Labor unhappy with Reid, Obama

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0411/Labor_unhappy_with_Reid_Obama.html?showall

April 14, 2011

Labor unhappy with Reid, Obama - Ben Smith: Labor unhappy with Reid, Obama

Tonight's story, with POLITICO's John Bresnahan:

Top labor leaders excoriated President Barack Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in a closed session of the AFL-CIO’s executive board meeting in Washington Wednesday, three labor sources said.

Furious union presidents complained about budget cuts, a new trade agreement and what some view as their abandonment, even by their typically reliable allies among Senate Democrats.

“Now, not only are we getting screwed by the Republicans but the Democrats are doing it too,” said one union official, characterizing the mood at a summit of labor leaders who are worried that Democrats seem unlikely to go to the mat for them as an election year approaches.

Presidents of several unions and an AFL-CIO spokesman declined to repeat their private criticism to a reporter Tuesday, a sign that labor feels it must still try to maintain a relationship with the Democratic Party, even if it’s deeply troubled . With Republicans increasingly shifting from private antagonism toward open war with organized labor, unreliable Democratic allies are the only allies the movement has, and it remains unclear whether disappointments will dampen enthusiasm among union acvists and voters in the 2012 elections.

[Sherman A1]

1. I have no problem at all be critical of Dems that

screw labor. I would hope they would raise their voices louder.

If the Dems continue to shaft the workers and labor, fine that is their choice. But, labor has a choice as well and it is coming in 2012 and I don't see an unreliable Dem any better than I see an openly hostile GOP. At least I am certain they are going to screw me and hate me.

[LiberalFighter]

2. They need to do a better job of assessing their friends.

And forging better relationships with those friends. And using their resources at the local level to help determine the right choices. Sometimes those at the top don't have the experience in the right areas that others might have at the local level.

[Tarheel_Dem]

3. "said one union official"

Iffy story. Who is this official? Union leaders don't usually have trouble speaking their minds. I'm just skeptical of "unnamed sources"; "spoke on condition of anonymity"; & the ever popular "some people say".

Labor has just gotten a preview of what's to come in places like WI, OH, and elsewhere. Pres. Obama & Harry Reid know the numbers aren't in their favor, thanks to Democrats either boycotting or sitting out the midterms. I agree with one thing, however, the new GOP has declared "open war on organized labor".