Labor's Lost Love-Union chiefs weigh primary challenges to Democratic senators cool to their agenda.

[kpete]

Source: National Journal

POLITICS
Labor's Lost Love
Union chiefs weigh primary challenges to Democratic senators cool to their agenda.

by James A. Barnes

Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010

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.

Read more: http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/pi_20100130_1239.php

[Vidar]

1. I thank the AFL-CIO for the best news I've seen in days.

[defendandprotect]

8. Agree . . . after 40 years we're finally figuring out that voting for the "lesser of evils" ...

doesn't work!!!

Dems keep moving to the right --

[PassingFair]

2. Unions helping us clean house.

:thumbsup:

[pattmarty]

3. Ya gotta do this if you want real change. We may lose some primaries..........

...........or win (with progressive candidates) some only to lose in the general, but I now believe that this type of thing will only help change the same old shit. Even voting for Green candidates, and in some districts/States some would have a chance of winning (look at Bernie Sanders).

[Yuugal]

4. Its about time nt

[sabrina 1]

5. Good, it will be easier to do with the Unions helping.

I hope they are looking at Congress also ~

[bvar22]

6. To their list, I would add:

Evan Bayh, (Blue Dog Republicrat, Indiana) Up for re-election 2010.

And ESPECIALLY Arlen Specter, (Republican running for the Democratic seat in Pennsylvania)
Joe Sestak is a legitimate Progressive Democrat opposing Specter for this seat,



Support Joe Sestak in this Democratic Primary,
because we already have enough Republicans in the Democratic Party.
Donate HERE:
http://www.joesestak.com/Home/Home.html

[defendandprotect]

7. THIS should have been happening before their numbers were decimated!!!

What will it mean now with unions at 8%??????????

[MisterP]

9. I give it 1 hour before those always telling us to "work within the party"

show up to say the unions shouldn't be working within the party like this