Union chiefs weigh primary challenges to Democratic senators cool to their agenda.

[Joanne98]

It's not one big happy family for the Democrats when it comes to some of the brothers and sisters in the house of labor. Frustrations are so great that union chiefs on the AFL-CIO's executive committee have discussed backing primary election challenges to Democratic senators cool to their agenda.

The idea was kicked around at the executive committee's January 25 meeting in Washington, even though just over a year ago labor pulled out all the stops to put a Democrat in the White House and expand the Democratic majorities in the House and Senate. "Some people clearly supported" the challenges, said Gerald McEntee, president of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, who participated in the meeting by speakerphone. McEntee said that no specific proposal was advanced for mounting primary fights against Democrats whom the leaders view as less than loyal to labor's cause. Rather, "it was a matter of discussion. When you're in the condition we're in, legislatively, you're looking around like a blinded doe; you're looking for means to pay back and make things better."

The chairman of the AFL-CIO's political committee continued, "Maybe it might be a good idea to let really know some things, let them know where we really stand; maybe we primary some of them--'Blue Dogs' or others."

United Steelworkers President Leo W. Gerard said of the labor chieftains' discussion, "A number of us expressed our dismay with some of the senators from the Democratic Party who have held up and helped delay not only the passage of the health care bill but all kinds of other things that would help middle-class workers." The prospect of encouraging Democratic primary challenges will be raised with the Steelworkers' executive board when it meets next month, he added. Three senators' names will be brought up specifically, Gerard said: Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, and Ben Nelson of Nebraska. Lincoln is up for re-election this year; the terms of Lieberman and Nelson run through 2012.

Although Gerard stressed that he does not blame President Obama for labor's legislative setbacks and thinks that it is important to preserve the Democrats' Senate majority, he declared, "I, for one, am not prepared to work for Democrats who are going to help play that Republican game of just trying to stop legislation."

Continued>>>
http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/pi_20100130_1239.php

[Joanne98]

1. Find a primary challenger for HER first!

Blanche Lincoln Calls League of Conservation Voters “Extremists”

Yesterday, the League of Conservation Voters designated Blanche Lincoln one of it’s “Dirty Dozen” for her opposition to the climate bill.

LCV gave the moderate Democrat a lifetime score of 49 percent on environmental issues, the second lowest for any Democrat up for reelection this year.

“Most regrettable is the fact that Sen. Lincoln is walking away from her previous support for climate legislation — and given the scope, urgency and magnitude of this issue, she has more than earned a spot on LCV’s Dirty Dozen,” said Gene Karpinski, LCV president.

Blanche’s response? Punch the hippies.

“I have built a practical, common-sense record on energy and environmental issues while working closely with Arkansas environmental advocates,” Lincoln said, in the release. “Threats from extremist groups from outside our state tell me I’m doing something right for Arkansas.”

It’s so incredibly helpful to the Democratic Party to have one of its own use “liberal” as a pejorative in their press releases

http://firedoglake.com/2010/01/29/blanche-lincoln-calls-league-of-conservation-voters-extremists/

[SlingBlade]

2. Yea, And they can start by throwing out the entire

Leadership of the Democrat(tic) Party.

By the way, Is Smirking Joe Lieberman still in his post as Chairman ?

Thought so

[bemildred]

3. And they can spend as much as they like on Attack Ads. nt

[diane in sf]

4. I'll support this!