Steelworkers Present Robert "Sheets" Byrd with Wellstone Award; Seizes Opportunity to Bash Bush

Sen. Byrd website ^ | 2/2/04 | Byrd's website

[mountaineer]

The United Steelworkers of America (USWA) has presented U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., with its 2004 Paul Wellstone Award.

"Senator Byrd is truly deserving of the Wellstone Award because of his dedication to the pursuit of well-being of working people. No one stands taller for democracy, no one stands taller in the defense of our institutions of democracy, and no one stands taller in his understanding and defending of the Constitution of this country than Senator Byrd," USWA International President Leo Gerard said.

The Wellstone Award was established following the October 25, 2002, death of U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone, his wife, Sheila, daughter Marcia, and three campaign aides in a plane crash in northern Minnesota. The award is handcrafted in metal by USWA artisans at August Wendell Forge in Pennsylvania, featuring a quote from Senator Wellstone: "Politics is what we create by what we do, what we hope for and what we dare to imagine."

"Senator Byrd has stood firm and solid, shoulder to shoulder, with steelworkers and mineworkers for decades. He's not a Johnny-come-lately to the defense of working people, to the defense of steelworkers, miners, industrial workers, public sector workers, or any other working families or their communities," Gerard said. "Senator Byrd has used his consummate legislative skills to further the cause of working people."

The West Virginia lawmaker told the more than 300 people gathered for Sunday's opening session of the USWA legislative convention that working families face increasing pressures as a direct result of Bush Administration policies. The convention continues in Washington, D.C., through Tuesday.

"The challenges faced by working Americans has never been greater. Those challenges are exacerbated by an Administration that has no understanding of the needs of working families. The Bush Administration, ever eager to feed at the trough of corporate largesse, does so at the expense of America's working families," Byrd said.

"We know where George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and Karl Rove pitch their tents, and it is not in our camp," Byrd stated. "Not in our camp, where America's hard-working families need accessible health care and seniors live in desperate need of affordable prescription drugs. Not in our camp, where workers are losing pensions while corporate CEOs earn millions simply for putting on a tie and making a contribution to the Bush campaign. Not in our camp, where these same CEOs are moving their companies overseas to 'outsource' American jobs."

"Those who make promises at election time and then change their tune later; those who offer short-term fixes to your long-term problems -- they do not have your best interests at heart, and they are not worthy of your support," Byrd said.

Senator Byrd received his award surrounded by union delegates from West Virginia and across the country. USWA President Gerard said that Byrd and Wellstone were alike in that each tried to use the power and influence of serving in Congress to improve the lives of working families.

"When the opportunity comes up to present an award on Paul's behalf, it really necessitates a lot of thinking and discussion because it means so much to us. The people we give this to -- they also represent so much to us. They have been there not just for steelworkers, but for workers. They have been there for the values of honor, decency, commitment, staying in for the fight," Gerard said. "This year, I think we're blessed that our union decided to give the Paul Wellstone Award to the Senator I think is probably known as the greatest Senator in the history of the country, Senator Robert C. Byrd."

Byrd, first elected to represent West Virginia in the Senate in 1958, has sponsored many bills supporting working families, and has led the Senate Steel Caucus fights to curb foreign imports and steel dumping. The West Virginia lawmaker has been a key leader in rallying opposition to exemptions to the steel tariffs imposed by President Bush.

[mountaineer]

"The challenges faced by working Americans has never been greater. Those challenges are exacerbated by an Administration that has no understanding of the needs of working families."

I heard this soundbite on the local radio news, and had to investigate. The challenge has never been greater, Sheets? You're old enough to remember the Great Depression. That's what I call a challenge to working families, at least according to my mother, who lived through it in a poor little West Virginia town.

Sheets has been suckling on the government teat since at least 1958, he brags, so please tell me what the heck he knows about the challenges facing working Americans? His only challenge is figuring out how to take more of their hard-earned money to fund pork barrel projects.

[mountaineer]

USWA press release:

Contact: Gary Hubbard of the United Steelworkers of America, 202-778-4384 or 202-256-8125

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 /U.S. Newswire/ -- USWA President Leo Gerard presented separate 'USWA Wellstone Awards' to U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W.V.) and U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) during the opening session on Sunday of a 'Legislation for Us' conference with 400 union activists from across the nation at the Omni Shoreham Hotel.

In accepting the awards, both Sen. Byrd and Rep. Kaptur described Sen. Wellstone as an authentic advocate who advanced labor and human rights. Sen. Byrd contrasted the late Senator's advocacy by telling union members, "The Bush Administration, which is ever eager to feed at the trough of corporate largesse, does so at the expense of America's working families."

Gerard said, "The USWA created the award to recognize the dedication and accomplishments of public servants that exemplify the late U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone, whose own commitment to public service and the well-being of Steelworkers and their families helped advance labor and human rights at home and around the world."

Sen. Byrd received his award surrounded by USWA delegates from West Virginia, where he was thanked by the USWA president for "your dedication to Steelworkers and their families, and for your unswerving, unshakable defense of our democratic foundations." Sen. Byrd was first elected to represent West Virginia in 1958. He has sponsored many bills supporting working families, and has led the Senate Steel Caucus fights to curb foreign imports and steel dumping, plus rallying opposition to exemptions to the steel tariffs imposed by U.S. Pres. Bush.

Rep. Kaptur was greeted by Steelworkers from northwestern Ohio's ninth Congressional District, where she is serving an eleventh term since first being elected in 1982. She was cited by USWA President Gerard "as one of the strongest voices in Congress against trade agreements that trade away jobs and a tireless advocate for the rights of workers everywhere." The USWA president said she has never forgotten her roots of activism that began with employment in an auto parts plant. Kaptur is the senior democratic woman on the congressional appropriations committee who is a fighter in the Wellstone tradition.

The USWA Wellstone Award was established following the Oct. 25, 2002 death of U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone, his wife, Sheila, daughter Marcia and three campaign aides in a plane crash in northern Minnesota -- only ten days from an election he was on his way to winning a third term. The award is handcrafted in metal by USWA artisans at August Wendell Forge in Pennsylvania, featuring a Sen. Wellstone quote: "Politics is what we create by what we do, what we hope for and what we dare to imagine."

[GungaLaGunga]

"The Irelevant Present an Award to the Demented"

[dave k]

"-- only ten days from an election he was on his way to winning a third term."

Hmmmmmm...being from MN, and closely watching the race between Wellstone and Norm Coleman, I seem to recall it was a statistical dead heat, with the polls starting to sway towards Mr Coleman.

[lilylangtree]

As a former West Virginian and visited there during the holidays, I can testify that there aren't any new industries or an increase in employment except in the state government. All other industries, what's left that is, reported decreased employment figures. Could it be that the state has depleted things and places to name after Sheets Byrd that in order for him to be awarded anything it has to come outside the state?

Sheets Byrd's home state has several things named after him, including:

The Robert C. Byrd Highway; the Robert C. Byrd Locks and Dam; the Robert C. Byrd Institute; the Robert C. Byrd Life Long Learning Center; the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program; the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope; the Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing; the Robert C. Byrd Federal Courthouse; the Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center; the Robert C. Byrd Academic and Technology Center; the Robert C. Byrd United Technical Center; the Robert C. Byrd Federal Building; the Robert C. Byrd Drive; the Robert C. Byrd Hilltop Office Complex; the Robert C. Byrd Library; the Robert C. Byrd Learning Resource Center; and the Robert C. Byrd Rural Health Center.

Sort of reminds you of all the statues, pictures and images of Saddam Hussein in Iraq, doesn't it?

[7thson]

It reminds me of what Ann Coulter said last year. If President Bush had named the Iraqi battle The Robert C. Byrd Freedom War, Ol' Sheets would have been 100 percent behind it. On another note, I wonder how President Bush can take these continual insults to his person and dignity and not strike back. From the Kennedy's bad mouthing him on a daily basis - even when he dedicated the DOJ building as the RFK Building to the steel unions bashing him after he tried to help them. He is a better follower of Christ than I am.

[mountaineer]

You didn't mention my favorite, the Robert C. Byrd Intermodal Transportation Center. It's a parking garage in Wheeling.

[lilylangtree]

Thanks. I'll add that to the list. :)

[mountaineer]

corporate CEOs earn millions simply for putting on a tie and making a contribution to the Bush campaign

I could try to be charitable, and chalk up such insanity to Byrd's advanced age and demented condition, but I won't. This is the same sort of nonsense we hear from every prominent Democrat and their Hollywood celebrity camp followers.

Now we know - all we need to do to earn whopping salaries is put on a tie and make a contribution to Bush. How long does Sheets believe American corporations would stay in business, employing working Americans at pretty darn hefty rates of pay, if that was all management did?

[dwd1]

It is interesting that a story line in a show called "In the line of fire" covered an old Senator who had witnessed the lynching of a black man on his property when he was younger and it prompted him to make it his life's work to make things better for black people to atone for his actions.... You almost feel like they were talking about a real person or something....

[mountaineer]

That would be nice if Byrd really had dedicated himself to making things better for blacks, but he hasn't. His only goal has been bigger government and an increasingly dependent populace. My own state is proof enough of that, and we can thank Sheets for it. The bottom line is that freedom and opportunity, not perpetual dependence upon government, are what is good for all Americans.

[dwd1]

We can have a long discussion about the social contract thing but the truth is we don't get that much for our money... That is the real reason big government doesn't sell...

We have potholes, poverty, and many other things that no one has any easy answers to...

The episode did seem to be hitting a little too close to home...

[mountaineer]

evening bump