Specter: I'll Vote No on Employee Free Choice Act

[babylonsister]

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/03/specter-ill-vote-no-on-employee-free-choice-act.php

Specter: I'll Vote No on Employee Free Choice Act
By Elana Schor - March 24, 2009, 2:41PM


Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) just dealt a big blow to the labor movement by announcing publicly that he would support a GOP filibuster of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), unions' No. 1 priority for this year and a subject of intense lobbying on both sides of the aisle.

"My vote on this bill is very difficult for many reasons," Specter said in a Senate floor speech, minutes after the news was broken by the Washington Independent. "It is very hard to disappoint many friends ... who are urging me to vote their way."

But Specter affirmed that he would join his fellow Republicans to block cloture on EFCA, effectively dooming the union-organizing bill's chances of becoming law in its current form. The Pennsylvania senator, who faces a tough re-election challenge from the right, was the only GOPer to support breaking his party's filibuster on EFCA when it last came up for a vote two years ago.

Between Specter's opposition -- he asserted today that his 2007 vote on EFCA did not equate to "supporting the bill on the merits" -- and the stated uncertainty of several centrist Democratic senators, it looks like the labor-backed bill is mired in the Washington mud for now. A "compromise" proposal floated by three CEOs and promoted by erstwhile Obama critic Lanny Davis has met with a sound rejection from Democratic leaders.

[spanone]

1. shocked!!!!

:sarcasm:

[bdamomma]

2. what else is new? anyway to squelch the masses they will do it.

[gratuitous]

3. Do you get it, folks? Do you get it at last?

Senator Grandstand is NOT a friend of the worker. He doesn't give a tin shit about anything except his own re-election. Quit sucking up to him. Quit hoping that his actions will match his words. It just doesn't happen, okay? He'll talk a wonderful game for public consumption, but as soon as the roll is called, you can bet that he's going to side with the folks who have buttered his bread since he came up with the Magic Bullet theory.

Just. Stop. Believing. Him.

[cascadiance]

9. There is NO such thing as a "moderate" Republican! They ALL should be kicked the hell out!

If they want to really be "moderate", they should leave the party!

Issues affecting corporate America HAVE to be the measuring stick on whether someone's moderate or not. If Specter wants to support women's choice, OK, that's fine, but IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH!!! The bottom line is all of these so-called "moderates" step in to line with their corporatist Rethug colleagues on any issue that affects us and the corporations in the pocket book or control over our government. Don't forget that!

[AlinPA]

4. Support for EFCA was the only chance he had to be re-elected. He will be gone.

[newfie11]

10. I hope he will be gone for good

I am tired of looking at his sorry face on my TV.

[ogneopasno]

5. Then unions MUST BE DONE giving him endorsements, money and shoe leather. That's it.

OVER.

[rvablue]

15. Well, the AFL-CIO told him to either vote for this or they would not be supporting him

in his re-election.

I trust that they will be keeping their word.

[ogneopasno]

16. That's what I'm talking about. I hope they do.

Frankly, I think more CLCs and individual unions need to do more of that. And then actually following through.

[rvablue]

29. The way I heard it, it was pretty much presented as an ultimatum.

And frankly, if both Rendell and the AFL-CIO are against Specter this time around, Specter is facing and up hill battle especially since the fundie crowd has now turned against him.

[ogneopasno]

30. Yeah, I had heard the same thing. Problem is, I hear that kind of thing a lot from CLCs, and don't

always see them follow through on it. I'm hoping the stakes on this one are high enough that they do it.

[rvablue]

33. Translation please!

What is a CLC?

[ogneopasno]

34. Central Labor Councils -- local AFL-CIOs, local labor groups.

[backscatter712]

22. No EFCA vote, no union support. DAMNED STRAIGHT.

Time to toss him to the wolves...

[county worker]

6. The only way we are going to have a strong country in the future is to have a strong middle class.

That means to me we need more unions. I am in a union. I have a defined benefit pension plan, 12 paid holidays, paid health care, 4 weeks vacation and above average salary with good working conditions.

You want what I have? Join a union!

[rurallib]

7. "Spose there might have been a "contribution" from business involved?

Hmmmmmmm

[Raineyb]

11. Not to mention a primary threat

The guy (whose name I cannot remember) has already said that he will run again against Specter in the primary. If Specter voted for EFCA he's toast. Of course he's toast anyway but why expect a Republican to take a stand in favor of labor? Why the hell would any labor union endorse this son of a bitch?

Regards

[cascadiance]

8. Perhaps an executive order is needed then!

If these Rethugs won't listen to the American people...

Either that, or it's high time that Harry Reid goes nuclear on these guys OR steps down to let someone else up to the job to do it instead!

Come on, Obama! Just do it!

[TheCoxwain]

12. Maybe it is time for us to use the NUCLEAR OPTION or

Change the 60 votes to 60% representation ( the democratic senators represent 87% of the population)

[SoCalDem]

13. Of course you will.. we would not expect you to do anything else

Wouldn't be prudent to let employees have any control over their lives, now would it? :puke:

[ljm2002]

14. No real surprise...

...after all, he is still a Republican.

More to the point: "...and the stated uncertainty of several centrist Democratic senators"...

Who are *these* f***wads? That's what I want to know. I want their asses kicked out of the Senate at the earliest opportunity.

It is way past time that labor had some say again. This is f***ed on so many levels.

[ShortnFiery]

17. Don't kid yourself, the Blue Dogs and New Democrats will also vote "NO"

:(

[ljm2002]

27. Oh I'm not kidding myself...

...and I totally agree. That's why I want their asses thrown *out* at the earliest opportunity.

[CreekDog]

18. right. because he only votes for it when it cannot pass.

:eyes:

[Ikonoklast]

19. He is only responding to the jerk on his leash by his Masters.

Specter is nothing but a lapdog of the Predator Class.

[backscatter712]

20. EFCA may have to wait two years. For Specter to be replaced.

Since Specter doesn't want to play ball with us, we toss him to the wolves. We'll still get our way, it'll just take a little longer.

No union support for him. We let him get torn to pieces when he's primaried by his own party. Either he'll come out of his primary damaged and unable to win against a decent Democrat, or he'll get replaced in the primary by a right-wing lunatic who has no chance against a decent Democrat.

In other words, we just have to be patient, wait until 2010, hopefully then we'll have 60 and we'll be able to shove the EFCA up the GOP's ass sideways without lube.

[deminks]

21. Mr. "Magic Bullet" has shown his colors. Force the Filibuster!!

Make them read the DC phone book. Better yet, make them read the Constitution. That could be educational for them. I am sure someone has a copy.

[geardaddy]

23. Go Cheney yourself Specter.

:grr:

[GrantDem]

24. This will be the Sphincter's last term...

If he waffles on this he will lose labor's support and can kiss re-election goodbye. He has enjoyed labor's support even against Democratic candidates. Without it he has a tough battle ahead.

[Gold Metal Flake]

25. Then make them talk it out.

No pain-free filibuster this time.

[Umbral]

26. And how many Dem Senators are breathing allot easier now?

Being forced to show their true colors, in this climate, could have severely reduced their chanced of being reelected.

[olegramps]

28. I can only hope that the working class comes to their senses.

He is just another bastard Republican that is the friend of the wealthy and powerful. A sworn enemy of the working class who are struggling to make ends meet. Kick his lousy ass out of the government along with every other good for nothing Republican. Do the same to the 15 turn-coats DINOs.

[Third Doctor]

31. this is it

This is guy is already on thin ice in a increasingly blue state. If he stabs the blue collar workers in the back he will not have any excuses left.

[fascisthunter]

32. We Knew You Would: because you are pro-boss and anti-worker

just like the rest of you fascists in the neo-fascist republican party.