Repercussions

By GottaLaff

TPM has reminded us that there are consequences for every vote in Congress.

NOW, NOW...

NOW says it is "incensed" over the abortion deal President Obama has struck to get health care reform passed.

That was repercussion #1.

A lot of us are wishing that abortion rights, legal abortion rights, the ones that are legal, wouldn't be tampered with. Speaking of which, Joan McCarter (AKA MCJoan at Daily Kos) tweeted something that's getting a lot of play on Twitter:

There's benefit to Stupak's obstructionism: A resounding declaration this bill does NOT pay for abortion.

And if you listen to Michele Bachmann (I jotted this down while she was ranting on the Tee Vee Machine), the anti-choicers are doomed, doomed:

"Nobody can call themselves pro-life EVER AGAIN if they vote for this bill."

Oh, but they will. And we'll continue to call them anti choice.

Sidebar: Bachmann also slipped and called Democrats "pro-life". That was yummy.

Now for repercussion #2.

Richard Trumka of the AFL-CIO says that unions will remember which Democrats voted against health care reform.

"[T]hat'll be part of what we look at when endorsements comes. This will be a big one. This will have more weight than a lot of the other little ones."

Election 2010 is getting interestinger and interestinger.

VIDEO: Blanche Lincoln's rival, Bill Halter, on The Ed Show

By GottaLaff

Ed Schultz:

"This is the fastest start by any candidate since the November elections."

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

My previous post on Halter here.

VIDEO: Halter Raises $600,000 in 24 Hours, Releases First TV Ad

By GottaLaff



Arkansas, Blanche, watch out. There's a liberal a-comin':

In the 24 hours after announcing his plans to challenge Sen. Blanche Lincoln in the Democratic primary, Arkansas Lt. Gov. Bill Halter raised more than $600,000, mostly through the efforts of a coalition of progressive groups who are directing their donors to support his campaign.

Oh, it gets better. The AFL-CIO pledged $3 million in independent expenditures to get Blanche outta there.

Check out his ad above. He's full of energy and rarin' to go.

Complete Video- President Obama Rallies for Reform with AFL-CIO 9/15/09

VIDEO-- Obama at AFL-CIO, to GOP: "Where's YOUR Solution To Health Reform?"

By GottaLaff



Finally: Stickin' it to the Rushpublics. President Obama got me all fired up:

President Obama comments on health reform at the AFL-CIO Labor Day Picnic in Cincinnati.

He began the speech by commenting on labor in general, as well as the economy, when he switched the subject. "Just in case you were wondering," he says, "we're also going to build an America where health reform delivers more stability and security to every American." He declined to go into detail, advising the crowd to tune in on Wednesday night.

While he remarked that the debates on health reform have been "good," he said that "every debate at some point comes to an end... It's time to act and get this thing done."

Obama also had a challenge to Republicans opposed to health reform: "What are you gonna do? What's your answer? What's your solution? And you know what? They don't have one! Their answer is to do nothing."

My liveblog of the entire speech is here. Video of "fired up" segment here.

VIDEO- Obama to AFL-CIO: "Are You Fired Up?" story

By GottaLaff

Oooo, tell it again! Tell it again!

At a Labor Day picnic, President Obama talks health care reform and recounts his "Fired Up? Ready To Go!" campaign story.

My liveblog of the entire speech, including the "fired up" story, can be found here.

President Obama speaks to AFL-CIO: Liveblog

By GottaLaff

I'll do my best to liveblog the president's speech. My patented, award-winning, internationally renowned quick notes coming right up:

An honest day's pay for an honest day's work.

Remembers Ted Kennedy.

Medicare, Social Security, 40 hour work week, etc. all bear the union label.

Every American owes something to the U.S. labor movement.

Recently, the American Dream is slipping away... Wall St. has different attitude: Wealth over work, greed over responsibility, the right to work undermined rather than strengthened. Worked for those at the top, but not for you or the country.

That culture undermined the middle class, created worse economic crisis of our time. So we commit to rebuild... ensure our great middle class remains as backbone of our economy... not just picnics, a reality.

Some have forgotten just how bad it was 7 months ago.. selective amnesia. So let's just remind them for a second. A financial system on verge of collapse, about 700K workers losing jobs, worse recession of our lifetimes... That's why we took swift action. Passed unprecedented Recovery Acts... and Ohio, it is working.

We've given tax cuts... kept campaign promise.

We're rebuilding America's infrastructure.... Financial system saved from collapse. Home sales up, signs of life in auto industry, business investment starting to stabilize, for first time in 13 mos. growth in manufacturing!

We lost jobs in August, unacceptable. But for second month, lost fewer jobs than month before, fewest in a year. We're moving in right direction, we're on the road to recovery, don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

CROWD: YES WE CAN. Obama: Yes we will, yes we are.

We won't let up, not until workers looking for jobs can find them... till we have a full economic recovery...

As we recover, cut deficit, we need to build a new foundation. A reformed financial system, regulations in place so we never have a crisis like this again. I don't wanna bail out any more banks.

Energy reform with green jobs that can't be outsourced. Better job educating sons and daughters. I'll HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY TOMORROW FOR OUR CHILDREN... to stay in school, work hard.

[HE'S BEEN GETTING HUGE CHEERS THROUGHOUT]

We need to invest in middle class.. I created a task force for this led by Biden.

Today, another step: I'm naming Ron Bloom to lead efforts to revitalize American Manufacturing. Ensure American competitiveness, create jobs. If you're wondering, we'll also build an America where health care reforms builds more security for every American. For those who have insurance, and those who don't.

Health care: We've been fighting for nearly a century for this, since Teddy Roosevelt. LONG time. Now we're debating the issue. The debate's been good. We've gotta get this right, but every debate comes to an end. Time to act. It's time to ACT and get this thing done. We've never been this close, had such broad agreement. So some special interests are trying to scare the heck out of people.

So I have a question for them... all the lies... WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO? WHAT'S YOUR ANSWER? WHAT'S YOUR SOLUTION? And you know what? THEY DON'T HAVE ONE. Their answer is to do nothing. Insurance will rake in profits, discriminate, deny coverage, drop it, etc.... Premiums skyrocket, more families forced into bankruptcy, dying because they have no insurance. I see reform, security for those with insurance. No going w/o coverage.

Competition, choice, including a public option. [cheers] Reforms to preserve Medicare. One that works as well for Americans as it does for insurance industry... They can make a profit, but must be fair and accountable.

Put aside partisanship, saying things that aren't true, pass health reform NOW, this year.

Organized labor has fought longer and harder for this than most. Labor's not the problem it's part of the solution. That's why Solis is working to protect your interests... overturned past admin. policies to stifle labor.

When labor is strong, America's strong. When we stand together, we rise together. That's why first law I signed was Ledbetter Act. Equal pay of equal work.

Some things are worth fighting for: Equal pay, justice on the job, etc... no second class citizens... We all deserve a chance to pursue our happiness. That's the cause of my presidency, and that's the commitment we must fulfill for all of America's working families.

But I'm gonna need you to do it.

Recession is wearing on folks... Bickering in DC never stops... pundits say how this isn't working, that's not working... you start gettin' into a funk... and whenever I see folks in that neg. place, I think back to story during campaign: It's about where the phrase "fired up" comes from.

Nobody could pronounce my name. I went to S.C., Greenville... I sat next to state rep., nobody supported me back then.. State rep said I'll endorse if you come to my home town of Greenwood, S.C. I had a glass of wine, so I right away said OK! It's far from everyplace... so I fly in. I'm exhausted. I'm tired. I get told I have to be in the car at 6:30 a.m. to go to Greenwood. So I wake up and I feel even worse... I stagger to window... it's pouring. I get my paper, there's a bad story about me. I go downstairs, my umbrella breaks. I'm soaked. In the car, I'm sleeping, I'm wet, and I'm mad. We drive forever... hour and half... finally get to Greenwood. Pull up to a park, get out, get wet, go inside... long drive, there's only 20 people inside, and wet!

I'm a pro, shake hands, smile... I hear a voice shouting, "Fired up!" I'm scared, surprised... but nobody else was.. all say, "Fired up! Ready to go!" There's a little woman behind me, little thing.. about 50-60... she smiled, says, "Fired up!" Turns out she's a city council member who is famous for her chant... she chants at every event... "Fired up!" So for next 5 minutes, she keeps chanting... .I'm thinking, she's upstaging me! What to do? But:

After a minute, I'm starting to feel fired up, like I'm ready to go! So I join in! And it makes me feel good! For the rest of the day, I'd say, "Are you fired up?" It goes to show you how ONE VOICE CAN CHANGE A ROOM. And if it can change a room it can change a city.. as state... a nation... the world... Your voice can change the world! Your voice will get health care passed!

Are you fired up? Ready to go? I love ya!

AFL-CIO: Gov't option an absolute must

By GottaLaff

Photo: AP

I posted a couple of other posts like this one, but I don't mind emphasizing this one bit:

Democratic lawmakers will not be able to count on the AFL-CIO's support if they drop the public insurance option from the health care reform legislation, union officials said Tuesday.

The AFL-CIO’s incoming president, Richard Trumka, outlined "three absolute musts" in any overhaul package: a public option, an employer mandate and no tax on employer-provided health benefits.

Asked if the union would work against any bill that did not hit those targets, Trumka told reporters during a briefing: "That means we won't support the bill if it doesn't have the public option."

The hard line underscores the challenge facing President Barack Obama as he continues to pursue a bipartisan deal. [...]

Losing support of the AFL-CIO, one of the Democratic Party's most powerful allies, would rob Obama of a significant resource for grass-roots mobilization. [...]

On Monday, Trumka said in a speech at the Center for American Progress that lawmakers will pay a political price if they abandon the public option.

Hmmm. Is Obama playing the Rushpublics with all these maneuvers? Distracting them with all this public option talk in order to push the other elements of the bills through? I've had input from a lot of Tweeple (Twitterers), and that's one of the opinions I've heard the most often.

Labor leaders call on Congress to pass healthcare reform for Sen. Kennedy

By GottaLaff

TeddyCare appeals to organized labor, which of course, automatically makes it Rushpublic Kryptonite:

AFL-CIO President John Sweeney told a crowd of about 150 labor union representatives that labor unions would do more than just mourn Sen. Kennedy (D-Mass.).

“We’re going to organize and honor Ted’s legacy by fighting like Hell for healthcare reform,” Sweeney said at a Washington rally for healthcare reform at the union’s headquarters

This is an apt sequel to my previous post about health care reformers coming out in massive numbers. How wonderfully refreshing.

“Because of him, our destination is in site,” [Gerald McEntee, AFSCME’s president] said, “but we’ve got to keep working. We can’t let Ted Kennedy down. We can’t let America down.”

Ready for the Kryptoniters? In 5...4...3...2...

This has drawn criticism from conservatives, who say Democrats and healthcare reform advocates should not politicize Kennedy’s death to move healthcare reform forward. Some have said that if Democrats really want to honor Kennedy, they should remember his reputation for making a deal and offer Republicans substantive concessions to get them on board.

And now, back to our voice of reason already in progress:

After the rally, Sweeney told The Hill that Democrats should not make concessions on including a public insurance option in healthcare legislation as a way of winning Republican support for the bill. [...]

Sweeney and McEntee spoke at a rally that ended AFSCME’s “Highway to Healthcare Reform” bus tour, which visited 19 cities across the country to tout the need for reform.

Unions and other groups with ties to the Democratic Party are making a concerted effort to hold rallies and events to offset town halls across the country where conservative opponents of healthcare reform have received attention.

The two union leaders attacked the health insurance industry in their remarks Monday, and argued they were behind town halls where Democrats and Republicans ran into constituents angry about healthcare and government spending.

Um, has anyone seen any media coverage of these union efforts? No?

Me neither.

Department of Unintended Consequences

Hahahahaha!! Believe me, the Fontainebleau ain't all that and is probably thrilled with the publicity. Plus, it's a good union hotel.

Fontainebleau bookings up after Fox News report

A day after being accused by Fox News of hosting a ''boondoggle'' for labor leaders, the Fontainebleau Miami Beach isn't complaining. Fox sent a correspondent to the Miami Beach resort to report on the apparent contradiction of the AFL-CIO union holding a winter conference there amid gloomy times for its working-class members.

The result, Fontainebleau Resorts COO Howard Karawan said Thursday: ''Yesterday was the biggest booking day we've had at the hotel'' since reopening in December after two years of renovations.

Added- Wow, someone sensible over at Hot Air scoffs at F&F's bull.

President Obama Committed to Employee Free Choice

By GottaLaff

Via Oliver Willis:

From a video [Prez O] sent to AFL-CIO

And as we confront this crisis and work to provide health care to every American, rebuild our nation’s infrastructure, move toward a clean energy economy, and pass the Employee Free Choice Act, I want you to know that you will always have a seat at the table.

Poll-itics: AFL-CIO internals edition

By GottaLaff

Via Ambinder:

An AFL-CIO official sends along the following data from Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania:

Among veterans, retirees and gun owners -- the three groups we microtargeted communication to in the final weeks of persuasion -- we've seen the numbers improve dramatically.

Among union gun owners, it's now 58-30 Obama, up from 48-41 in early September, a 21 point jump.

Among veterans we're at 58-32, up from 49-41 in early September. (+18)

And among retirees, we're now at 59-31, up from 52-37, a 14 point improvement, nearly double the margin.

VIDEO-- AFL-CIO’s Richard Trumka: Hero Of The Day

By GottaLaff

Via Oliver Willis and Andrew Sullivan:


This one's for you, one of our Anonymi.

[LAFFY NOTE: In a few minutes, I'll be putting up the live feed from CSPAN along with an open thread. The thread will go on as long as you want, and we'll start new ones if/when we get overloaded with Comments.]

It's official: AFL-CIO endorses Obama

By GottaLaff

Just for Commenter Jack:

The A.F.L.-C.I.O.’s leaders voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to endorse Barack Obama for president, saying the federation would spend more than $50 million and deploy more than 250,000 volunteers in this fall’s campaign.

John J. Sweeney, the federation’s president, said, “Barack Obama’s record demonstrates he is a champion for working families and his proposals will improve life for generations of working people and our children." [...]

For Mr. Obama, labor’s vocal and enthusiastic backing is important because some Democrats fear that his support is weak among many working-class voters.

What can brown the AFL-CIO do for you?

The A.F.L.-C.I.O. said its campaign efforts would reach more than 13 million voters – union members, their family members and union retirees – in 23 priority states, adding that it planned to be involved in more than 525 federal and state races nationwide. The labor federation said its campaign efforts would focus on five swing states: Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. [...]

In March, the A.F.L.-C.I.O. began a nationwide “McCain Revealed” campaign that has sought to spread information about what it says is Senator John McCain’s anti-worker record. As part of that campaign, labor volunteers have knocked on 60,000 doors and delivered 1.5 million worksite flyers

The federation said that the endorsement of Senator Obama “is not only a stamp of approval; it marks the beginning of a huge, united political mobilization among working class voters.”

Good thing they're on our side.

AFL-CIO to endorse Obama Thursday

By GottaLaff

13 million voters in 24 priority states. Not a bad way to start a Thursday:

The general board of the AFL-CIO on Thursday is expected to endorse presumptive Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.). The board will convene Thursday in a conference call to make it official. The endorsement brings what will be the AFL-CIO's largest voter mobilization ever--outreach to more than 13 million voters in 24 priority states in support of Obama. The labor federation has budgeted a record $53.4 million for their entire 2008 voting program, which includes down ticket races.

Obama endorsed by AFSCME

By GottaLaff

A former critic of Obama's now endorses him. Gerald McEntee, the president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, had his doubts, but:

Today, McEntee sounded a much different note as he announced that his union -- the largest in the AFL-CIO, with 1.5 million members -- had endorsed Obama after supporting Hillary Clinton in the primary.

McEntee said Obama assured him and other labor leaders that he was intent on making sure that trade deals contained tougher labor and environmental provisions, a position Obama stated often on the trail, particularly in Rust Belt states, but that was called into question after his economic adviser Austan Goolsbee was reported to have assured the Canadian government that such talk was mainly for political consumption.

Obama denied those reports, but himself hinted at the political nature of his anti-trade talk this week when he told Fortune magazine that his anti-NAFTA rhetoric had gone a bit overboard. "Sometimes during campaigns the rhetoric gets overheated and amplified," he told the magazine. "Politicians are always guilty of that, and I don't exempt myself."

Hmm. I don't agree with Obama on everything. This recent NAFTA remark needs some clarification. Meanwhile, McEntee puts one more doubt aside:

"I think [Obama] has to, and should, take into consideration many points of view," McEntee said. "We're okay and willing to give this guy [Jason Furman, , a young on-the-rise economist who is regarded warily by some in organized labor on the left for some past writings presenting a positive view of WalMart] a chance."

The alternative, John Sidney McGramm, is not an option.