AFL-CIO Backs Halter In Arkansas, Commits $3M To Defeat Lincoln

[kpete]

Source: Talking Points Memo

A labor source confirmed to TPMDC tonight that the AFL-CIO voted to back new Senate candidate Lt. Gov Bill Halter over Sen. Blanche Lincoln in the May 18 Democratic primary in Arkansas. Three unions within the umbrella group have committed to a $3 million independent expenditure on Halter's behalf.

In the day since he officially announced his intention to take on Lincoln in the primary, Halter has lined up the support from Democratic base groups, including progressive groups MoveOn.org and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee. Those two, among others, raised nearly $500,000 for Halter from progressives across the country in less than 24 hours.

Lincoln still enjoys the support of at least one prominent national progressive though. The White House says President Obama backs Lincoln as he would any Democratic incumbent.


Read more: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/afl-cio-backs-halter-in-arkansas-commits-3m-to-defeat-lincoln.php?ref=fpblg

[scottsoperson]

1. so the afl cio is not too bright

???

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

30. Blanch Lincoln is a DINO and anti public option

heck, she's a female Lieberman.

[Betty Karlson]

63. And she is reaping what she sowed.

What a harvest it is, eh, Mrs Lincoln?

[wordpix]

85. +1 and I think AFLCIO is VERY bright on this one. Blanche's dino days as sen are coming to an end

:applause:

[PHIMG]

50. Lincoln - against the EFCA - the #1 priority of Labor

And the AFL-CIO is stupid to defeat her in the primary in hopes of getting another pro EFCA Senator elected?

It's time for every part of the Democratic Coalition to do what the blacks and the gays and now labor is doing -- engage in some tough love and say - we've had enough of senators who stabs us in the back.

Conservadems better take notice - the era where you can be a sold out democratic whore to corporate power without paying a price is over.

Sadly, the practical effect in the long term will just be that it costs more for corporate power to buy Senators.

[louis c]

55. 189 posts, no donation.

Maybe you need more experience and dedication to have your opinion become credible.

Oh, and you are wrong.

[salguine]

84. Having a low post count doesn't diminish the credibility of someone's posts. Everyone

was new to DU once, even you. At some point your post count was 10 or 12, am I right? Did it make you "inexperienced" or diminish the credibility of your opinions, which you no doubt had formed over years, if not decades, of living? That was really condescending.

And to be honest, I don't see any "opinions" in the OP at all; it looks like a reprint from Talking Points Memo.

[louis c]

89. but they didn't speak out against unions

you did.

[ejbr]

80. Is it the afl cio

or you?

[Ozymanithrax]

2. Why do halter tops need a back?

Oh, the other Halter.

[AllyCat]

58. +1

[mod mom]

3. Just finished reading this-great news. Let's hope those corporate Dems get the message!

[scottsoperson]

6. that's funny

the corporate dems will be fine. they don't need to be elected. where the ones that will be hurting.

[scottsoperson]

7. nader said there was no difference between bush and gore...

...

[Proletariatprincess]

32. Ralph Nader said no such thing....

He said there wasn't a dime's worth of difference between the two parties. He was right about that. I would guess there is about a nickel's worth.

[customerserviceguy]

4. The President has to say that he backs her

He still needs her vote.

[No Elephants]

45. Did he have to say that he backed LIeberman against Lamont in 2006, too?

Then not campaign for Lamont, after Lamont won the primary?

The Party line (literally) is to back incumbents. It's that way for the Republican Party and for the Democratic Party. And Obama is head of the Democratic Party.

[depakid]

48. No he didn't- the smart move was to say and do nothing, rather than reward her recurring behavior

ESPECIALLY up front.

[GrantDem]

5. This decision was made by Senator Lincoln...

She choose to be the Senator for corporate America.

[scottsoperson]

8. she is the senator from arkansas

where they are easily manipulated by corporations.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[GrantDem]

14. You are wrong.

She is the Senator from Wal-Mart.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_NUZ_fM-TQKQ/Sjh9WO-e01I/AAAAAAAAOBg/dStYWzOTkAA/s400/Blanche+Lincoln+Clown.jpg
Blanche Lincoln (D-Wal-Mart)

[scottsoperson]

15. what specifically did i say that was inaccurate?

???

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[scottsoperson]

17. i'm wrong? she is not from arkansas?

so only walmart voted in the election?

[scottsoperson]

18. gore lost arkansas

even though bill campaigned there. reality.

[scottsoperson]

19. so the afl cio is going to elect senator halter?

that is funny.

[Name removed]

35. Deleted message

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

[freddie mertz]

68. We should all be supporting him.

Blanche is a southern equivalent of Stinky Joe Lieberman.

[DeSwiss]

40. This ain't 2000. You can't live in the past. n/t

[AllyCat]

60. If you read the posts by this person here, it appears

that he/she does not understand how our board works, thus the layers of comments on separate lines, replying to him or herself AND he/she does not understand what we are actually talking about.

So, I think it is safe to assume a visitor from freeperland.

[slay]

67. +1

Join date of - big surprise - two days ago. :eyes:

[liberation]

81. He uses every single buzzword to stir people up...

and as far as trolls go, he is not even that entertaining either.

LOL

[ShockediSay]

10. Watch the corporate $ start piling on against Halter,

sit back, and watch how Fascism entrenches itself.

[scottsoperson]

repubs sent money to nader

i suspect the insurance companies want her to lose.

[No Elephants]

46. This morning, I read that Lincoln alread had over $5 million.

Yes, the money will pile on, but Halter needs to take a lesson from the Brown turd. In the Massachusetts primary, Brown said ov er and over how much health insurer money was going to Coakley. (Sadly, Brown was correct.)

Halter has to say over and over where Lincoln's money is coming from. If his is coming from individual Democrats around the country and the union, I'd put that up to voters against DNC and corporate money any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

[nradisic]

11. Halter raised over $3.5 million in les than 48 hours...

and he just announced his candidacy....way to go Progressives and AFL-CIO. Money talks, Blanche walks...

[scottsoperson]

12. did halter get any money from repubs?

???

[scottsoperson]

13. try to use your brains...

what do politicians use most of their campaign money for?

[DeSwiss]

41. Why don't you try using the door --------------------------> TROLL EXIT

[JTFrog]

56. You're supposed to log in and out between replies.....

[beltanefauve]

44. Why do you ask?

At DU we like to do our own homework. Google is your friend.

[mistertrickster]

71. Scott . . . enjoy your stay. nt

[Canuckistanian]

20. That didn't take long

But knowing Lincoln's record on labor, it wasn't a hard decision.

[scottsoperson]

23. i'm sure they love unions in arkansas...

...

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

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

[scottsoperson]

25. what about the arkansas afl cio?

But not all labor groups have taken sides in the primary yet. When we asked SEIU earlier today what they thought about Halter's entry into the contest, the union reiterated its past high praise and financial support for Halter, but declined to make an official endorsement in the contest.

"What happens in the Arkansas primary is up to working families there," SEIU spokesperson Lori Lodes said.

[rockymountaindem]

28. Maybe you could combine all this into one post

Then you won't be a spammer on top of whatever else you are.

[Name removed]

36. Deleted message

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

[GrantDem]

26. That comment just earned you a coveted spot on my ignore list.

[Proletariatprincess]

33. Do you really not understand the EFCA or are you a troll?

The fact is, Employers hate workplace democracy and will do anything to prevent free trade union movements including calling for a vote and then firing all the pro union workers. The EFCA would give the workers the CHOICE whether to have a vote or accept a card check.
It is way past time to level the playing field and to reform our labor laws in this country. This is yet another area that the USA is behind the rest of the industrialized world. Is it any wonder we have the highest desparity of wealth of any 1st world...and many 2nd and 3rd world countries?

[Omaha Steve]

64. What are you talking about?

Did you even read the EFCA bill, or just corporate spin?

Here's why we need the Employee Free Choice Act: http://www.aflcio.org/joinaunion/voiceatwork/efca/whyunion.cfm

Get the facts about the Employee Free Choice Act: http://www.aflcio.org/joinaunion/voiceatwork/efca/10keyfacts.cfm

My union (AFSCME) is affiliated and will be kicking in on this btw.

OS

[pundaint]

39. Unions are people advocating for people's rights. As a member of the People tribe

I see the unions, even though they have been attacked for 5 decades by some of the more ignorant members of my tribe, as one of the few institutions of any size, who are on our side. Just about everything that brings American life even close to the comfort level of the average European is the result of the blood and sweat of unions. Don't you all notice that the decline of union membership directly correlates with a ratcheting down of the share of profits enjoyed by the workers who produce, in favor of the bankers who bullshit, bribe and con? Just as crumbling bridges, aging waterworks, an outdated electric grid, and our unaffordable education system should be warning signs to the continued viability of America as a great nation, unions are another part of our infrastructure that we neglect and under-appreciate at our peril.

[xsquid]

86. Arkansas is a right to work state and pretty conservative. As a retired chief union steward

I can tell you we had more non members than members.

[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[scottsoperson]

22. what about from within arkansas?

Those two, among others, raised nearly $500,000 for Halter from progressives across the country in less than 24 hours.

[Joanne98]

27. Can you hear us NOW Blanche?

[defendandprotect]

29. Wow . . . great news!! But you can see how expensive it is to target

a "Dino" once they've been elected --

[Hawkeye-X]

37. She's on the outs alraedy

I've donated money to Mr. Halter.

Hawkeye-X

[defendandprotect]

66. Me, too --

[Quantess]

31. Interesting.

Interesting thread.

[David Zephyr]

34. Bravo! This is how you sober the shit up out of the backstabbers.

Primaries!

[pundaint]

38. I love organized labor Up the unions!

[Bryn]

42. Ding-Dong! The Witch is Dead!

Hopefully!

:evilgrin:

[SlingBlade]

43. Good News-Great News. Now lets go get the rest of those

dino bastards.

[No Elephants]

47. Cool Really cool.

Proud Halter donor as of Monday morning, here.

[GreenTea]

49. Very happy about this I want to see all blue-dogs go down like the two-faced dogs they are!

[Mudoria]

51. Don't think it matters who wins the Dem primary

Pretty sure the seat will go in the red column next election. I'm actually surprised a Dem of whatever stripe won the seat in the first pace as Arkansas is a conservative state.

[rpannier]

53. Except for Presidential Elections

Arkansas usually votes Democratic

Governors:
Beebe-D (Present)
Huckabee-R (96-07)
Tucker-D (92-6)
Clinton-D (83-92)
White-R (81-83)
Democrats 71-81

Lt Governors:
Halter - D (Present)
Huckabee & Rockefeller (92-07)
Democrats 71-92

as a note: Both Winthrop Rockefeller and his father were rather progressive people

United States Senators:
Class II: The only Republican to hold that seat in the last 100 years was Hutchinson 97-03. He was beaten by Pryor
Class III: Democratic for 131 years. Interestingly, this seat was won by Hattie Carraway in 1931. She was the first woman elected to the United States Senate. This was also the seat held by Fulbright and Dale Bumpers (2 rather progressive US Senators)

United States House of Representatives:
3 Democrats 1 Republican

Arkansas Attorney General: Dustin McDaniel - D (Prior was Beebe and before that was Mark Pryor)
Secretary of State: Charlie Daniels - D (on edit: Not the Singer)

Arkansas House of Representatives 72 Democrats 28 Republicans
Arkansas State Senate 27 Democrats 8 Republicans

[Chef Eric]

54. It does matter who wins the primary.

If Lincoln is defeated, then the rest of the conservative democrats will have been sent a loud message.

[druidity33]

61. you don't think

Blanche will start an "Arkansas for Lincoln" partyand run as an Independent?

:)

[BostonScorpion]

87. no..

i dont think she will run as an independant. her poll numbers are awful. i dont think she can win as a dem, repug, or independant. a large number of dems think she is DINO repugs are mental and will only vote for true crazys...and independants smell the stink of washington all over her...i think she is dead in the water no matter what

[pgodbold]

52. I have it on good authority that she’ll spread for republicans.

[AllyCat]

57. I didn't give $3M, but found a little to send him on the Act Blue page

MoveOn also active! Donate even just a few dollars if you can!

[Omaha Steve]

59. K & R!

Funny how now labor is ok. Yesterday's LBN story about 4,000 janitors winning was barely noticed.

[shotten99]

62. Halter is the better candidate, but Lincoln is better than any GOP rivial.

A split party = GOP victory. Massachusetts, anyone?

[roody]

65. Obama is NOT a progressive.

[IndianaGreen]

69. Kudos to AFL-CIO for backing a pro-labour candidate rather than the scab

Blanche Lincoln's goose was cooked and overdone long before this happened.

[mistertrickster]

70. Here's how to donate to Halter -- link

Donate via MoveOn.org at URL:

https://pol.moveon.org/give/halter.html?id=19185-2913021-AVbWKSx&t=1

[scottsoperson]

72. if you think halter is going to win the senate seat...

you are not too bright.

[depakid]

73. Those making such predictions this far out are none too bright

[scottsoperson]

75. we are talking about arkansas

close your eyes and tap your heels three times....and then the usa will become holland.

[depakid]

77. Yep- where the last Democratic president came from

and where Halter's already won statewide office.

[peace frog]

78. Your village called

Their idiot is missing.

GOOD RIDDANCE.

[Duke Newcombe]

79. Thin, or Chicago Style? n/t

[mistertrickster]

74. Ten minutes. That's how long I give you before you're history at DU. Buhbye now. Buhbye.

[Name removed]

76. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[mistertrickster]

90. Awww, check his profile . . . as predicted he got tombstoned. damn shame. nt

:sarcasm:

[salguine]

82. When this post referred to Obama as a "progressive", I'm afraid I laughed aloud..

[warm regards]

83. $3 Million...and that's just the beginning of many $$$ that will spent on a job that pays

$174,000/yr.

What's wrong with this picture?

[Arkana]

88. Yeah, but I'm pretty sure that's all the support Obama will give Lincoln.

I don't think we'll see him campaigning for her--and I'd be willing to bet that they secretly hope she'll get bounced.