AFL-CIO leader: Democrats inviting repeat of 1994 over economy woes

The Hill ^

[Sub-Driver]

AFL-CIO leader: Democrats inviting repeat of 1994 over economy woes By Kevin Bogardus - 01/11/10 01:01 AM ET

The Democratic Party could see a repeat of their epic electoral defeat 1994 when Republicans won the House unless they institute dramatic changes in economic policy, the leader of the AFL-CIO said Monday.

In prepared remarks at the National Press Club, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said the majority party needs to end its coziness with the financial sector and step up and take action for workers to avoid losing control of the House.

“In 1992, workers voted for Democrats who promised action on jobs, who talked about reining in corporate greed and who promised health care reform. Instead, we got NAFTA, an emboldened Wall Street – and not much more,” Trumka will say, according to the remarks. NAFTA is a reference to the North American Free Trade Agreement with Mexico and Canada.

Union leaders got behind Democrats in 1994 despite their disappointment, but were unable to motivate their members to get out the vote, according to Trumka.

“There was no way to persuade enough working Americans to go to the polls when they couldn’t tell the difference between the two parties,” he will say in the remarks.

“Politicians who think that working people have it too good – too much health care, too much Social Security and Medicare, too much power on the job – are inviting a repeat of 1994.”

[Lakeshark]

I’m pretty sure is was Peter Jennings that said that. I’m guessing Brokjaw felt the same way though..............

[Slyfox]

I was switching around all the channels, but I think you are right.

I and all good Republicans watched blissfully gape-mouthed as all those lefties looked into their TV monitors gape-mouthed and in utter horror.