'My name is Eddie Vale of the AFL-CIO & I don't hide behind anonymous quotes'

[Bluebear]

Driving home the point that the White House was cravenly hiding behind the cloak of anonymity in their attacks, the AFL-CIO spokesman signed off the conversation with the following: "My name is Eddie Vale of the AFL-CIO and I'm proud to fight for working families and I don't hide behind anonymous quotes."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/09/blanche-lincoln-win-spark_n_605443.html

[NightWatcher]

1. Damn, I can only rec the one time

[rurallib]

2. Yep. It would be nice to know who is bad mouthing the Democrats

biggest constituency. If you have something to say, stand behind it.

[tavalon]

126. Oh, come on, we aren't stupid

Senior staffer is Rahm. It doesn't take any special powers to divine that cowardly weasel.

[defendandprotect]

133. Seems that Ed Schultz last night also noted ....

From what I heard today on MSNBC's The Ed Show, the Dem establishment in Arkansas pulled a Jeb Bush on Halter and won Lincoln the election by effectively suppressing the vote in Halter's biggest county of support. Between the primary and the runoff the number of polling places in the county was magically reduced from 80 to two. Somewhere in his grave that old master of election-stealing from his Texas days, LBJ, is probably smiling on this one.

Think the number is actually 42 down to 2. Astonishingly criminal whatever the number.

[Admiral Loinpresser]

140. Is anybody blogging about this? Investigating this?

This kind of bullshit needs to be exposed and those who did it attacked. I truly believe that voter suppression should be a capitol offense. It's a form of treason.

But it's a misdemeanor in my state and when someone performs it, the penalty is a wrist slap.

[defendandprotect]

141. While I 1000% agree with you . . . Dems have certainly made no real effort at election reform...

and 2000 and 2004 would have certainly been two events to trigger concern

and action!!

What I was trying to say in the post, however -- and the info was a pick up from

a comment on Common Dreams -- was that too often the Repug right wing and the

Dem right wing are acting as one. I don't know what info Ed Schultz had but I found

the comments interesting. I don't think the right wing corporate co-option of the

Democratic Party has fully entered the minds of many at DU as yet.


For instance, the Democratic Blue Dogs were evidently being included in Repug meetings

at the Bush White House!


Again -- I didn't personally observe these comments on the Schultz show --

and I'd certainly venture to say that attacks on Howard Dean even today certainly come from

the right-wing DLC corporate wing -- and it was in the interests of both the Repugs and

right wing corporate DLC to knock Dean out in the presidential run.


There is also the entire issue of computers to be investigated -- something which became

more prominent in 2000 and 2004. And in 2000, the Repugs had to actually move to the

Supreme Court to keep hold of a "Bush" win. So it's getting more difficult for them as

more and more Americans come out to vote.


Also Democrats have not addressed the issue of the computers themselves -- they began coming in

in mid-late-1960's, just about the time that America was passing "The Voting Rights Act."

The large computers used by MSM gave them added new powers of PREDICTING and CALLING elections.

Prior to the computers they could only report official vote tallies.

This was a new crystal ball for MSM -- they could actually CALL states and WINNERS --

ELECTORAL COLLEGE votes!

And in 2000, we watched them REVERSE those new powers as they recalled Florida from Gore and

later gave it to Bush!

I'd question every election back to Nixon/Humphrey and that was something like a 100,000 vote

squeaker!

[Admiral Loinpresser]

144. The Democrats are first and foremost incumbents.

Real electoral reform is anti-incumbent, because one major aspect would be "Clean Money" reform. This is the sad reality. The Paul Wellstones of the world are few and far between.

I'll never forget that the first decision maker to call Florida for the GOP was Bush's cousin (at Fox News).

[bobbolink]

3. This is make or break time for the unions.

There will be a lot of suffering in doing so, but its time for them all to develop some loyalty and stick together.

I salute you, Eddie Vale! :patriot:

[Brickbat]

4. K&R. THIS is what labor should be doing every day.

Forward!

[Nuclear Unicorn]

5. You're right.

And the WH is foolish to pick fights with steady friends.

[Brickbat]

6. I was pleased to see labor standing up BEFORE an election, intsead of going along with a candidate

and hoping s/he would be friendly to our interests AFTER the election.

[Bluebear]

8. I don't understand why they are being sore winners & continuing to goad the Unions

[Brickbat]

14. Honestly? I think they're trying to exercise their wings and make sure they can win without labor.

Maybe they can in Arkansas, but they can't in other places.

[LiberalFighter]

77. If they think Arkansas is a good test case they are sadly mistaken.

There may be times where LABOR won't be able to help a candidate win. But there are plenty of times where LABOR can help defeat that same candidate. Or at least scare the hell out of a Democratic candidate.

Personally, as an example, I think Senator Evan Bayh was either thinking that he was going to lose his election this year if he ran or he knew at least that his win would be by a much smaller margin. He probably didn't want to appear weak.

[laughingliberal]

32. They find the working class tedious. nt

[Tansy_Gold]

36. You got that right.

:thumbsup:

[bread_and_roses]

76. and disposable (n/t)

[ooglymoogly]

45. This was a fixed election....blatent voter suppression.

[defendandprotect]

55. Question is . . . why isn't that apparent to Democrats and why are they doing

so nothing about election problems -- rigged elections?

In this case, I guess we can say they're happy with the results!

[Iggo]

82. They're trying to make sure it doesn't happen again.

I suspect they don't want this to be a trend.

[defendandprotect]

135. True... think about it -- we knocked out their pal Specter ... and forced Lincoln into run off ...

So out of three -- Lieberman, Specter, Lincoln -- we've shot down a good part

of their work --

Labor should keep at it -- TARGET right wing Democrats --

and it's also about time that the people in this "people's government" also began

to organize themselves!!

Capitalism is organized up, down, right, left and every which way --

from hierarchy to hierarchy --

Let's get together, folks!

[liberation]

10. When has this white house been friends with labor?

[Nuclear Unicorn]

13. Sadly

That depends on the weather.

[Earth Bound Misfit]

85. From primary--Nov 3rd 2008. n/t

[ProSense]

7. Oooh look, more quotes from anonymous Democrats

Another senior Democrat (who also would not be quoted by name) echoed the point in an exchange with the Huffington Post. "Labor is humiliated," the source said. "$10 million flushed down the toilet at a time when Democrats across the country are fighting for their lives, they look like absolute idiots."

A senior Democrat?

Why don't Stein and others get them on the record instead of continuing to push unsourced statements?

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ProSense]

15. What gives you the impression that I'm DLC?

Is it because I'm making a point that you disagree with?

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[liberation]

29. I would not necessarily call reciting talking points as making them...

... but knock yourself out.

Yeah, you walk, talk, and look like the DLC, but you must be something completely different. My bad...

[closeupready]

30. Did he say, 'Your kneejerk defense of the administration on every and all issues'?

just curious.

[donco6]

61. That and he probably used the word "cheerleader".

That's a naughty word around here. Appropos as it may be.

[ihavenobias]

109. +1,000,000,000 n/t

[ooglymoogly]

47. Quack quack......it walks like a duck.

[ooglymoogly]

62. Quack quack......it talks like a duck.

Oh wait.....

[donco6]

63. Notice too how he'll never outright deny anything.

Instead, just answer a question with a question. Like a cop pulling a vice sting. "Are you a cop?" "What makes you think I'm a cop?"

[ooglymoogly]

65. Quack quack......it acts like a duck.

Oh wait.....

[ooglymoogly]

66. quell supreeeeeze.....Its a duck

[dorkulon]

19. Because Rahm and Bill wouldn't give the quotes without a guarantee of anonymity.

That's how it works. And yeah, I'm just guessing.

[mrdmk]

26. Some people want the word union to be equated with the word liberal

The other explanation is, it easier to screw over an individual than a group of people who are told to do by self appointed few.

There are many Democrats who believe that a corporate institution is more important than the individual. With this in mind, the corporate institution want these Democrats in power because these individuals can be told what to do. Hence, many Democrats do the bidding of a corporate institutions rather than that of a union.

A union is a group of individuals that usually vote for an outcome. Since the individual has a vote, the outcome of that group cannot be taken for granted. Thus, the outcome is never fixed, it changes with the needs of the individuals in that group.

A corporate institution is a group of individuals where the majority are told what to do by a minority. Since minority dictates an outcome, that outcome is fixed and taken for granted. Part of the strategy of the fixed outcome is to give few in the majority a limited amount of power. The limited power by the few in the majority is only relay the demands of the minority. Now with the minority is in control of the majority, the fixed outcome will only benefit the needs of the self appointed few.

This formula works corporate institutions are after on thing, money. It also works because many in a majority like to be told what to do in exchange for money. Explaining the needs of the self appointed minority in power is simple, money. It has been said, 'money is the root of all evil', it can also be said this society is fixated on wealth.

Dealing with the needs of the majority is cumbersome, complex, always changing, hence a flexible strategy is needed. By the nature of a flexible strategy it becomes cumbersome, complex, always changing, nor is it easy to maintain. Worst yet, just throwing money at a flexible strategy can be a hindrance rather than a solution. There is a real balancing act keeping a flexible strategy from becoming a fixed strategy, hence the old saying, 'it is all about the money!.

[Jakes Progress]

33. So what you are saying is that there is no senior official

who said this? Is that your point. Would you like to go on record with you opinion of the administration if said senior official had the guts to actually let him/herself be identified?

In other words, what do you think of someone who makes a statement like either of the ones attributed to "senior" officials? Do you ever care about the issues?

[Bluebear]

42. Tell "ignored" that now Press Sec'y Gibbs confirms that "somebody here" said it.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=8523670&mesg_id=8523847

[Jakes Progress]

129. Never, never answers questions. Always hijacks threads.

[Jakes Progress]

130. Crickets all around.

When you got nothin', all you can do is ignore.

[MilesColtrane]

35. Two different sources using the exact same language.

"Organized labor just flushed $10 million down the toilet."

"$10 million flushed down the toilet at a time when Democrats across the country are fighting for their lives."

These aren't just a couple of loose cannons.

This is an approved, coordinated "fuck off" to labor unions.

[chimpymustgo]

49. Perhaps it's time for our own LABOR PARTY.

[kath]

79. It's way PAST time. The Democratic Party (with perhaps less than a handful of exceptions) no longer

gives a shit about working people.

[defendandprotect]

136. If liberal/progressive organizations would cooperate together ....

and if the people of our "people's government" would begin to recognize that

their power is in uniting together, we might begin to get somewhere!

Meanwhile, keep TARGETING right wing Democrats just as we TARGET right wing Repugs --

it's a sound idea --

We forced Lincoln into a run off election with Halter --

and we knocked out Specter --

Let's keep going!!

[laurel46]

117. Or time to vote republican in arkansas in november and sport bumper stickers.

Like Alinsky said about power and it not being about what you will do but what your adversary thinks you will do. Unions sporting bumper stickers for an arkansas republican candidate is a graphic message until november. No I am not a republican, check my other posts, I am socialist and proud of it. Think that might get attention, especially from Blanche.

[newspeak]

137. Not ever going to vote for repuke

Being a union member and voting republican is like chickens voting for Colonel Sanders. But, it is about time a labor party is created--because voting either way, we are going to get screwed--screwed by both parties. I am sick. I've noticed the MO over twelve years ago--one party covers for the other, sweeping their crimes under the rug and passing their bills. NAFTA was Poppy's baby and Clinton passed it. Iran-Contra, BCCI was a huge crime-and we are being impacted by that crime today. It's always "gotta move on", "gotta think in the future, not in the past", while because of those dirty deeds, the American people wind up paying for it in the future.

[sabrina 1]

71. It's the money. All that money they would like to get their hands

on. I guess the Unions learned that spending their money on the rightwing of the Democrat Party was what this anonymous source calls 'flushing your money down the toilet'.

Only cowards speak anonymously.

[frylock]

46. the President would (not) necessarily agree with that characterization made by somebody here

not a very strong denial.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8523670

[William Z. Foster]

57. huh?

Reporters don't make that the decision, the sources do.

[donco6]

58. Why don't Dems stop saying stupid shit like this?

Unless they really believe it.

[mrJJ]

99. I Second Your Opinion

BTW Not that I think it make a difference but I emailed the White House

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact

[awoke_in_2003]

115. it was an anonymous source...

that helped bring down Nixon. People cannot always go on record.

[hughee99]

116. Because "on the record" they don't say much of anything,

and how do you draw in readers doing that?

[gratuitous]

9. Not a smart move on the anonymous staffer's part

And I don't really care if it's just Politico stirring the pot. It's been out there now for several hours, and if nobody at the White House said what they're quoted as saying, someone should get out in front of that. As it is, union members and working people have as clear an indication as they can get that the Obama White House isn't a place they can go for redress of grievances when big corporate bucks are on the line.

Although the AFL-CIO’s contributions to Halter certainly caused Lincoln to tack left recently, she is apparently going to get munched in the general election by the Republican nominee (voters tending to like their Republicans to be members of the Republican party, rather than Democrats who pander to Republicans). We are probably going to get an addendum definition for pyrrhic victory come November, if the White House is really proud of their work in Arkansas.

This was a dirty pool campaign, and it will probably cost the Democrats a seat in the Senate.

[Militant_Populist]

11. Hear, Hear Eddie n/t

[dgibby]

16. Eddie's the man!

Good for him. Way to call them out!

[ljm2002]

18. Good for him!!!

And bad on the WH for continuing to bait the unions.

Dayum, I thought the party would go at least a little more left with Obama's election. Boy, was that a misjudgment!

[Omaha Steve]

20. K&R!

[Bluebear]

21. Solidarity

[Dinger]

22. Eddie For President!!!

K & R!:patriot:

[laughingliberal]

34. +1000 nt

[Bluebear]

87. =)

[TomClash]

23. As I said in another post . . . Profiles in Cowardice

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4419157&mesg_id=4419964

[MissDeeds]

24. And I salute you, Eddie Vale

And the hard working members of the AFL-CIO.

Thanks for bringing this to us, Bluebear. :yourock:

[Generic Other]

25. Eddie Vale is my union spokesman and I am damn proud

He walks the walk and talks the talk.

[Myrina]

27. ... just further proof that NEITHER party stands for the common man anymore

... :(

[liberation]

31. Well, corporations are people now...

... and they seem pretty "common" in our economic system.

Someone had to stand up for them, no?

[bc3000]

28. K&R

[laughingliberal]

37. K & R nt

[varelse]

38. Recommended

[Demoiselle]

39. delete (dupe)

[Demoiselle]

40. Let's hear it for Eddie Vale!

I hope Labor keeps the pressure on. I'm horrified at the White House attitude.

[EFerrari]

41. K&R

[burnsei sensei]

43. With respect, good sir,

Quote:
"Labor is humiliated," the source said.
end quote.

To humiliate the humble is the most malevolent crime.

[liberation]

56. You know what they say:

Comedians laugh at the powerful, Bullies laugh at the weak.

[ooglymoogly]

60. Time to circle the wagons around labor.

O once again proving he is the president of and for big money and not the president of or for the people.

[quakerboy]

103. Oh, they're circling all right

circular firing squad with labor in the center. Its amazing how good Dems are at this. Its a finely honed science, apparently.

[Bluebear]

145. +

[burnsei sensei]

44. And now, a curious discussion:

Quote
It was a remarkably blunt dumping on the unions. And, in the process, it provided one of the most telling revelations as to how frayed the relationship between Obama and the modern labor movement truly is.
end quote.

If it is a telling revelation, what does it tell us.
It tells us, I think, that the Obama admin favors constituted elites with the power of money readily in their hands.
It favors the power of the corporation over the rights of the citizen.
We talk about the protection of minorities in a republic.
The corporations are one minority we cannot afford to empower or give equal footing with labor in politics.
Labor must be supreme because labor is about the citizenry, not about money.

[Kermitt Gribble]

48. K&R! n/t

[PDittie]

50. Proud to be the 200th recommend

and proud to be on the side of working families. BTW, Ed Schultz is ripping on this as I type.

[Rebel Scum]

53. He sure is! GO ED! n/t

[Raine]

51. Two Big Thumbs Up to Him! nt

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[amborin]

52. K&R

[ProgressiveVictory]

54. labor is not an arm of the Democratic party

[slay]

64. And the Democrats would do well to remember that

the Dems owe loyalty to labor, not the other way around. I am NOT happy with this administration at all! :grr:

[ProgressiveVictory]

67. I hear ya, and agree!

[susanr516]

59. I stand with you, Eddie Vale

Susan Reeves, Corpus Christi, TX

[nicky187]

68. This is nicky187...

... and I don't hide behind anonymous recs.

Go Union!

[angstlessk]

69. Well, the 10 million they spent in the primary will not have to be spent in the general

so,basically they come out even!

[MichiganVote]

70. Because the BILLIONS that union labor taxes paid the banks was just so much better right Rahm?

Sure beat up a few union people for chump change 10million while grossly throwing away everything on AIG, Goldman, Fanny, Freddie and so on and so forth.

Silly me. Imagine trying to think for myself with my had to be shitty public school education, master's degrees and years and years of income taxes paid to support the scumbags and shitheads in Washington.

[Earth Bound Misfit]

88. Wish I could rec your post. n/t

[Bluebear]

97. me too!

[MichiganVote]

101. Wish I didn't have to write it. :)

[sendero]

72. I would say to the White House..

... better to waste 10 million dollars than to WASTE TWO FUCKING YEARS.

[mrJJ]

100. Tell em

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact

[tavalon]

127. True

Teresa Avalon, RNC, union member WSNA.

[newspeak]

138. again, a republican for unions?

It is Reagan who starts the slippery slope of busting unions. It was "little boots" who attempted to break the dockworkers union. Looks like the republicans do it aggressively, out in the open--while the DLC does a slight of hand. I'm for the labor party--it's time to get creative.

[Amsterdam Hooligan]

73. As A Chief Union Steward and Union Organizer

for the A.F.L.C.I.O.....I`m ready

[bread_and_roses]

74. K & R for Eddie Vale, for honesty and transparency and soldiarity

Many of us have been thrilled to see the AFL-CIO finally stand up to one of these fair-weather Dems. I just pray we stick to our stand.

As for the gutless "anons" they simply betray who and what they are - if there is any humiliation here, it is in the spectacle of so-called "friends" of working families gloating over their supposed victory. There's no humiliation in losing a hard and well-fought battle - but there sure is in the sorry sight of this Admin blatantly broadcasting its contempt for the ordinary working men and women.

[Catherina]

75. Proud to be labor recommendation 255 n/t

[glitch]

80. K & R +265 nt

[lib2DaBone]

78. Kick for Solidarity. A livable wage... health care....safe working conditions?

Who would think Americians would have to beg at the feet of Conservatives for Human dignity?

"A rising tide lifts all boats".

[Iggo]

81. White House Spokes-Anon.

Come out to play-ee-yay!

[meow mix]

83. K&R

for eddie

[Bluenorthwest]

84. I'm on loan to the Democratic Party, from labor

and always have been. This petty sniping from the administration is so gutter level, they are starting it with the wrong people when the start it with Unions.

[muffin1]

86. K&R n/t

[Earth Bound Misfit]

89. KNR!!!!!!!!!!

Eddie Vale gives a giant sized FUCK YOU to "Anonymous WH (*COUGH* RAHM *COUGH*) Source"

[bertman]

90. Another nail in the coffin of the party formerly known for standing up for workers.

[Divine Discontent]

91. the corpodems better watch or they'll have a labor party fracturing off...

[David Zephyr]

92. Honored to be your, what is it now, like 1,000th rec.

:)

[Bluebear]

94. Well, it is interesting.

Message discipiline and unrecs can only go so far lol...

What we see here are people recommending a firmly stated progressive statement coming from SOMEBODY at least :)

XO

[Stand and Fight]

93. Were it possible, I would remove every recommendation I've ever given to assign it to this one. n/t

[myrna minx]

95. K&R n.t

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

96. He's probably not a fake ass Joe Pesci wannabe stubby fingered douche bag. Like certain people who

shall remain nameless.

[suffragette]

98. (Your vote: +1)

Hey, that would be my vote.

K&R.

[donheld]

102. +1000

[JDPriestly]

104. Thanks Mr. Vale.

The Obama administration needs to make a change in personnel. A number of people need to go.

[Moochy]

105. K&R

[malaise]

106. K & R

Unions forever

[highplainsdem]

107. K&R

[enigmatic]

108. I'll stand w/ Eddie Vale

There Is Power In A Union:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KO90EdKB-g

[liberal_at_heart]

110. Woo Hoo! Way to go Eddie Vale!

[donco6]

111. I think this is the highest-recced post I've ever seen.

But hey . . . we're not the base.

[Bluebear]

113. This shows what people think of traditional Democratic sentiments, not pragmatism

Despite the loudest of the loud here, look at this results of this!

[Moochy]

132. The "loudest" here get an obscene amount of support

from the rules here. Big Donors, Big Prizes!

[Moochy]

131. The base vs. the rules here

The rules here favor the elites with Big Donor Status.

[Starry Messenger]

134. Same here.

Can I hope someone is taking notes?

[Bluebear]

146. Yes indeed!

[Barbara2423]

112. I'm a working person who supports labor unions.

I do not understand why any poor or working person don't support labor unions. Without them there would be no employee benefits or middle class. Rich people are always able to make poor people vote against their own self interest. This what Blanche Lincoln/Bill Clinton has done.

[chill_wind]

114. Whoot! Thank you for standing up for working families, Eddie Vale.

:thumbsup:

[autorank]

118. k*r The Unions should be respected not dismissed

They're the only reason we have decent wages and benefits, or once had, and they're the people that built a good portion of the country; the people who were the foundation of the period of industrial success, and those who work for people instead of dollars.

Thanks for posting. You have my full support.

[avaistheone1]

119. Sock it to 'em!!!!!

:kick:

[PBass]

120. Kicked and recommended... the 100 -plus dollars I contributed

to Bill Halter's campaign over the past few months was money well-spent. I look forward to the NEXT primary challenge we can mount, against another weak Democrat. I will gladly contribute AGAIN.

Also, I SUPPORT UNION LABOR.

[Hubert Flottz]

121. The White House might have flushed a large block of votes down

the crapper too. I guess they don't care, now that they run elections Afghani style.

[polichick]

124. Yep - but they're too arrogant and tone deaf to know that. nt

[xchrom]

122. recommend

[Canuckistanian]

123. K&R

:thumbsup:

[polichick]

125. Bless you Eddie Vale! k&r

[Better Believe It]

128. K & R

[lonestarnot]

139. K & R that Eddie Vale!

[AnneD]

142. My name is Anne....

I am a proud member of the American Federation of Teachers. In the past year I have watched as Arne Duncan and Barrack Obama have bad mouthed fellow teacher in public speeches and actions. They will not receive my support. I will back local and national candidates that will remember who brought them to the dance in the first place. Yes it hurts to 'piss away' that much money-but if I recollect, it is MY MONEY to piss away. I worked OT and gave that money and time working to get Obama elected and folks said I was pissing away my money then. I feel now that my friends were right then-so don't count on me this next time. I didn't work that hard for corporations to continue to screw us over. I am not a far left member of the Democratic Party-but I am an old school Democrat that remembers what that stands for.

[democrank]

143. Enthusiastic , union-supporting K & R

What a sorry state of affairs. To the thrill of all the excuse-making, corporate-interests-first,people-last Democrats, the administration has once again forgotten those that helped it rise to power.