Big Business Group Running Ads In Mississippi Attacking Unions (And Why)

The Center for Union Facts, financed handsomely by huge corporations, is currently running two ads in Mississippi attacking unions.

I'm from Jackson County where we have quite a few unionized workers due to industry and even the Republicans here like unions. Unfortunately most of the state has very weak to nonexistent unionization.

First the ads:

1. Union dues are often as little as a nickel an hour while union membership means substantial raises that makes that an amazing investment.

2. Union dues can not be used to contribute to politicians.  It's against the law.

3. Minorities that belong to unions make far higher wages and receive better benefits than folks who aren't.

4. Union presidents lead huge organizations and just like the heads of corporations or major non-profits they deserve proper compensation.

What they are attacking is "card check" which unions support and is part of a proposed Employee Free Choice Act:

Employee Free Choice Act (S. 843; H.R. 1696). EFCA would (1) require employers to bargain with a union on the basis of card check recognition; (2) provide for mediation and arbitration for a first contract; and (3) increase penalties for employer violations of the NLRA.

...

The Employee Free Choice Act (S. 843; H.R. 1696) requires employers to recognize and bargain with unions who have demonstrated majority support on the basis of card check. With card-check recognition, the union is able to organize workers without the assault from a full-blown anti-union campaign, which is generally triggered at the moment a union files a representation petition with the NLRB. Without the interference and intimidation of an anti-union campaign, workers have a much higher rate of success in unionization drives.

It's infuriating to hear groups that oppose all government regulation of business run ads where they claim to be protecting workers. The found that this talking point was the most persuasive even if they don't even care about their justification for opposing the bill.

Similar ads are running in Colorado and Minnesota. This news report from Minnesota takes on the main (false) claim:


Now here's why the business front group Union Facts is spending money here:

The Employee Free Choice Act will have the votes to pass in the house from most Democrats and a few Republicans. President Barack Obama will sign the bill. This leaves only the Senate where even today it has the support to pass with a simple majority, but Republicans who hated the filibuster until they were in the minority have blocked it procedurally. This means the bill will need 60 supporters in the Senate to pass next year and Wicker and Cochran are votes against it. Ads like this and ones that will likely soon attack Ronnie Musgrove are aimed at keeping Republicans there.

Don't let big and anonymous money take away your power. Join and support a union if you can.

Colorado Break

Just to take a break from Mississippi for a moment, check out this hilarious DSCC release on the Colorado Senate race.


After Schaffer's "Mt. Macaca" Moment, Democrats Send GOP Candidate A Geography Quiz
2008-05-15
Matthew Miller, DSCC
In an event that is already being dubbed his “Mt. Macaca moment,” Bob Schaffer launched his first TV commercial of the 2008 campaign yesterday, claiming in it that “Colorado is my life.” Odd, then, that Schaffer’s commercial highlights a mountain…in Alaska. (Or at least it did before Schaffer’s campaign manager told the Denver Post that “the ad would be pulled and re-edited with Colorado mountains.”)


Schaffer’s had a few other geography-related ‘oops’ so the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee put together some practice questions for the next time he has a geography quiz – or a Senate campaign.


1. In a TV commercial where you talk about proposing to your wife on Pikes Peak, what mountain should you show in the background?


a. Pikes Peak in Colorado
b. Mt. McKinley in Alaska


Correct Answer: a. But Schaffer’s commercial features shots of the famous Alaskan mountain. Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich’s spokeswoman commented: "While Alaskans can understand why Bob Schaffer would promote our beautiful mountain, I hope he doesn’t expect Alaska to cede North America’s highest peak to the State of Colorado."


2. Where is your favorite place to go for outdoor sports?
a. Skiing at Mary Jane
b. Hiking in the Great Sand Dunes
c. Climbing in Eldorado Canyon
d. Fly Fishing in the Fryingpan River
e. Parasailing in the Mariana Islands while on a “fact-finding” trip – paid for by a Jack Abramoff front group, of course.


Correct Answer: Coloradans would probably accept a, b, c or d. But Schaffer seems to prefer the last option, as the Denver Post reported in several front page stories.


3. If you’re a Congressman elected to represent Colorado’s 4th district, what part of the world should you accomplish the most for?
a. The Eastern Plains of Colorado
b. Ukraine


Correct Answer: a. But Schaffer once bragged to the Denver Post that, “I’ve accomplished more in that country [Ukraine] with less effort than I have in my own district.” [Denver Post, 12/15/02]


4. Just to cover all the bases…where is Colorado?



Hopefully Bob Schaffer can at least get the last one right.

Barack Obama Won BIG Last Night

Though conservative partisans and members of the media punditocracy are proclaiming yesterday as a win for Hillary Clinton it was clearly anything but. Consider the facts:

1. Polling showed Clinton with HUGE leads as of a couple of weeks ago.

The fact that he did as well as he did, even in states like California and New Jersey which he lost, shows great movement, momentum, and results.

2. Obama won the 14* of the 22 states that voted on Febuary 5th. Clinton won 8.

3. Obama won in every region including the New York media market taking Connecticut whereas Clinton only won 2 states that were not in areas reached by Arkansas or New York television areas.

4. Obama won Illinois (the state he represents) by a greater margin than Clinton won New York (the state she represents).

5. Obama won 8 states with more than 60% of the vote (Alaska (over 70%), Colorado, Georgia, Idaho (over 70%), Illinois, Kansas (over 70%), Minnesota, North Dakota). Clinton won 1 state (Arkansas) with over 60% of the vote.

6. Even as recently as yesterday morning people were projecting that about the best Obama could hope for would be to lose by about 100 delegates. NBC's Political Director Chuck Todd is now estimating that Obama will take more delegates than Clinton.

Barack Obama Is The Clear Winner of Super Tuesday.

Give Him Some Love!

If Your Have Any Interest In Writing For Cotton Mouth Click Here

* New Mexico could be overturned on provisional ballots, but he is currently ahead.