GOP Exposed: the 'first shot' against organized labor
Courtesy of Countdown, proof that the Dixie Axis engaged in a plot to kneecap organized labor, even if it meant killing off the American automotive industry, and even if it cost 3 million Americans their livelihoods.
Countdown has obtained a memo entitled "Action Alert - Auto Bailout," and sent Wednesday at 9:12am, to Senate Republicans. The names of the sender(s) and recipient(s) have been redacted in the copy Countdown obtained. The Los Angeles Times reported that it was circulated among Senate Republicans.
The memo, with the subject line: "Action Alert -- Auto Bailout" reads in part (emphasis added):
Today at noon, Senators Ensign, Shelby, Coburn and DeMint will hold a press conference in the Senate Radio/TV Gallery. They would appreciate our support through messaging and attending the press conference, if possible. The message they want us to deliver is:
1. This is the democrats first opportunity to payoff organized labor after the election. This is a precursor to card check and other items. Republicans should stand firm and take their first shot against organized labor, instead of taking their first blow from it.
2. This rush to judgment is the same thing that happened with the TARP. Members did not have an opportunity to read or digest the legislation and therefore could not understand the consequences of it. We should not rush to pass this because Detroit says the sky is falling.
It goes on to call on the recipients to circulate their own press releases and hold press conferences asap, and concludes: "the hardest thing for the democrats to do is get 60 votes. If we can hold the Republicans, we can beat this."
Ron Gettelfinger, who heads the UAW, got a look at the memo, too, and took his own shots during a press conference today:
And, just to add to your cynicism about the actions of the Dixie Axis, the Los Angeles Times adds this:
By standing in the way of an auto industry bailout, GOP senators appear to have bitten the hand that fed them.
Over the last decade, General Motors has given $1.50 to Republican candidates for every $1 it has given to Democrats. That same pattern has been followed by Chrysler and Ford, which year after year have favored the right side of the aisle, sometimes by more than a 3-to-1 ratio in dollar terms.
Since 1990, the auto industry as a whole -- including suppliers, dealers and manufacturers -- has cut $100 million in checks to Republicans, compared with just $34 million to Democrats.
On Thursday night, the carmakers discovered just how little loyalty that investment strategy had bought them.
So why attack their patrons?
In doing so, analysts said, Republicans were planting the seeds for a fundraising appeal to big business -- other than the Big Three, of course -- as they gear up for a major political fight next year over expected legislation that would make it easier for unions to organize.
"They may lose money from the auto industry, but a union fight will get them a lot of money from the rest of the business community," Sabato said.
And it may also be a sign that the GOP is digging in in Dixie, and giving up the Great Lakes region for good. Either that or the desperation to break the back of organized labor is the only "principle" the GOP has left.
