KO has obtained internal GOP memo...

[GrantDem]

The repubs have declared war on working people. I say bring it on.

This is the Democrats’ first opportunity to pay off organized labor after the election . . . a precursor to card check and other items,” said the memo. “Republicans should stand firm and take their first shot against organized labor, instead of taking their first blow from it.

[BrklynLiberal]

1. I hope this get the publicity it deserves...so people know the real

reason the repukes are killing the auto industry loan.

[Indenturedebtor]

22. Actually I think that most Murkans are anti-union. They've been propagandized re: Unions for

a century.

Sadly most people don't see the connection between Unions and their own quality of life... in fact they've been trained to think that Unions are evil. Corporations are good, workers are bad. Brown people want to eat your babies so they must be bombed etc etc etc.

[BrklynLiberal]

25. I guess unions have to have some good PR for them...so people will

realize how much of the things they enjoy today are a result of union struggles to attain them

[JuniperLea]

32. Exactly...

We live in an idiocracy, no question.

[jmondine]

38. Some are, but I believe that a lot of the propaganda has worn off...

... along with so many other GOP talking points that have been shredded in the public eye these last few years. Still, it is a point well taken, which is why I believe we should be bypassing UAW and pointing straight at the workers, and how the Rethugs, in their political quest to do away with UAW, are willing to sacrifice the livelihoods of millions of hardworking American citizens to achieve their dirty, underhanded, dishonest and cowardly goals.

[Stardust]

44. Thats true. I was raised by a Republican father who was anti-union.

I was too young to question why. As I matured, I learned what invaluable contributions the union movement has made to our American way of working.

Americans don't appreciate unions until they need them. In the organizations with unions that I've known, the union will represent a non-member in legal battles. Many Americans have become accustomed to their cushy lives and never for a moment acknowledge to whom they owe it. Very sad.

Maybe when most of us are forced work work for minimum wage and can't afford a place to live, food to eat, medical care, and education is out of the question...maybe then unions will regain their power.

[pasto76]

53. I was raised by a democratic father who is a union ironworker

42 years, local #3, Pittsburgh PA.

dad told me that we have weekends because of organized labor
that we have a minimum wage, because of organized labor
that we have OSHA because of organized labor
that you and I have the right to conduct our daily business in a safe environment because of organized labor
that I can go to work and expect to come home to my family (after my deployment and "adjustment issues" derailed my plan A of being a biology professor, I am now, too, a union ironworker)because of organized labor
that I can expect to work a full week and have adequate(not extravagant) health care for my family because of organized labor

but all of these battles were fought a long time ago. People have forgotten. Organized labor _IS_ the middle class. Corporate america has succeeded in dividing and conquering the middle class against itself.

WORD
SGT PASTO

[Chemical Bill]

64. Welcome to DU!

Thank you for your thoughtful contribution. I think you'll like it here.

Bill

Edit: That was after looking at your post count. After looking at how long you've taken to wrack up those posts, let me just say that the "'ll" above is in error, but the rest stands. I'd like to see your common sense more often.

[disndat]

48. So true, sadly.

Obama now has the upper hand and with the country spiraling downward, there may be a chance to turn this demonizing of unions around. The Republicans have only succeeded in moving us toward greater socialization, the European model, that is.

[JDPriestly]

49. Americans were pro-union when many were employed in manufacturing.

The service sector is not unionized. It is harder to organize secretaries in law offices who work in offices with a ration of maybe 2 attorneys to each secretary than to organize people who work on an assembly line.

Also, many groups have "profession" organizations like, for lawyers, bar associations, that are not considered to be unions. To some extent, those organizations play the role of unions (although the bar does not strictly represent lawyers' interests, but also disciplines lawyers and in that capacity represents the public).

Teachers have unions but some of them consider themselves to be a bit superior to other union members. Teacher, although members of a union, are not infrequently anti-union.

Sadly, telemarketers and the like are/were not organized. Nor were many service representatives even at large companies. They were considered white collar. The blue collar unions did not reach out to organize them. That's a shame. It was a mistake on the part of the unions to fail to organize white collar workers.

[struggle4progress]

51. Poll: Americans Remain Broadly Supportive Of Labor Unions (Gallup Aug 08)

http://sas-origin.onstreammedia.com.nyud.net:8090/origin/gallupinc/GallupSpaces/Production/Cms/POLL/u9wwqhmycey50q1i6uky3g.gif

December 1, 2008
Americans Remain Broadly Supportive of Labor Unions
Public divided as to whether their influence should increase, decrease, or stay the same
by Jeffrey M. Jones
Americans remain broadly supportive of labor unions, as they have been over the past seven decades, including a 59% approval rating for unions in Gallup's most recent update from August ... http://www.gallup.com/poll/112717/Americans-Remain-Broadly-Supportive-Labor-Unions.aspx?version=print

hat-tips to:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/02/poll-americans-remain-bro_n_147947.html
http://blog.aflcio.org/2008/12/02/gallup-america-still-strongly-supports-unions/

[demwing]

54. What happened? We were once proud of our Unions

Do you remember this? This tune, odd as it sounds, is one of the most patriotic songs I've ever heard...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-UwFLAx298

[NBachers]

57. I watched the video, Demwing. Here's my response:

This is a message to you . . YOU Who are reading this- When unions die, YOU will be a slave- along with your parents & your children.

Republicans want to destroy unions so their fatcat corporate pig handlers can make YOU work for nothing and keep all the money.

The war is here at home now. Choose your side carefully. The Pigs will not reward you for being their toady- they will use you up and kick you aside.

If you want to be used up and kicked aside by greedy vicious pigs, support Republicans.

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

55. That's it in a nutshell...

... I noticed the hate campaign vs. unions as soon as Reagan took office. And much of it has to do with the Arizona Republicans that kept pushing Reagan upon national TV, I recall going back to 1976 if not a year earlier. Does anyone else remember those old "info-mercials" of Reagan?

[glowing]

2. Schuster was holding it up..

but in the next breath wonders why we didn't see the fun-loving side of McCain during the campaign.. hello, if we had that idiot in now, we'd never get out of a depression.

[Cha]

7. Because the way in which mccain "had fun"

is detrimental to children and other living things.

[LiberalFighter]

52. As I explained to someone this morning.

McCain's demeanor is the best behind closed doors. He goes ballistic and uses vulgar language.

[shoopnyc]

3. That memo was amazing...

...it shows that these guys are not going to let up...

[SharonRB]

4. Ed Schultz talked about this memo much earlier today

[SoCalDem]

9. I heard it somewhere this morning too..

I really wish newsies would stop it with the "exclusive" stuff.. NOTHING is "exclusive" anymore:)

[RoyGBiv]

14. No kidding ...

"Exclusive" and "Breaking" have absolutely no meaning anymore ... not even BREAKING!OMG!!11

[Cha]

5. How in the heck did he do that?

Did you hear it on his show?

[GrantDem]

6. yes...

Not sure how he obtained it but Schuster had a copy of it.

[Cha]

47. Thanks, jmauller.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[Sebastian Doyle]

10. Keith's not on tonight

but David Shuster read the entire memo on the air. It was a blatant partisan attack on the UAW, and organized labor in general, blaming them for the failures of the auto industry.

[Cha]

46. Grrreat! That will have

repercussins for the pukes in one form or another, thanks.

[sandnsea]

8. About damned time

I wish they'd do that every single time they get one of these things. People will never believe this is what is going on unless they see those talking points with their own eyes.

[mike_c]

11. is this for real?

Could you provide some more info for folks who don't watch teevee? Where did this memo originate? How did Olberman obtain it?

That's a pretty damning statement, IMO. It should be held up every time a republican pretends to do something for working people-- maybe some of them would stop voting against their best interests if they understood the contempt the republican party has for them.

[tekisui]

15. It sounds like the gop email that UAW Pres. Gettlefinger

read at a presser today. I didn't see the show, but it seems to be the same message. How he or KO's show got it, I don't know.

[robinlynne]

28. EXACTLY. It was given to the UAW. Keith is probably talking about it because it is worth

talkng about!

[GrantDem]

19. Not sure where he got it

but it was circulated internally before the House voted. Schuster is on tonight and held up a copy of it.

[AndrewJacksonFaction]

23. Here you go

http://thenewshole.msnbc.msn.com/comments/1713569.aspx


From:

Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2008 9:12 AM

To:

Subject: Action Alert -- Auto Bailout



Today at noon, Senators Ensign, Shelby, Coburn and DeMint will hold a press conference in the Senate Radio/TV Gallery. They would appreciate our support through messaging and attending the press conference, if possible. The message they want us to deliver is:



1. This is the democrats first opportunity to payoff organized labor after the election. This is a precursor to card check and other items. Republicans should stand firm and take their first shot against organized labor, instead of taking their first blow from it.



2. This rush to judgment is the same thing that happened with the TARP. Members did not have an opportunity to read or digest the legislation and therefore could not understand the consequences of it. We should not rush to pass this because Detroit says the sky is falling.





The sooner you can have press releases and documents like this in the hands of members and the press, the better. Please contact me if you need additional information. Again, the hardest thing for the democrats to do is get 60 votes. If we can hold the Republicans, we can beat this.

[BrklynLiberal]

26. They should reveal who it was "FROM:"

[robinlynne]

29. NO the from and to were inked out. A republican gave it to the Union.

see the UAW speech from today on another DU thread. It is amazing!

[BrklynLiberal]

35. Thanks. Will do.

[tekisui]

12. Is this the same memo the Gettlefinger read earlier today?

[robinlynne]

30. Yes.

[stray cat]

13. internal GOP memo - someone passed it on

[Pirate Smile]

16. The UAW got it first and read it at a press conference earlier today.

[stray cat]

17. To the GOP its not about giving good money after bad - its solely punishing unions

for existing at whatever cost to America.

[maddezmom]

18. Gettelfinger read it at the news conference today...

http://www.uaw.org/auto/12_12_08auto2.cfm

[LisaM]

20. The UAW got it first and Ed Schultz played it being read

It was shocking. I'm glad they got a copy of it.

[malaise]

21. I posted excerpts from a BBC blog last night

Unfuggingbelievable.

[nc4bo]

24. I hate these unAmerican bastards...

and I rarely use the word "hate" but there is no other word that fully describes the raw emotions I felt after hearing the live UAW presser today.

[robinlynne]

27. NOT KO. The United Auto Workers read this email today at their press conference!

[JuniperLea]

31. I've gone tooth and nail with UAW members here who have licked the boots of the auto companies...

Telling them THIS is where it is all heading, and I got chewed up and spit out each and every time. Validation would be sweet if this wasn't such a load of crap.

[Hissyspit]

33. Countdown video HERE:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=249468&mesg_id=249468

[TankLV]

34. "Glad" to see our own repuke jackass ensign is involved with this...

we replaced that useless bush* ass kissing repuke porter - next on our list is ensign...

[mzmolly]

36. Oh no! What will Joe The (faux) Plummer say?!

:sarcasm:

[sarcasmo]

37. What many of us have been saying here all along.

[electricD]

39. hmmm....so, it's OUR fault, huh?

To think, we members of unions are members for mostly ONE reason and ONE reason only. To make sure that we have a better life with a decent wage so that we can take care of us AND our families.

When corporate executives and CEO's are now making upwards of 250 to 1000 times more than the "common" worker and running the companies into the ground, how does some one justify blaming labor and PRIMARILY Union labor? Every one with ATLEAST half a brain can tell who ruined, raped and pillaged our country.

I think the biggest thing that unions need to do is to get better PR to the public. I've seen WAY TOO MANY times where the only thing a non-union worker knows is the propaganda their bosses tell them. If unions would actually show them that standing together with us, whether you want to join a union or not, EVERY middle working class American would have a way to take care of their families without having to worry about the "fear factor" that so many non-union contractors/companies force upon their workers.

It's been the rethuglican mantra for 30 years now,"when all else fails, blame the unions." I personally think we need to march to every single one of these rethugs houses and get in their faces and show them who American REALLY is. It's not them, it's not corporate elite, it's not Alabama based foreign auto companies. It's US, THE VERY MOTHER FUCKERS THAT LET YOU GET A SEAT and THE VERY MOTHER FUCKERS THAT CAN TAKE YOU OUT OF THAT SEAT!!!

On a sadder note, I really hate to say this but, this will only happen when the common, everyday, blue collar worker has nothing left to lose. Too many of us have been stifled for so long that some of us have started believing the ultra-hyped media bullshit. If my memories of reading history books serves me correctly, that's what had to happen the last time there was a major shift for labor and things where great for us for upwards of 25 to 30 years. Then tricky dicky and ronnie the raygun came in and it's been downhill for us ever since.

In closing, I want to ask every one here that is sympathetic to organized labor. How long do we wait?, How many people have to lose their jobs before all of us realize it could be us next?, How long before we stand up again and fight and get back what is justifiably our's?

Sick and tired of being sick and tired!!!
fraternally
electricD
IBEW L.U.474-Memphis

[CTyankee]

43. My husband is an AFSME member and has great health care benefits.

Whenever that subject comes up when I talk to people I always tell them "My husband is a union member and so we both have great health care benefits." And you know what? People nod and agree!

We need to spread the word! The nonunionized worker is so demoralized that it is time they wake up and think about unions in a different way. The more they know people like you and me, the more they develop a real different take on their own lives...

[truedelphi]

45. I think one of the "smears" that was inherent in our system is this one:

In the 1960's and on, going to college and getting a degree was the thing to do. I don't know how many times, people I knew who felt insulated from the Big Boy manipulations of the market place would remark, "Yeah it is sad that the auto workers, or the steel workers (or the textile workers) have their jobs moved away, but shouldn't they have gone to college so they could be educated enough to hold down a real job?"

Then when the techies started seeing call centers moved to India and Pakistan, when the programmers started seeing their jobs moving away, they started to "get" it. But that was after a lot of the "non-real" jobs had already moved away.

I have even encountered this sort of sentiment here at DU. But over the last fifteen years, the jobs that have been off-shored included not only manufacturing jobs and computer industry jobs, but also jobs that research scientists held. So even having a double major in science, with two Master's degrees or a PhD didn't insure that you would have employement.

And when kids see their parents out of work, even though the parents spent six years in college, they have no incentive to achieve in math or science.

[JDPriestly]

50. A college degree does not insure better pay.

It depends on so many factors.

Personally, I think that, especially today, who your parents (and maybe grandparents) knew and what strata of society you grew up in has more to do with how much you earn in your adult years than anything else.

[electricD]

59. kind of like

kind of like the old saying, "It's not who ya know or who ya blow but, sometimes it's how ya blow who ya know."

oh yeah,
NO OFFENSE INTENDED TO ANY ONE!!! It's just a saying that I've heard for so many years and it seems to ring true more times that I EVER care to count.

[truedelphi]

60. Heh. Heh. n/t

[truedelphi]

61. There have been several studies that show that the main benefit to those who attend Ivy League insti

Is not necessarily in the degree received, or the profession that is prepared for, but the acquaintances that those students will have to network with for the rest of their life.

[Prophet 451]

40. This is news?

Rethugs have been pretty upfront about their hatred of unions for years. They've shamelessly turned the economic meltdown into open season on labour unions. They haven't been hiding it in the slightest.

[fascisthunter]

41. If the Republican Party Could, They'd Force Chinese Wages on Americans

heck they are trying right now. That's how much they care about a "Joe the Plumber".

Hey Republican lurkers, go fuck yourselves!

[felinetta]

42. The Republican tent gets smaller and smaller!

[Not Sure]

56. I wasn't "watching" the news tonight, but I did catch on the crawl

that the average autoworker pay rate is $70 per hour. Where do they get this number, since the people I've known who worked at the GM plant in Arlington, TX don't get that kind of money? I should note this was Fox news.

[Tunkamerica]

58. from what i've heard on here, they take the value of all benefits, used or not,

to come up with that number. My company does the same thing, if you factor in all the benefits then I'm making 45,000 a year. Believe me, i'm not making anywhere close to that.

[greymattermom]

62. how it adds up

Just put the two together and it comes out like this.'
Republicans want to take away your weekends.
Republicans want to take away the 40 hour week.
Republicans want to take away paid vacations and allow no vacations.
Republicans want to pay you Chinese wages.
Republicans want child labor.

[TWiley]

63. Wall St, Airlines, Agriculture, and War = $1.5 Trillion = Republican Voters

The republicans have looted the national treasury again.

[SpiralHawk]

65. Why do Republicons HATE the people of America?

And love only the fat cats?

[PennDem]

66. Current Advocacy Campaigns from UAWire

Email your elected officials from this site.

http://www.unionvoice.org/Uawire/home.html

[Gman2]

67. The PINKERTON"S{REFUCKS} had better know that

we are ready to die for our cause. They will be branded as traitors soon. Far from scared hippies, we are hardened veterans of Reagan, Bush, Bush. I was a victim of Bush's BPA-gate. I have heart failure. So you know I am ready for legacy. I will die if I am shot by some tazer thingie. No matter. I hope they dont notice the Guillotine we are constructing in the village square. Sick fucks. Satan, get thee behind me.

[machI]

68. I was not aware that advocating for worker's rights was the same as dealing a blow

It seems that Republicans think working class Americans are serfs.

[Quantess]

69. .