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Posted on 07/30/2005 3:01:49 AM PDT by RWR8189
Freshman Democrat Melissa Bean will "pay a serious price" for voting for the Central American Free Trade Agreement in the U.S. House, a top labor leader said Thursday, predicting that unions will deny her crucial support in her effort to hold on to her northwest suburban congressional seat.
"Almost all the unions in this particular area supported her both with mobilization -- knocking on doors -- and with money, and up comes what is a true test in terms of a vote, and she can't stand with us?" said Gerald McEntee, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the largest union in the AFL-CIO.
"She'll certainly feel an effect in terms of contributions and resources," McEntee said. "She'll pay a serious price with the workers in her area."
Leaders, workers feel 'betrayed'
Illinois AFL-CIO President Margaret Blackshere said one local labor leader told her he was considering looking for a candidate to challenge Bean in the Democratic primary in the 8th Congressional District.
"They are angry. They feel betrayed," Blackshere said. "It will be difficult for her to get support in the future."
Bean became a top GOP target after she ousted longtime Republican incumbent Phil Crane last year. In that race, labor unions gave the Barrington Democrat $235,200 -- nearly 49 percent of the political action money she took in, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. This year, labor has kicked in at least $67,500.
As the AFL-CIO's convention adjourned at Navy Pier, national President John Sweeney told the Chicago Sun-Times he is "really angry" at Bean and the other Democratic defectors. But he said local union leaders will decide whether to support Bean's re-election.
"She's probably out of touch with her district," Sweeney said. "When's the last time she talked to workers about this?"
Bean was one of 15 House Democrats -- and the only one in Illinois -- to vote Wednesday for the trade agreement, called CAFTA, which squeaked through 217-215 after earlier passing the Senate.
Bean defends her vote
CAFTA eliminates tariffs and other trade barriers between the United States and Costa Rica, the Dominican Republican, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Union officials argue it will cost U.S. jobs, allow foreign employers to exploit workers and fail to protect the environment.
Bean said she voted for CAFTA, even though it "is not perfect," because it will eliminate foreign taxes paid by Baxter Healthcare, Abbott Labs, Boeing, Motorola and other companies in or near her district, allowing them to broaden their markets and create jobs.
"My primary responsibility is to support the interests of my constituents," she said. "On balance, they will benefit from CAFTA."
Business leaders hailed her vote and said it could bring her more corporate support.
"It was a courageous vote on her part," said Douglas Whitley, president and chief executive officer of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce.
But we're still going to knock you out next year.
The IL-8 is a very conservative district, and Bean only got in because people were tired of 40 years of Phil Crane.
This seat is ripe for a pick-up in 2006, and now she is getting eaten by her own.
The union ants will continue to mark Democrat all the way down the column, no matter what happens. They don't know any better.
Screw unions. The sooner they die, the better. Lazy, corrupt, parasitic extortionists.
A friend of mine belonged to this union - not by choice but because you were forced to join or else simply donate money to a charity of their choice. The whole thing smacks of "Big Brother" as far as I'm concerned.
Ah, the fresh smell of hyperbole on a Saturday morning with coffee! There's nothing like it!
AFSCME tried to organize our shop. Bunch of scum.
As for Melissa Bean...there are (or were) good Dems out there. The two party system could use a few more of them.
Well we know the ratunions can't elect a rat controlled congress, lets see if they can help us increase our lead.
"When rats attack! Film at eleven!" Hee hee hee hee!
"The House passed a $286.4 billion highway and mass transit bill Friday that could provide long-awaited relief for the nation's travelers while creating tens of thousands of construction jobs."
Can we chalk this up to the first jobs created by CAFTA? [/sarcasm]
Ping
The Dems are always moaning about how much more money the Pubs get than they do. That is a lie on its face but it also does not include all the free labor "volunteers" they get for campaigning. Not only is that a big help but it also gives the impression a candidate has more support than they actually do.
Screw unions. The sooner they die, the better. Lazy, corrupt, parasitic extortionists.
They are perfect partners with the Communist/Democrats.
See my tagline.
Melissa Bean has really bitten off the hand that feeds her on this one. The biggest group to fund her '04 bid to unseat Crane were DA UNIONS out to avenge Crane for all his ardent free tradiing. In addition to DA UNIONS outraged at her betrayal and out looking for a primary opponent, I found this little item posted online yesterday:
http://www.thenation.com/blogs/actnow?bid=4&pid=8811
BLOG | Posted 07/28/2005 @ 10:29am
Punish the CAFTA 15
My name is Bill Scheurer, and I ran against Melissa Bean (one of the worst of the "CAFTA 15") in the 2004 primary, as a peace candidate. We want to run a third-party campaign in 2006, but it will take $15,000-20,000 just to get on the ballot. (Illinois is one of those states that require new parties to get 20x the number of signatures as the two established parties.)
Someone, please set up a coalition or clearinghouse to get support and life into those campaigns that will challenge these incumbents. Do not let this go away with a few angry comments posted on a blog!
Thank you,
Bill Scheurer, Editor The PeaceMajority Report
www.PeaceMajority.org
Posted by BILL SCHEURER 07/28/2005 @ 10:29pm
Bean-brain bump.
We're narrowly ahead. Freep this poll:
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