DSCC: Unions, Netroots are “Special Interests in Washington”

[Donnachaidh]

http://workinprogress.firedoglake.com/2010/06/10/dscc-unions-are-special-interests-in-washington/

Senator Robert Menendez, leader of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, sent out a memo deriding labor unions who supported Bill Halter as “special interests in Washington.”

Tonight Arkansas Democrats nominated Blanche Lincoln, a proven independent voice for her state. In this race Blanche took on powerful special interests in Washington and won. In the Senate, she fights those same fights everyday, supporting home-state farmers, strengthening programs for childhood nutrition, and bolstering rural economic development. As Chairwoman of the Agriculture Committee, Blanche has stood-up and delivered for every region of Arkansas.

And if you aren’t sure this is an isolated incident from the DSCC, they posted this article from The Hill on the DSCC website. The editorial by Hill editor A.B. Stoddard, as posted on the DSCC’s website, congratulates Lincoln for:

fending off Lt. Gov. Bill Halter and the unions and the netroots and the punishment the left promised to exact for her opposition to a public option in healthcare reform and to legislation, favored by unions, known as “card-check.”

Stoddard sharpened her focus on labor unions, singling out “the failed union campaign” and AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, who Stoddard says “piled on in defeat” – all of which the DSCC featured on its site:


MORE at the link --

[Brickbat]

1. I have to say that I've always bristled at politicians scoffing at special interests, because I feel

strongly that unions are special interests.

[kctim]

2. YEP!

That they are.

[boston bean]

9. The special interest they represent is WORKING PEOPLE.

Big difference there.

The people in the Dem Party spouting this bs about unions might go stand with the republicans.

[Sebastian Doyle]

3. Menendez: another useless DLC tool.

If you don't support labor, you are not a Democrat. Period.

[FiveGoodMen]

6. "If you don't support labor, you are not a Democrat. Period."

I'll second that!

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

4. The White House. Gibbs. Schumer. Clinton. The head of the DSCC. All demonizing UNIONS

In concert.

Ok, I think we get the message. They are attempting to marginalize if not destroy the unions.

Wow.

We already know they try to marginalize the netroots as leftwing cranks until they need our support and dollars at election time. And they hate us as alternative media. Destroying net neutrality should take care of that issue.

Maybe they have the election hacking all ready to go for next time and just don't give a shit.

Goves are completely off. I already stopped contributing to the DCCC and the DSCC because they favor DINOs.

[Caliman73]

5. They are special interests...Special Interest is not necessarily bad.

The problem is not that they are being touted as special interests, the problem is that the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee believes that they are special interests that must be defeated. Unions and grass roots progressives have been the underpinnings of the Democratic Party for a long time. To celebrate a anti-Union candidate as a Democrat seems odd.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

7. Keep it up assholes. nt

[OHdem10]

8. You can tell Congress is working up a sweat over the UNION VICTORY

If it did not concern them, they would move on and not
even talk about it.

Dissing your base is suicidal, Senator Menendez.

[boston bean]

10. I agree, they are afraid. Because labor has the tools to organize.

Many of the DC politicians hate us! They don't want to help us, and they don't want anyone else to either.

It's bad business for them.

[Catherina]

11. Let's hope we organize before they completely break us n/t

[boston bean]

12. That's what I'm afraid of.

The teachers union is their test market.