speech with no spin from anyone. Here's the link.

http://www.aflcio.org/mediacenter/prsptm/sp05202011.cfm

[defendandprotect]

267. +1 -- Thanks for ... TEXT OF SPEECH ... (above)

[WillyT]

48. Me Too...

:shrug:

:kick: & Rec !!!

[GreenTea]

51. I KNOW of many groups including ones I donate to and thousands more of non union people who will NOT

I KNOW of many groups including ones I donate to and thousands more of NON union people who will NOT donate to the democrats if they do not get out there and start actively support union workers. - No ActBlue, MoveOn.org and dozens of other democratic donation sites (DNC. DCCC, etc) that more non union workers/democratic voters will absolutely refuse to donate a dime as they have in the past to democrats if the democrats do not start LOUDLY supporting union workers.

This is a fact not an idle threat - Not just union workers that want and demand support from OUR democratic elected leaders (in congress, the senate & presidency). - NON UNION WORKERS ALSO EXPECT & DEMAND DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT FOR UNION WORKERS AS WELL!

UNIONS - YES!

[Enthusiast]

260. PLUS ONE...............nt

[BIGFOOTSDADDY333]

57. labor should groom their own candidate.get some agreed upon

talking head, get them elected and push the labor agenda. efca, pulling out of the wto etc.

[defendandprotect]

268. They could support and draft Sen. Bernie Sanders ... who could run on a Dem ticket ...

in 2012 --

We need two strong anti-war candidates --

How about Tom Hayden for VP?

80% of public wants and end to the wars --

76%+ want MEDICARE FOR ALL --


There are tons of democrats who can run on the Dem ticket who aren't

pre-bribed and pre-owned by elites/corportes --





Rightwing Koch Bros. Funded the DLC --

http://www.democrats.com/node/7789

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x498414

If you knew about this, why didn't you tell us?

If you didn't know, pass it along -- !

:)

[patrice]

58. Demand-side Economics! Screw! Supply-side Freakanomics! Labor IS Capital! nt

[MJJP21]

60. Whats TRUMKA

going to do ? Urge the members to vote republican? Hold members accountable? To whom? With what? What power does TRUMKA have? Is he going to sit and shout in the streets? Politicians don'tcare. If TRUMKA had any b__ _ _ _ he would initiate a nationwide strike of all union members. Everyone that is in a union stand down for a day. If that doesn't get their attention make it two days and keep increasing it until we get the action we need. Unionization didn't happen because people were nice and polite. People got killed, and violence was common. Maybe they need to remember.

[ccinamon]

160. Exactly MJJP21!

I worked for the airlines in the 80s and 90s....there was a strike by a group of non-pilots (a group of workers who worked at the airport), and I was sooo hoping they wouldn't cave, again, to corporate demands (aka lies about the "health" of the company)...I was wrong, they caved. I was all set to call in sick even tho I was "management" and would have had to fill in if there was a strike.

The constant caving in instead of striking is what led to the slow lowering of union rolls. The corporations knew the unions would never stirke, because they liked all the comforts their money bought, and like all bullies they (corporations) couldn't resist seeing how far they could push things. Now corporations own most of the polticians as well as the news media.

[unkachuck]

63. K&R....excellent!....n/t

[Taft_Bathtub]

64. America needs a Labor Party nt

[madrchsod]

65. what has he done for the unions that helped him into power?

card check? trade agreements? union representation on his economic panels? what about union buster duncan?

he does`t need the unions for our money because he has all the money he`ll need. what he needs is our organization and that is the only thing we can withhold. right now we are fighting for our unions against republican and democratic govenors.we don`t have the time nor money to worry about obama`s problem.

[No Elephants]

142. Trumka covered that pretty well in his speech. Please see quote in Reply #126.

Both Democrats and unions have to dance some here. Unions are still the single largest donor group for Democrats, yet Democrats are beholden to corporate donors as well.

For their part, unions cannot afford to antagonize Democrats, who, much as they may have been "standing aside," are not affirmatively wielding the "wrecking ball."

I think Trumka was clear that unions will vote for people and principles, not for any Party or candidate "just because." And given organized labor's history, that is a BIG message. Democrats ignore it at their peril.

[Vidar]

68. Good for Trumka! The Democrats have been far to busy courting

the Republican robber barons, while ignoring their own base.

[mdmc]

69. eventually the workers will once again have a say in our party

The DLC may need to send us into the wilderness for a while ..

[No Elephants]

153. The DLC can't send us anywhere we refuse to go.

[eridani]

75. Successfuly primary anti-labor Dems. Problem (slowly) solved. n/t

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

76. Time for us to be like Europe

and form a Labor Party :bounce:

[defendandprotect]

270. Maybe it could be an alternate Dem Party ... like a split in the party?

You know, kind of picking up what's left of the Dem Party and walking away with it?

We could draft Bernie Sanders in 2012 -- he could run on a Dem ticket --

and maybe Tom Hayden for VP -- two strong anti-war candidates ---!!


80% of the public want an end to the wars --

76% of Americans want MEDICARE FOR ALL --




Rightwing Koch Bros. Funded the DLC --

http://www.democrats.com/node/7789

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x498414

If you knew about this, why didn't you tell us?

If you didn't know, pass it along -- !

:)

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

285. Or just anyone

who works for a living............... a party representing the working class. :shrug:

[RoccoR5955]

78. I'm all with him! The Dems have to work harder for Labor

If they want their support!

[lonestarnot]

79. I have been sick of the bullshit slave labor they have either made contributions in creating or

turned a blind eye allowing pugs to get away with the devastation. Heard the money would be going to state actions. Good!

[defendandprotect]

271. "Harvesting slave labor all over the world" for elite/corporations ....trade agreements...

And Obama has just worked out two new trade agreements --

Korea and Colombia -- !!

More jobs to be sucked out of US!!


Rightwing Koch Bros. Funded the DLC --

http://www.democrats.com/node/7789

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x498414

If you knew about this, why didn't you tell us?

If you didn't know, pass it along -- !

:)

[JDPriestly]

80. I love this part of the article:

"Budget proposals unveiled in Washington and state capitals across our country revealed a despicable canvas of cruelty," Trumka will say, according to his prepared remarks. "And not just meanness. Destructiveness. A willful desire to block the road to the future."

"America’s real deficit is a moral deficit -- where political choices come down to forcing foster children to wear hand-me-downs while cutting taxes for profitable corporations," the remarks continue. "Powerful political forces are seeking to silence working people -- to drive us out of the national conversation."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/20/richard-trumka-democrats_n_864518.html

[defendandprotect]

297. K/R --

[Oilwellian]

81. Good

K&R

[Populist_Prole]

82. Another K&R

[Starry Messenger]

83. k&r

[LoZoccolo]

85. If they support even one Republican, I just might start crossing their picket lines.

[blindpig]

131. Party over class, no surprises there. n/t

[LoZoccolo]

176. This would only apply to the AFL-CIO.

[blindpig]

178. Yeah, the biggest labor federation in the US.

Try again.

[defendandprotect]

89. They waited too long -- the $$ they have now is meaningless -- !!

Think it goes something like this -- for every $1 Repugs get --

Unions give 1 penny to Dems --

Evidently, that's how we got the Koch Funded DLC embedded into the Democratic Party ...

Seems when Clinton realized that unions no longer had the kind of $$ he needed to fund

a presidential campaign -- Clinton and Gore were co-founders of the DLC.

and coincidentally, Gore was next up on the ladder -- interesting, eh?


Last election -- Dems got $1 from corporations for every $7 Repugs got from corporations!

Now most of us would say the handwriting is on the wall and Dems should give up the chase

of the corporate buck -- but evidently there are so many elite Dems that they're not going

to see things that way???

I think Pelosi -- despite her $ -- would like to take the Dems in that direction, but few

Dems are seeing it her way!!

[defendandprotect]

90. If unions had any real power they would be working for a candidate of their own ...

Could be any democrat who could run on the Dem ticket --

Or even calling out someone like Weiner to oppose Obama --

They could back Sen. Bernie Sanders who could also run on a Dem ticket --

We need two strong anti-war dems to run ---

Tom Hayden would work as VP -- !!


Our role is not to build the power of a political party or a candidate. It is to improve the lives of working families and strengthen our country.

You can't do the latter without paying attention to the first --


It's good stuff, but we've heard this over decades now from unions and guess what --

they fell in line with Dems at the end!!

[davidswanson]

95. rapture-like

Secularists will laugh off the Rapture but come November stand waiting for Trumka to oppose a Democrat, any Democrat. Which is sadder?

[mistertrickster]

98. Take us for granted no more . . . nt

[Overseas]

99. Yes Please My Democrats! Fight harder for our unions !

Push back on the ugly Republican cruel bulldozers crushing all our rights, trying to raise that Misery Index by any means necessary.

Please Keep Pushing Back!

We all need those millions of infrastructure jobs -- all facets of our infrastructure -- push for good government and our millions of suffering people so eager to return to work.

All of our Democrats need to get on board and push for union rights and more jobs now.

[Mr. Jefferson]

128. LOL...

next...

[Tripod]

134. k&r

[txlibdem]

144. Every Labor and Liberal group should take this stance - no unconditional support!

George Soros, Unions, Moveon.org, etc., etc., etc. Make your voice loud and clear: fight for us or we will never again be there for you!

[whathehell]

145. Trumka is correct....They're tired of being taken for granted.

No major democratic office holder,

not to mention Obama, bothered to support

the Wisconsin union demonstrations.

The Prez, who, during the campaign,

had promised to "put on his comfortable shoes" and walk

with Labor demonstrators was not only shamelessly absent

but virtually mum...Pathetic.

[TxVietVet]

147. I've been a union member for over 35 years.

I've supported Democrats UNTIL Nancy Pelosi said "impeachment was off the table". That was the end of my financial support. I've backed every candidate my union and the AFL-CIO and endorsed. I've written many letters to the National Democratic Party and it's committees for fund raising. Never heard a word from them. I only support the candicates that I believe are progressive enough that I can stomach them.
In Texas, we have a one-party rule. The conservanazis are going to destroy this state. WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A STATE PARTY CHAIRMAN YET.

Trumka did the right thing. The Dems are becoming 'conservanazi' lite.

[tinwi]

161. This was so the right thing to do

National Dems have been moved so far to the right they are undistinguishable from what used to be Repulicans. Repubs are now noting more than bat&&*T crazy fascists.
Its time to start moving things towards the center and maybe even the left again

[Mosaic]

164. It is time to create a powerful Social Democratic Party in this country

It will overpower and replace the corporate dem party we have now. Good on Trumpka.

End the corruption of DC now!

[TBF]

172. Wrong - what we need is a labor party. nt

[derby378]

241. The Democratic Party IS the party of - oh, wait.

Let me start again. The Democratic Party is the party of labor. If they forget this most basic fact and blow off the AFL-CIO, they have nobody to blame but themselves. I've seen a lot of people invoking Wisconsin lately, and good for them.

[kstewart33]

167. Oh please. And just where are they going to put their money?

So tired of idle threats.

[blindpig]

180. They should put it into union growth and expansion.

Throwing money at the Democratic Party has been self-defeating, the party sits on it's hands or actively supports anti-union policy and calls it reality. The unions need to make their own reality, and when sufficient feet are on the street then the pols will have to listen.

[defendandprotect]

190. +1 --

[Hotler]

168. k&r n/t

[felix_numinous]

174. Corporatist will just bait and switch.

using appropriate language to appeal to left and right.

Now each party has divisions within them, those who
are comfortable, (with jobs) and those with immediate needs.

As the economy tanks, the needs of Americans are surpassing
political posturing-- jobs, healthcare and education are not political.

What I am observing (here in DU -land and in the collective) is that
now Democrats are being set up to either toe the corporatist line or be called traitor
to our own party. But many people simply do not have the luxury of
waiting again for the game to play out.

Right now any other candidate but President Obama would be a night-
mare, and that has been made clear. Rethugs are not even willing to
support a viable candidate, they are only pretending to go through the
motions of our political process. the idiots they are running are an insult to
real Republicans, and to our country.

If we do not come up with a candidate who is not bought off(or threatened?) we can get into
deeper trouble, IMHO. I am not sure we have time this round to come up with
someone PLUS a strategy before 2012-unless I am wrong. Just my 2cents.

Peace, hope everyone is ok today!

:) :)

[WillyT]

177. HUGE K & R !!!

:kick:

[yurbud]

194. he needed to go a step further: if Dems don't do they job, union should run its own candidates

[Le Taz Hot]

196. Holding politicians accountable for their actions . . .

what a concept! A big Kick.

[robcon]

199. Either an empty threat, or thanks for nothing, labor. Enjoy the GOP.

I'd guess an empty threat.

[Le Taz Hot]

222. Speaking of empty threats . . .

Obama "got" Bin Laden and the GOP currently has 5 complete clowns contending for the nomination. Obama isn't going anywhere.

[MNBrewer]

200. This is exactly what all the constituencies that are taken for granted by the Dems should be doing

[certainot]

217. orgs like labor walk on by while 1000 corporate radio stations call them leeches, bottom feeders all

day for 20 years-

if labor was smart all it has to do to move the dems left is to picket the limbaugh hannity stations and boycott local sponsors (anytime) and act on universities that broadcast sports on those stations until teh only ones who want to be associated with the right's most important weapon are teabagger biz owners whpo will scream back that the world is flat.

the GOP will finally collapse.

there is NO organized opposition to the main corporate propaganda tool- that is truly stupid.

[radhika]

221. Check this message from Dream Act Supporters to Obama

Dems are losing their base one by one...they are fighting for Repug votes and dollars.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/19/dream-act-supporters-tell_n_864427.html

[bvar22]

226. SOLIDARITY!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMNVIQqatyU


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rkgx1C_S6ls&feature=player_embedded



"There are forces within the Democratic Party who want us to sound like kinder, gentler Republicans.
I want a party that will STAND UP for Working Americans."
---Paul Wellstone


"By their works you will know them."

[fredamae]

227. I have called and

told them (pelosi, DNCC etc) No Money for Blue Dogs and others who FAIL to Support the people in Actions, WEEKS ago. I advised there will be More Union backlash after the Fire-fighters Union stepped aside.

I don't care how long they have been in office, I don't care Who it is. Period.
Democratic Politicians, Get in step Alongside "US" or get the Hell out of our way.
My friends and family Stand With Unions and All Workers!

[Mass]

228. If Republican lawmakers embrace parts of the AFL-CIO's agenda, the union federation will respond in

How likely is this hypothesis (we' re talking of the party which wants to privatize Medicare)?

But, if this can help the democrats do better, it will be a good thing.

Another example of the media sensationalizing a non news. AFL-CIO is for workers and will support those who are better for workers. If the GOP becomes better, why not? But is it likely? Only if you are a reporter wanting to make headlines.

[blackdem76]

229. The US could end up with four parties.

The Republicans seem to be headed this way, with some Teabaggers saying they are not Republicans, and the Democratic left is very disillusioned with Obama. If that happens, we will see another anti-democratic use for the Electoral College.

[Enthusiast]

233. When it come to labor issues,

YOU'RE EITHER WITH US OR AGAINST US.

I will not support any Democrat that behaves like a Republican. Why would we want Republican Democrats? It makes no sense. We want to preserve collective bargaining , not destroy it.

[kestrel91316]

234. I am afraid that Dems will respond by leaning even FARTHER right.

[stevenleser]

259. If there is a threat that they may lose the unions, they will have to do just that. n/t

[totodeinhere]

236. He can say that, but in the end he will have nowhere else to go

If he thinks that there will be some labor friendly Republicans to vote for as an alternative, he is living in a fantasy world. And the two major parties have seen to it that it's almost impossible to launch a viable third party. The labor movement will have no choice but to work with the Democratic Party. And if out of disillusionment they decide to sit out the next election and support neither party, that will only help to elect more Republicans which would not be in the best interest of the labor movement.

[bobthedrummer]

240. Minnesota found a solution and it isn't bipartisan-DFL, There are other possibilities. k&r n/t

[defendandprotect]

298. Bipartisan is another way of saying one party rule ...

Howard Zinn


If the Koch Bros. and other corporations can infiltrate the Dem Party and create

side organizations and change the party's values ...

why can't we do the same --

Let's pick up what's left of the Dem Party, chase the corporations out -- and call

it the Democratic LABOR/WOMEN'S Party --

That would sure produce some energy and excitement -- and volunteers!!




Meanwhile --

The Rightwing Koch Bros. Funded the DLC --

http://www.democrats.com/node/7789

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x498414

[kjackson227]

247. We know how to erect change, but it's going to take time and effort...

Instead of voicing our concerns here only on DU (which is fine to just help us organize), we will have to go to the streets and make our voices heard! This is how change comes about. Remember the Civil Rights era??? Get ready to put our marching boots on...

Also, I didn't know that Plouffe reads twitters... but he does at the Whitehouse.gov site whenever President Obama gives speeches. If we are going to try to use the internet as a gateway for getting our voices heard, I think we should do it thru that site.

[stevenleser]

251. Beyond Stupid. It isnt hard to figure out what Republicans think of Unions

I've dealt with it first hand


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Vg8alOIhck

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QkizJrJOqA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDR-1s4pKuM

[baseballguy2001]

253. TOTAL empty threat

And whom will they support? Nothing to see here, move along folks.

[stevenleser]

258. And if it isn't an empty threat, we've already lost and unions will be history so no use in worrying

about it. I agree 100%

[treestar]

282. What does "fight harder" mean?

How about being specific?

[Enrique]

293. kill the trade deals

Colombia, Panama and South Korea.

[upi402]

286. Democrats betray labor

ya reap whatcha sow dumasses

[BOG PERSON]

296. it's probably not a good idea for a union to be totally dependent on an outside political party

it's just not good sense.

[iwishiwas]

299. And stick to your word!