Labor On Dems Who Block Health Reform: We'll 'Take Them Out'

[cal04]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/09/labor-on-dems-who-block-h_n_492076.html

As health care reform enters its do-or-die stage in Congress, union leaders on Tuesday began threatening that they will work to 'take out' Democratic lawmakers who vote against the bill.

In a set of fiery speeches outside a private health insurance lobby gathering on Tuesday, a group of prominent labor and progressive leaders excoriated industry executives, calling them everything from "dark titans" to "domestic enemies."

(snip)
In a series of conversations with the Huffington Post, many of labor's leading voices pledged to launch a massive, arm-twisting effort to help persuade skeptical lawmakers to pass health care legislation into law. And in addition to their traditional ammunition -- from email campaigns to town hall events -- talk also centered on exacting electoral revenge against those who end up voting against reform.

"I hope this sends a message to Congress," Gerald McEntee, president of 1.6-million-member AFSCME, told the Huffington Post. "I think we have to demonstrate that we are not going to stand aside, that we are going to take them out if they don't help us at all."

[SemiCharmedQuark]

1. Rep. Massa says that this is called 'bribery'

[nevergiveup]

4. Rep Massa is one weird screwed up dude.

[Winterblues]

21. More like intimidation but greatly warranted IMO..

:shrug:

[Vincardog]

2. How about targeting anyone who blocks card check?

[dkf]

3. I thought they hated this bill with the Cadillac tax?

They pushed it back, but do they have a deal that it will never come to fruition?

[DevonRex]

5. Seems like the working class union folks LIKE the bill after all.

But DU told me otherwise. Who should I believe? The union leaders or some anonymous person on DU? I think I'll go with the union leaders.

[DFLforever]

6. I I'm waiting for a 'true' progressive on DU to call them DLCers

and insurance company toadies.

[DevonRex]

7. Looks like they're just ignoring this article. nt

[bluestateguy]

8. You are either with the unions or against them

And they support this bill.

[berni_mccoy]

9. Warning Shot Over the Bow to Kucinich. If Kucinich loses labor, he's lost his seat.

Oh, and I STAND WITH THE LABOR UNIONS!

[DevonRex]

10. Yep. And I stand with the labor unions, too!!! nt

[Pithlet]

14. So do I. n/t

[Sebastian Doyle]

18. Well, there's a first time for everything.

:eyes:

[DFLforever]

11. I think it's aimed at the Stupak crowd

which includes Kaptur and Oberstar.

Could Stupak be elected governor in MI without labor support?

[berni_mccoy]

13. According to their own words, it's any Democratic lawmaker who votes against HCR

That would include Kucinich, who has been most vocal about opposing it.

[DFLforever]

16. I know it does.

But I don't believes Kucinich commands as much attention in the real world as he does on DU. Someone like Oberstar is a lot more important to labor than DK.

[girl gone mad]

12. Oh. please.

Kucinich will walk to re-election if he blocks this nonsense.

[laughingliberal]

15. Oh, stop! He typed a warning shot with capital letters in the post and everything

Dennis will be scared. :scared:

Funny how many union supporters here now. You know, ones who bash on 'em when it comes to making a deal to get rid of the cadillac tax and teachers' firings. Perhaps I should bookmark this for the future.

[Sebastian Doyle]

17. That's great news!

Finally, we'll be rid of Lieberman, Baucus, Nelson, Conrad, Landrieu, etc.

[berni_mccoy]

19. And Kucinich.

[Sebastian Doyle]

20. Nope. Dennis is in favor of Health Care REFORM

Which the current bill is NOT.

[berni_mccoy]

22. Quote: "they will work to 'take out' Democratic lawmakers who vote against the bill."

Kucinich is a Democratic (supposedly) lawmaker who has pledged to vote against the bill (and he has voted against the Public Option once already).

I know. The truth hurts.

[DevonRex]

23. Looks like some folks aren't with the unions on this one, huh?

:rofl:

[LooseWilly]

26. Do us all a favor and hold your breath for the unions to behave according to your interpretation...

When you regain consciousness, you can explain to us what hypocrites the unions are...
;)

[mzmolly]

24. Good on Labor!

:toast:

[TomCADem]

25. K & R!

HCR simply is not going to get any easier in the decades to come.

[MisterP]

27. sounds like it's aimed against the insurers

but the bills as they stand are aimed to support the insurers, so it depends on how you define "reform"

[eridani]

28. The rank and file aren't buying it

http://www.labornotes.org/2010/01/anger-over-health-care-bill-creates-uncertain-future
“I’ve never seen this much anger at the Democrats from union people,” said Jeff Crosby, president of a General Electric factory local near Boston, as he prepared a last-minute leaflet to hand out in the plant. “It’s worse than NAFTA.”

Top union leaders had bargained a compromise slowing down the health care benefits tax President Obama insisted on, but it was not enough to placate union members—and others—infuriated that Obama had broken his campaign promise not to tax benefits.

Crosby said his members were threatening to vote Republican to stop the tax, since 60 Democratic senators and no Republicans had voted for it. In Massachusetts’ special election they chose empty-suit Republican Scott Brown over a Democrat bound to cement the benefits tax in place.

[eridani]

29. The rank and file aren't buying it

http://www.labornotes.org/2010/01/anger-over-health-care-bill-creates-uncertain-future
“I’ve never seen this much anger at the Democrats from union people,” said Jeff Crosby, president of a General Electric factory local near Boston, as he prepared a last-minute leaflet to hand out in the plant. “It’s worse than NAFTA.”

Top union leaders had bargained a compromise slowing down the health care benefits tax President Obama insisted on, but it was not enough to placate union members—and others—infuriated that Obama had broken his campaign promise not to tax benefits.

Crosby said his members were threatening to vote Republican to stop the tax, since 60 Democratic senators and no Republicans had voted for it. In Massachusetts’ special election they chose empty-suit Republican Scott Brown over a Democrat bound to cement the benefits tax in place.

[upi402]

30. Does NOT mean Kucinich who favors reform not corporate give aways

Bluedogs need to go, they're no friends of labor. Kucinich is.