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September 01, 2005
The CAFTA 15 Get Their Payoff
I just heard this rumor from a well-placed source in the Washington political operative world that should send your blood aboiling: the National Association of Manufacturing has agreed to hold a fundraiser for the CAFTA 15. There it is, the payoff for a vote that hurt workers here and abroad.
Completely by coincidence, an hour after I got the tip, I was on the NAM's radio show to discuss the future of labor with my blogger counterpart over there, Pat Cleary (a smart man and good writer, even if we don't agree). I asked Pat, on the air, at the end: I hear you guys are throwing a fundraiser for the CAFTA 15. Pat's response was roughly: we just want to say thanks.
Don't get me wrong: I find no fault with what the NAM is doing. It is rewarding its friends and allies--it is being creative and smart about wooing the whores of the Democratic Party. The real question is: what is our response?
So, Rahm Emanuel, head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), a question for you: is the DCCC going to raise money for the CAFTA 15, if those same folks are taking corporate money as a specific thank-you for the CAFTA vote? And, Nancy Pelosi, what's your reponse going to be?
Personally, I hope the CAFTA 15 go to the fundraiser. We should take pictures of everyone of the CAFTA 15 entering the event and use those pics on behalf of the primary challengers that need to be fielded to boot these folks out of office. And maybe even picket the event.
UPDATE: The event is apparently next week and, from what I'm being told, is being sponsored by a few heads of business associations.
September 1, 2005 in CAFTA 15 | Permalink
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Comments
Jonathan,
Where and when's the event?
Posted by: Mike Monahan | Sep 1, 2005 4:10:10 PM
I've asked and will post info when--and if--I get it.
Posted by: Tasini | Sep 1, 2005 4:12:23 PM
The surprise should not be that NAM is holding the event but that Jonathan's "blood is aboiling."
Getting mad is easy and a waste of time. What matters is getting even and of all of the fiery words and impassioned denunciations, I have yet to see even the beginnings of a viable strategy for doing so.
By the way, what was Pelosi's response to the request from Masters et. al. to dump Meeks and Towns from their committees?
I bet, rather than punish them for selling out, she rewards them for the extra cash they will bring in to DNC coffers.
Overly cynical?
I wish.
Posted by: John Halle | Sep 1, 2005 7:41:09 PM
Just a clarification to my friend (and radio compadre) Jonathan:
The NAM doesn't have a PAC, doesn't waste money like the AFL has done over the years. We are not sponsoring any fundraiser for the CAFTA 15. We still believe politics is about people. What we are doing is as many "thank you" events for these 15 and a bunch of other Republicans who took a tough vote, in our view, for prosperity and jobs. The day CAFTA took effect, duties on some 85% of US-made goods went away. it will increase exports into the region.
Can we agree to wait and see if there are any ill effects from CAFTA before we start talking of "punishing" anyone? We think there will be mostly positive effects,from increased exports to the region. This county added 300,000 auto jobs in the years after NAFTA passed, remember.
Thanks, Jonathan for the deabte and for running a great blog!
Posted by: Pat Cleary | Sep 1, 2005 8:46:46 PM
And maybe we should "wait and see" if the NAM's darling John Roberts turns out to be a good supreme court justice
for working people as well eh? Come on. You can airbrush the numbers any way you want, but all of us know these corporate trade agreements have nothing to do with helping lift poor people out of poverty or protecting American jobs.
Please let me know if this "thank you" party is in the D.C. area. I'd love to hop on the Metro after a long day at the supermarket and thank these so called democrats for siding with corporate CEO's over my brothers and sisters on the shop floor.
Posted by: Jambon | Sep 2, 2005 2:54:10 AM
SEE...Professor Morris Massey did a series of videos on how people's attitudes and values are shaped at a very early age. His contention was they follow us through life. The rare exception is when we are exposed to a SEE (Significant Emotional Event).
Whether you believe his "preachings" or not, it is hard to argue Katrina and the horrors of what we are watching and what others are living won't impact us for years to come. The tragedies will only be outnumbered by the questions as to how this could happen in the USA.
As much as 9/11 moved the masses to the right, this horrible nightmare will push millions to the left. There will be volumes written reagrding the how and why's and enough blame to rock both the dems and the republicans. Perhaps it will be the milestone where we turn the corner and return to a more civilized setting of social and economic justice.
Let's face it, we have been living in an era where the have's demanded they have more. They have decided that those that have less are obviously worthy of where they are. As our social network crumbles, we see the kind of devestation that comes when an infrastructure is ill-prepared to deal with the needs of the collective many.
There will be the cries of those, "now is not the time to blame." BULLSHIT. Now is the exact time to go after the root evil of a society steeped in wanting and having more...especially when it comes at a cost to those who have nothing.
Wouldn't it be refreshing if this labor day, a true LABOR MOVEMENT emerged. One where those that have the most acknowledge they have more than they need and that those that have nothing start getting their share because organized labor starts doing something rather than talking about doing something.
Posted by: Bill Pearson | Sep 2, 2005 9:34:42 AM
Damn Jonathan, would ya put a edit button on this blog for those of us who are computerly challenged. My apologies on the above post to those looking for a ripping and tearing sound towards the CAFTA 15...God knows they deserve it.
Posted by: Bill Pearson | Sep 2, 2005 9:38:52 AM
