Unions accuse Gephardt aide of threats

AP | 12/03/03 | LIBBY QUAID

[kattracks]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Prominent labor leaders on Wednesday accused a St. Louis-based aide to Democratic presidential candidate Dick Gephardt of threatening retaliation against state employees if two prominent unions assist rival Howard Dean in the 2004 Missouri primary.

In a letter to Gephardt, D-Mo., Andrew Stern and Gerald McEntee accused Joyce Aboussie of vowing to seek the reversal of an executive order that granted Missouri state employees collective bargaining rights. The two called on Gephardt to fire Aboussie from the campaign and issue a written retraction of her threats.

Aboussie did not immediately return calls for comment. The Gephardt campaign issued a statement saying he strongly supports collective bargaining for public employees; he had no comment on the accusations.

McEntee, head of the 1.5-million member American Federation of State, County and Municipal employees, and Stern, president of the 1.6-million member Service Employees International Union, accused Aboussie of making her threat Monday at a meeting also attended by Missouri Gov. Bob Holden.

Aboussie is a longtime home-state aide to Gephardt, who is counting on a solid victory in Missouri in the Feb. 3 Democratic presidential primary. Although Gephardt did not receive the endorsements of the SEIU and AFSCME, he has consistently carried labor's fight during his 27 years in the House and has the backing of more than 20 international unions.

Holden, who has close ties to Gephardt and Aboussie, granted collective bargaining rights to thousands of state workers in an executive order two years ago.

In their letter, Stern and McEntee said Aboussie warned them that if they worked for Dean in Missouri, she would prod at least 22 state legislators to write Republican leaders calling for repeal of the collective bargaining order. Republican state legislative leaders have tried and failed to challenge Holden's order in the courts and in the legislature.

"It's bad enough to deliver an ultimatum to any group of people," the AFSCME and SEIU presidents wrote. "But for a senior aide of yours — who has worked for you for more than 20 years — to do so at the expense of Missouri's state employees is deplorable."

The two unions are collective bargaining's staunchest backers in Missouri.

However, another Missouri labor leader defended the Gephardt campaign, saying SEIU and AFSCME were motivated by presidential politics.

"This isn't tiddlywinks; it's politics, and everybody's committed to doing what they need to do," said Bob Kelley, president of the greater St. Louis Labor Council, AFL-CIO.

"The bottom line is, it's politics, pure and simple," said Kelley, a longtime Gephardt backer. "And I have to tell you, I will take Joyce's influence on Missouri politics over either AFSCME or SEIU."

Holden, who supports Gephardt, said in a statement, "It is my hope that all my friends who believe in the rights of workers can resolve their differences."

[Ditto]

Circular firing squad?

[elephant]

Let them eat their own. I hope the Mo Republicans in the House dont bite on this one.

[The_Victor]

Prominent labor leaders on Wednesday accused a St. Louis-based aide to Democratic presidential candidate Dick Gephardt of threatening retaliation against state employees if two prominent unions assist rival Howard Dean in the 2004 Missouri primary

How dare you use our own tactics against us!!!!

[marktuoni]

What a hoot...I love it when the dems fight with the unions!

[lelio]

In their letter, Stern and McEntee said Aboussie warned them that if they worked for Dean in Missouri, she would prod at least 22 state legislators to write Republican leaders calling for repeal of the collective bargaining order.

Here's to hoping that they have some proof of this. I would love to see Gephardt squirm.

[Mo1]

LOL .. let the fire works begin

[tractorman]

I’m beginning to think that it really doesn’t matter any more who the union leaderships endorse. It’s the rank and file that do the voting and in my UAW factory I’d say half voted for Bush last time and even more will in ’04.

[thesummerwind]

accused Joyce Aboussie</>

Gee, what an evil Democrat Aboussie *ussy.

[Basil Duke]

Aboussie runs a polling operation that all regional (meaning, Missouri) Democrats access for a not insubstantial fee. After toiling for her for a year or two, her staffers often are funneled into the staffs of St. Louis and Jefferson City-based Dem pols. She is also known as Gephardt's hatchet woman - the deliverer of threats veiled and not so veiled to potential deserters from the party line. This article doesn't surprise me in the least. I've interacted with her personally, and she is a most unpleasant individual.

[Peace will be here soon]

Did you know his father was a Milk Truck driver ? (sarcasm)

[Map Kernow]

Click here for article on what a mean, vindictive bitch this Joyce Aboussie is. I hope this incident and its notoriety destroy both her and Gephardt.

[Callahan]

Little Dick's leg-breaker. How does one sink to that position in life?

[Callahan]

Didn't Dick's bro come forward and say their Dad hated drove a milk truck for about a month, hated it, and hated the unions as well?

[MEGoody]

It's so cute when they eat their own!

[Ann Archy]

Pop the Popcorn!! Little Dickie got screwed by the unions that he SLAVISHLY courted.....ahhhhhhh.

[Maria S]

This woman must be a real DOOZY!! The following is currently on Drudge; the other article is lengthy, but tells A LOT about Joyce Aboussie:

DRUDGE BACKGROUNDER: Gephardt Senior Campaign Aide Joyce Aboussie
Wed Dec 03 2003 15:58:57 ET

Two powerful union leaders are demanding that Rep. Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.) fire one of his top aides after she allegedly threatened to retaliate against their unions if they campaign for former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean in Missouri.

She is: Joyce Aboussie.

Joyce Aboussie was a volunteer for Gephardt’s 1976 campaign for Congress, and served as an intern for Gephardt in 1977. She worked on Gephardt’s 1978 reelection campaign, and has been involved in every reelection campaign from that point forward. Aboussie was the Missouri campaign manager for Gephardt’s 1988 presidential run. Her ties to Gephardt run long and deep. One political veteran says that Aboussie is “the gatekeeper for Gephardt on a lot of local issues.” She not only “has Gephardt’s ear in matters large and small,” but she also “has control over who has access to that ear.” One St. Louis City Hall “lifer” says Aboussie has Gephardt’s influence, but not his oversight.

Roll Call says Aboussie’s effort to keep Gephardt in touch with his constituents is “a crucial component” of his presidential efforts. Donna Brazile attributed Gephardt’s 1988 Iowa victory to Aboussie.

Aboussie has managed or consulted on numerous campaigns in Missouri, including Bob Holden’s gubernatorial race. Aboussie’s style combines “a mean streak with a powerful ability to get the job done.” An unnamed political operative said Aboussie has “her fingers deep into the pie and will cut you off, and you will know it was her. She’ll hurt you.” Another operative notes, Aboussie will make someone pay a price if she’s crossed, “which is usually your complete and utter destruction.”

Aboussie is president and owner of Telephone Contact Inc (TCI), a political-consulting firm that does polling and compiles frequent voter lists, which are then sold to political campaigns. Aboussie’s relationship with Gephardt and her ownership of TCI have been called a conflict of interest. Some say that Aboussie will say she’s “completely independent of Gephardt” when wanting to take on a given client or cause, but will do the opposite for those with whom she doesn’t want to be involved, saying to do so “would be against Gephardt’s interests.”


Joyce Abusive
Nobody's ever voted for Joyce Aboussie, but the congressman, the governor, the mayor and the county executive don't do anything political without her.
May 29, 2002
http://www.riverfronttimes.com/issues/2002-05-
29/feature.html/1/index.html
BY D.J. WILSON
DJ.Wilson@riverfronttimes.com

[Peace will be here soon]

Yes, I have heard that too. But have never seen any quotes in print. But Dick likes to use that quote all the time so he can make himself look good to the union folk, just like parading his lesbian daughter ( Chrissy ) around whenever he can so he can look good to the gay community.

[JCG]

... just like parading his lesbian daughter ( Chrissy ) around whenever he can so he can look good to the gay community.

Sad state of affairs when you think about it. Little Dick actually achieved Eagle Scout rank in the Boy Scouts. Now he seeks approval from the sworn enemies of the BSA.