Punish the CAFTA 15

    Enough. Enough. Enough. If we ever want to make politicians take us seriously when it comes to important laws touching the lives of workers, we must punish the 15 so-called Democrats who voted for the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA)--and punish them hard.

    Not a single one of those cowardly 15 should receive a dime more of labor money. Not a single phone call should be made on their behalf. No labor endorsment should grace their re-election literature. They must pay.

    Not just on behalf of American workers. But, on behalf of the millions of workers who live in Central America for whom this is a bad deal, too. If we're going to talk about global solidarity, this is where we can practice it. If we're going to send letters to the Democratic Party and talk tough, we have to follow through.

    So, here is the roll-call of the 15 so-called Democrats, with their office telephone numbers. Print this list out and send it to everybody on your lists:

Melissa Bean, Illinois (8th District): 202-225-3711

Jim Cooper, Tennessee (5th District): 202-225-4311

Norm Dicks, Washington (6th District): 202-225-5916

Henry Cuellar, Texas (28th District): 202-225-1640

Ruben Hinojosa, Texas (15th District): (202) 225-2531

William Jefferson, Louisiana (2nd District): (202) 225-6636

Jim Matheson, Utah (2nd District): (202) 225-3011

Gregory Meeks, New York (6th District): 202-225-3461

Dennis Moore, Kansas (3rd District): (202) 225-2865

Jim Moran, Virginia (8th District): (202) 225-4376

Solomon Ortiz, Texas (27th District): 202-225-7742

Ike Skelton, Missouri (4th District): 202-225-2876

Vic Snyder, Arkansas (2nd District): 202-225-2506

John Tanner, Tennessee (8th District): (202) 225-4714

Edolphus Towns, New York (10th District: (202) 225-5936

    So, here's how to make it real:

1. Today, on the last day of the AFL-CIO convention, delegates should demand that a new resolution pass which states simply (with all the obvious "whereas" stuff): Resolved, no labor resources, financial or human, shall be expended on behalf of the 15 Democrats who voted for CAFTA.

2. Every CLC and State Federation should, at their very next meeting, pass a similar resolution, send the text to the pathetic so-called Democrat and take out an ad in the local newspaper which includes the text of the resolution and the reasoning behind it.

3. Look for people who stand up for workers. Let's find primary opponents to run against every one of the 15 so-called Democrats--knock off just one or two and watch the party tremble...you want to play in politics, it's time to get rough and bloody some noses.

Comments

[realdeal]

Nice comments Ian Kenny. Right on the money. Very glad to see someone has logged on spearating fact from fiction on the DR-CAFTA vote, understands how the Members struggled with the vote, why they leaned the way they did, and what the felt was accomplished by their vote. Also on the mark on what a "punish the 15" effort would accomplish.

And as for DR-CAFTA, Ian is on target again. AS I said way up on the response string, this was an arbitrary line drawn in the sand by labor and a huge miscalculation, esp given the stuff the Admin caved on and how far that stuff moved the ball down the field for future trade agreements. As is often the case, when folks (individuals and organizations) screw up they end up blaming others other than looking in the mirror. You would think labor would be humbled by how bad they handled DR-CAFTA and their internal fractures and would quietly re-evaluate what they should do. Instead, we see story-telling based on ideology. And lay-offs in the AFL-CIO DC office. Perhaps that was the job loss everyone is talking about.

[Tasha]

"Fascism should more appropriately be called corporatism because it is a merger of state and corporate power." -- Benito Mussolini, former dictator of Italy who ended his days at the end of a rope.

The 15 so-called Democrats who voted for more fascism should be replaced by loyal Democrats. This does not mean replacing Democrats with Republicans -- that would be like shooting ones self in the foot, not a wise plan. The treasonous 15 feel safe and secure in their little fiefdoms since their districts are gerrymandered to produce significantly more Democrat votes than Republican. This is why they think that they can blow off their constituients and labor -- they don't think that we have any recourse.

What is required is a viable Primary Election challenger, backed by labor and patriotic Americans to unseat each of the arrogant bastards. Once the treasonous 15 lose their primaries, loyal Democrats will replace them in Congress. These new Representatives will remember how they got there (over the bodies of their fallen fellow Democrats) and they will act accordingly -- they will fight to the death the fascists destroying our citizens' livelyhoods and our nation.

[Hammerfist]

Just remember. When saying it is Bush's baby and things like that and to remember who the real opponent is. Bush is the head of the serpent. The body is the team he brought with him and those that back him. If you cut the head off this serpent it would simply regenerate and they'd put someone else in his place. For example: If there were no Bush then that would likely mean we'd be stuck with Cheney! So, when saying to remember who the real opponent is. Remember, it is more than the position of president. It is those that came with him. Look into how many of his advisory board were involved in the creation of PNAC and perhaps into CAFTA. Keep you're eye on where the true problems lie.
If NAFTA resulted in all that it appears to have done which is an overall weakening of the economy, jobs, etc. Then perhaps as indicated CAFTA needs to be looked at more carefully.

I say get people with a record for doing what they say. Rather than voting for a party and for YES MEN polititians who tell everyone exactly what they want to hear to get into office and then fail to follow through. Get people into office to do the job and represent the people properly. TWO PARTY SYSTEM be damned.

[Leister4congress]

As a Democratic Candidate for Congress I can not understand if Democrats vote for this Stuff why can't they atleast include "Workers Rights" into the legislation,that would have prevented the Illegal Immigration problem to get to 20 million in the first place as NAFTA was protested and Bill Clinton still signed it into law with no Workers Rights for American workers or any right for foriegn workers. Then comes CAFTA the same crap occurs and President Bush signs this piece of mis-guided legislation and no workers rights included, now comes the Congress and an Immigration Bill in the Senate and the House again with NO WORKERS RIGHTS INCLUDED IN ANY OF THE LANGUAGE!

I have been a member of The AFL-CIO for over 45 years and blame the Union for not standing up for its workers, the party be damned!

Dwight D. Leister:Chair
www.committee-to-elect.org
T.Mae Leister: First Vice Treasurer
www.dwightleister4congress2006.com

[nba]

all your are lame and dum thats my coz yall talking about

[John t O]

Uniters of the World, Work!
Thank God their's too few of you to make any difference.

JtO

[nba live]

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