White House Declares War On Labor

Senator John Boozman, get used to hearing it.

I know I'm often mad when I write on this blog, but reading this from Ben Smith of Politico honestly made me want to throw my computer through the television and go to bed:

A senior White House official just called me with a very pointed message for the administration's sometime allies in organized labor, who invested heavily in beating Blanche Lincoln, Obama's candidate, in Arkanas.

"Organized labor just flushed $10 million of their members' money down the toiled on a pointless exercise," the official said. "If even half that total had been well-targeted and applied in key House races across this country, that could have made a real difference in November."

While Labor "flushed away" money by supporting challenging someone who opposed their agenda, the Obama Administration was wisely spending the Democratic National Committee's resources to nominate an unelectable Republican.

As the AFL CIO said in a statement a few minutes ago, organized labor exists to support the interests of their members, not for the benefit the Democratic party or the Obama Administration. The next time they stick up for our issues will be the first, so if Obama's concerned that we aren't clapping loud enough when you give us the excise tax, eliminate the public option and don't push the Employee Free Choice Act, I don't know what to say.

Eddie Vale of the AFL-CIO is last night's real winner with this brilliant response the the White House:

"We are not an arm of the White House or the DNC or a political party," said AFL-CIO spokesman Eddie Vale. "We work on issues. And if we feel like someone is standing up for working families, we support them, and if they don't, we won't support it. In the past, people would have assumed that was talk, but now we have backed that up with action."

"Is the lesson they are taking out of tonight that they can go after labor and anonymously trash us and we will put our tail in between our legs and slink home? That ain't happening," Vale added.

Driving home the point that the White House was cravenly hiding behind the cloak of anonymity in their attacks, the AFL-CIO spokesman signed off the conversation with the following: "My name is Eddie Vale of the AFL-CIO and I'm proud to fight for working families and I don't hide behind anonymous quotes."

So, Senior White House Official who was so courageous that they anonymously fires off a gloating email to multiple journalists, from the bottom of my heart: Fuck off.

Have fun with Blanche Lincoln, Arlen Specter, Joe Lieberman and Douche bags you've seem to enjoy coddling. The age old question in the Labor movement is "which side are you on" and if we've learned nothing else tonight, you've made it pretty clear where you stand.

This Just In: "Blanche Lincoln Sucks" to Remain Valid Post Tag Through Upcoming Years

Looking on the bright side, is all.

Bill Halter Day

It's election day in Arkansas, where Train Action candidate Bill Halter faces Blanche Lincoln in a runoff.

If you have a few minutes, you can phonebank from this site to ensure Blnache Lincoln is booted from the senate, and to give the Democrats a chance to win the seat in the fall.

Thoughts on Tuesday's Elections

A few thoughts on Tuesday's STALINIST IDEOLOGICAL PURGE primaries:

Pennsylvania Senate

The Joe Sestak win is remarkable on a lot of levels, but the media missed the boat on a couple of them. In itself, it's not remarkable that Joe Sestak (a Democrat) would beat Arlen Specter, (a career Republican) in a Democratic primary. However...

• The effort that Obama, Biden and Rendell and the Democratic machine put behind clearing the primary field to save the ass of a career Republican was stunning
  
• The balls that it took for Sestak to remain in the race are unmatched.
• Fucking disgraceful that OFA and the DSCC wasted tons of resources pushing Specter, even as his general election prospects dimmed
  
• Voters not blindly listening to people they otherwise like (Obama, Biden, Rendell) is an encouraging sign
  
• Craven assholes who are openly only concerned with keeping their jobs occasionally get what they deserve.
  

Arkansas Senate

This was a pleasant surprise. Not only did we hold Lincoln under 50% and force a runoff, but she only narrowly beat out Halter's vote totals. In a runoff election that tends to favor those with stronger ability to turn out the vote, I think we stand a very good chance of taking her out.

Murtha's Seat

Mark Critz won this special election, and big. This is a district that voted for McCain, and one where Obama has a 30% approval rating, so this *should* put some serious dents in the ZOMG ALL DEMOCRATS ARE SCREWED BECAUSE STUPID PEOPLE FIGURED OUT THAT YOU CAN GO OUTSIDE AND HOLD RACIST SIGNS narrative.

Kentucky Senate

We hadn't paid much attention to this race but Jack Conway, the more progressive and better general election candidate won. And this is very important because...

Rand Paul Fan Art - Courtesy of some teabagger

The Republicans nominated Rand Paul who

a) Is named RAND
b) Is the son of Ron Paul (Yes, Ron Paul named his son Rand)
c) Is crazy as all shit.

The Republicans nominating crazy as hell/less electable candidates is only fun if we have someone who can beat them, so getting Conway is extra huge.

One Train Action candidate victory complete, one pending.

Donate to Bill Halter and help him knock Blanche Lincoln out of the Senate once and for all!

Sestak / Halter Results Liveblog Tonight

Both Train Of Thought endorsed Senate primary challengers have their elections today, so a liveblog is definitely in order.

In Pennsylvania, Sestak has surged in the polls over the last two weeks and has a slight lead. Today's vote is the one and only, so we find out tonight whether or not we'll have a chance of beating raving lunatic Pat Toomey in the fall.

In Arkansas, things are a bit different. Bill Halter trails Blanche Lincoln by 10 points, but there's a 3rd wheel in the race drawing 6-7%. If Halter can force Lincoln under 50%, then we move to a runoff on June 8th, giving Halter more time to boost his name recognition, whereas the delay would almost certainly hurt Lincoln.

I'd say both races are still longshots (considering the name ID for Lincoln and the political machine that's turning out for Specter), but I'm cautiously optimistic.

So join JN, RB, myself and others discussing the results 7:45 tonight!

Blanche Lincoln's Corporate Whoring Never Stops

Even for a career corporate shill like Blanche Lincoln, the timing on this is pretty stunning:

Sen. Blanche Lincoln won't be in Arkansas tonight, sounds like. Or maybe she'll send a stand-in to collect her Member of Congress Award from the Women in Government Relations (aka lobbyists) at their Spring Soiree tonight at the Columbus Club in Washington's Union Station. Major sponsors include the airline industry, realtors, FedEx and several oil companies, including BP America.

The League of Conservation voters didn't miss the opportunity:

WASHINGTON, DC - The League of Conservation Voters (LCV), which works to turn environmental values into national priorities, today called on Sen. Blanche Lincoln to return campaign contributions she received from oil giant British Petroleum, the corporation responsible for the oil rig currently spewing hundreds of thousands of gallons of crude oil per day in to the Gulf of Mexico.

"Given BP's role in the economic and environmental disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, it would be highly irresponsible and inappropriate for Senator Lincoln to continue to finance her campaign in these final days before the primary with BP's tainted oil money," said Tony Massaro, LCV’s Senior Vice President for Political Affairs. "LCV calls on Senator Lincoln to return her BP bucks and either get on board or out of the way as Congress works to pass comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation that would increase energy independence, create new energy jobs and reduce the risk of man-made disasters like the BP oil spill."

In the past decade, Sen. Lincoln has been among the top three recipients of BP PAC money in the Senate, having received $12,000 from the oil company's political action committee since the 2001-02 election cycle.[1] This election cycle alone, in which she has co-sponsored legislation that would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from enforcing regulations to reduce harmful pollutants[2], Sen. Lincoln has received $4,000 in campaign cash from BP's PAC. [3]

Sen. Lincoln's Big Oil record:

• Sen. Lincoln voted for the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act in 2006, which ended protections for Florida’s Gulf Coast and opened up 8 million acres off the coasts of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana for oil drilling. [4]

• Sen. Lincoln currently opposes comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation, despite the fact that it will create clean energy jobs, reduce our dangerous dependence on oil and make polluters pay their fair share.[5]

• Sen. Lincoln has taken more than $1 million in campaign cash from Big Oil and other energy interests, with oil and gas companies being among the top 5 industries that have contributed to her campaign this cycle.[6]

• Sen. Lincoln has been inconsistent in supporting efforts to make cars run further on a tank of gas, voting to oppose increases in fuel efficiency standards in 1999, 2002 and 2005. [7]LCV was among the first to call for Sen. Lincoln’s defeat this year by naming her first to LCV's 2010 "Dirty Dozen" list. She has a lifetime LCV score of 49%, the third lowest score among Democratic senators. [8]

Bill Halter for Senate!

Obama/Lincoln Ad Unleashes the Stupid

Obama endorsed Blanche Lincoln months ago because you're supposed to endorse all incumbents to help get their votes in the senate, or make them like you or something.

Earlier this week, Obama cut a radio ad in support of her, and the lies were so over the top it was appalling:

This is President Barack Obama and I want to tell you why I support Senator Blanche Lincoln for re-election in the Democratic Primary on Tuesday, May 18.

Why he would support someone who has constantly obstructed his agenda? Valid question... let's find out!

Blanche is leading the fight to hold Wall Street accountable and make sure that Arkansas taxpayers are never again asked to bailout Wall Street bankers.

The derivatives language in the financial regulations bill is literally the only good thing she has done in entire senate career, and for that we have to thank for the primary challenge from Bill Halter. She is fighting so hard to hold Wall Street accountable that the Chamber of Commerce is taking out ads on her behalf! THIS MAKES SENSE!

She is standing on the side of workers who've lost their jobs in this recession by extending unemployment insurance payments and health care while they try to get back on their feet. And she cast crucial votes to create new jobs in Arkansas and all across America.

This one is just stunning. Her help in killing the Employee Free Choice act, her willingness to go to bat for Walmart and Tyson at any turn, clearly the signs of someone who is looking out for the working class. As Michael Whitney points out, this is a bit like her attempt to take credit for saving jobs at an Arkansas Cooper Tire plant when Blanche's own votes for NAFTA and CAFTA are the main reason those jobs needed saving.

I also love the idea that Lincoln casts "crucial votes". Why exactly are they so crucial compared to the rest of the Democratic Caucus? Oh that's right, because she's on the wrong side of so many issues that you can never count on her to support anything that isn't in Walmart/Wellpoint/BP's best interest. When she weakens the bill to the likening of whatever industry the bill is trying to regulate and votes yes, the President of the United States calls it a crucial vote. What a system.

On health care, Blanche took on big insurance companies by voting to end discrimination against Arkansans with pre-existing conditions and fought for tax credits that will help thousands of local small businesses provide insurance to their employees.

Simply amazing. Saying that Blanche Lincoln took on insurance companies during the health care debate moves into territory beyond common lying. That statement is firmly in Joe Lieberman land, where you say the factual opposite of what actually happened, and then hope that no one calls you on it. Blanche Lincoln did the legwork for the insurance companies in killing the reform that they feared the most, the Public Option. Obama didn't want it anyway, I'm sure he didn't mind, but a large majority of Arkansas residents supported the Public Option, and they might not be so thrilled with Lincoln's efforts.

It's not every day that you have the chance to put such terrible senator out of their job.

Support Train Action Candidate Bill Halter and help make this a reality!

Fierce Bipartisan Log-jamming!!!

For the sake of unintentional comedy and to keep my blood pressure at steadily high levels, I follow John Boehner, Blanche Lincoln and other morons on twitter. There are days when John Boehner's picture is just too orange and I wonder if following them is worth it... and then there are the days when Blanche Lincoln's staff links to a letter to the editor written in support of her candidacy.

Wanting to understand what type of real live human would go out of their way to show their support of such a worthless politician, I clicked through and checked it out:

LTE: Senate needs Lincoln
Arkansas Democrat Gazette

I am the granddaughter and great granddaughter of Arkansans and I currently teach fifth and sixth grade in the KIPP schools in Helena-West Helena. I write to suggest that the integrity, honesty and straightforward approach that Blanche Lincoln brings to the U.S. Senate is exactly what the Senate needs right now.

In the face of fierce bipartisanship that is log-jamming all attempts at a health care bill, Lincoln has voted the sentiments of the people of Arkansas. I have known her through my Arkansas family for all of my 24 years. And now, as a new resident of the state, I am proud to claim her as my senator and urge my fellow Arkansans to join me in keeping her in Washington as she is the very best candidate to represent our rural, agricultural, educational and family interests.

Jordan Butler
Helena-West Helena

While there is plenty to like about the letter, such as the fact that the writer hasn't lived in Arkansas until now or that they don't name any examples of actual things Blanche has done... nothing, and I mean nothing, tops this sentence:

In the face of fierce bipartisanship that is log-jamming all attempts at a health care bill, Lincoln has voted the sentiments of the people of Arkansas.

A few thoughts on that sentence:
- Isn't fierce Bipartisanship something that Blanche Lincoln would support?

- Wouldn't log-jamming the health care bill be a good thing, considering Lincoln was fairly successful at log-jamming anything meaningful out of the bill?

- Does this person support or oppose health care reform, because after she log-jammed the shit out of it, Blanche ended up voting yes...

- Are there really so few logical letters supporting Blanche Lincoln that she had to highlight this one?

Bill Halter for Senate!

Bill Halter, The Man Who Will Defeat Blanche Lincoln

If you've spent any amount of time reading this blog, you know my feelings about Blanche Lincoln. In a Democratic Douche Caucus that contains Ben Nelson, Max Baucus and Evan Bayh, Blanche Lincoln may actually be the most loathsome character of them all.

It's not just that she's in the pocket of every industry that congress is attempting to regulate, she has taken an active role in killing almost any meaningful element of the Democratic platform. The Employee Free Choice Act, meaningful health care reform, climate change, on just about anything you can think of, Blanche Lincoln attempted to make it worse, or helped kill it altogether.

Any time you criticize someone like Lincoln, Ben Nelson, or Evan Bayh, you can practically script the excuses that their defenders trot out: "Arkansas isn't Washington DC", "She needs to vote her state" and so on and so on.

Here's the thing about those excuses: I happen to believe that being a corporate whore is about as popular in Arkansas as it is anywhere else in the United States. Find me the state where huge giveaways to the health insurance industry are popular, and I'll gladly help Blanche Lincoln become their next Senator.

Unfortunately, that mentality is usually successful in warding of better candidates because of the party's strategy of "keeping the seat" at the expense of employing truly terrible human beings.

Luckily, Arkansas has been kind enough to give us another choice in the form of Bill Halter. Like many others in the Netroots, I was first introduced to Halter when he supported free health care clinics in Arkansas while Lincoln was busy killing the public option. Then, as Lincoln continued to be a worthless Senator, she alienated enough of the traditional environmental, labor and women's groups in the state that it left the door wide open for a legitimate primary challenge with institutional backing. Her putrid poll numbers sealed the deal, and Bill Halter's candidacy was born.

I'll can't guarantee that he'll make us happy on every issue, but one thing is clear, he will be an immense improvement over the vile human being he is replacing.

Send a message to the Douche Caucus, support our first ever TRAIN ACTION candidate, Bill Halter!

The Beginning of the End for Blanche Lincoln

A great, great day for the future of the Democratic Party:

Conservative Democrat Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), whose obstinacy during the health care reform process was so frustrating to the progressive community, is officially getting a primary challenge.

On Monday morning, Arkansas lieutenant governor, Bill Halter, announced that he would launch a campaign to dislodge Lincoln from her Senate seat. He cited a need to focus on middle class issues, take on Wall Street, and fight back against special interests.

Blanche Lincoln is one of the worst (if not the worst) member of the Democratic Caucus. She was going to lose reelection anyway, so Bill Halter gives us the chance to both upgrade the quality of Senator and a real shot at keeping the seat.

Much more on this race later, but enjoy the the very real possibility that one of the Senate's worst members will be losing their jobs.

A Disastrous Year For Labor

Harold Meyerson on the first year of the Obama Administration for Organized Labor:

For American labor, year one of Barack Obama's presidency has been close to an unmitigated disaster.

Labor's primary priority -- the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) -- died when the Democrats lost their 60-vote majority in the Senate. Labor's normal priority -- a functioning National Labor Relations Board -- also seems out of reach, with Republicans on Tuesday blocking the appointment of Obama nominee Craig Becker (that's why Massachusetts Republican Scott Brown scurried down to Washington last week to take his seat). Other key legislation for which labor has lobbied, including health-care reform and financial regulations, languishes in the Senate.

For the unions, the Senate's inability to pass EFCA is devastating and galling. Democratic senators had developed a compromise proposal that would have jettisoned the controversial "card check" process -- by which unions could be organized without a secret ballot -- in favor of expediting the election process (so that management couldn't delay for months, or even years, employees' votes on whether to unionize) and stiffening the penalties for violating the rules that govern election conduct.

The compromise had a shot at winning all 60 Democratic votes. The unions, which spent more than $300 million in the 2008 elections on Democrats' behalf, wanted a vote on EFCA last year, but Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid asked them to wait until health reform had passed. (Their requests for confirmation votes on NLRB appointees were similarly delayed.)

As much as Obama and the Senate Democrats seem to get aroused at how far they can throw their biggest allies under the bus, I'd always figured they'd throw them a bone here and there out of self preservation. Well, they haven't even done that, and they'll reap the rewards of that strategy this fall:

Union leaders warn that the Democrats' lackluster performance in power is sapping the morale of activists going into the midterm elections.

"Right now if we don’t get positive changes to the agenda, we’re going to have a hard time getting members out to work," said United Steelworkers International President Leo W. Gerard, in an interview.

“There’s no use pretending any longer.”

The biggest threat, of course, is apathy from a Democratic constituency that has a history of mobilizing for elections.

"You're just not going to be able to go to our membership in the November elections and say, 'Come on, let's do it again. Look at what the Democratic administration has done for us!'" Gage said. "People are going to say, 'Huh? What have the Democrats done for us?'"

See unlike the corporate front groups that fund the other side's political work, unions are made up of living breathing people that need to be given reasons get off their ass and campaign. Things like "we passed the Lilly Ledbetter Act"(something even zombie Clinton could have done) and "we didn't fuck you over as hard as John McCain would have" aren't really going to cut it. So keep at it guys, not only are you screwing over the working class but you're insuring your own demise in the process.

I'd me more than happy to watch a Democratic bloodletting in November if I thought there was the slightest chance that the party learn the right lesson from it. They never do though, and the media will write about how Blanche Lincoln lost because she spoke nicely about the Kenyan usurper and Harry Reid lost because he pushed too hard to enact a progressive agenda.

I know this may sound pretty dire, but watching these people make the same mistakes over and over again doesn't exactly inspire hope. And when you imagine some generic Scott Borwn looking Republican running a faux populist campaigns based on Obama's ties to Wall Street, it's enough to make you wanna throw up.

The Four Senators Standing Between Us And Real Health Care Reform

TPM's Brian Beuler has an awesome post looking at the lead douche bags that are threatening to filibuster a health care bill that includes the public option. And they are...

Joe Lieberman

Lieberman may be the trickiest of the four to secure. The moment Reid announced he'd included a public option in the Senate bill, Lieberman charged out of the gate to announce that he'd filibuster a health care bill with any kind of government plan in it: opt-out, opt-in, triggers--you name it. Immediately, speculation began to fly regarding what, exactly, had animated Lieberman, who after all represents a blue state whose voters support the idea. Some believe his gambit is rooted in his 2006 split with the party, and his 2008 decision to campaign for the McCain-Palin ticket. Others believe he's gotten too cozy with the insurance industry, which still has a heavy presence on Connecticut. Unexplored is the possibility that he--already a black sheep in Democratic politics--was simply giving his centrist friends cover. Those centrists--profiled below--would like a Republican (a.k.a. Olympia Snowe) to vote for this bill, too, and the only way to assure that her preferences receive maximum attention is to signal, clearly, that at least one Democrat isn't on board with the plan. Whether orchestrated or not, that person is Lieberman. He's been the most adamant against the public option of any of his peers.

Blanche Lincoln

Lincoln was cautiously supportive of the public option throughout most of the summer. In fact, on the day she announced her intent to filibuster a"government-run" insurance option, her website, embarrassingly, still boasted of her support for the very measure she was threatening to obstruct. What explains this curious mixed message? Unlike Lieberman, Nelson, or Landrieu, Lincoln is facing a tough re-election right now. She's going to be attacked for supporting a "government takeover" of health care no matter what, and would like to present her conservative constituents with a scalp to prove she didn't roll over for the liberals in her party. It's an immediate political calculation. Getting her on board will require convincing her she stands more to lose by blocking the provision than by allowing a vote on it.

Ben Nelson

Nelson, as I've noted before, is simply the most conservative Democrat in the caucus. He wants the bills he votes for to have Republican supporter(s), and he always prefers the option that liberals in the party don't: less stimulus over more stimulus, triggers over the public option, opt-in over opt-out. Nelson held out for a long time before agreeing to debate the bill this past weekend. It's conceivable that the prospects of failure down the line will make the pressure on him and other conservative Democrats so great that he'll agree not to filibuster. But, again, if Lieberman sticks to his guns, the compromise might just happen anyhow.

Mary Landrieu

Landrieu has been extremely candid about her reluctance to support a public option. Her constituency is very broad, she's mindful of the warnings of industry, she has leverage, and she's using it. But...she was just re-elected. It's almost inconceivable that her vote on health care in late 2009/early 2010 will matter very much when she's up for re-election in 2014. Strictly on political terms, she should be a company Democrat right now, though it's unclear if the political consideration is all that's driving her decision-making on the issue.

While you never know just how seriously to take their douchiness, I'm pretty sure I can think of a few things that might convince even the biggest assholes to do the right thing.

First off are the easy ones, Lieberman and Lincoln. Do they like being the chairs of powerful committees? They Do? Then I'm guessing they won't like being stripped of their chairmanships for joining the Republican obstruction of major Democratic legislation. Being a committee chair is a privilege not a right, and it would be insane to waste those positions on people who won't even cast procedural votes with their own party.

To get Ben Nelson, all you need is some meaningless bullshit for the insurance industry. He wants cover for his vote, but he's not going to get it. For a reminder of how strong his principles are, this is the man opposed the stimulus, cut 100 billion dollars out for literally no reason whatsoever and then strongly supported it. He wants to look "moderate", and he wants some goodies for the industries that own him. It doesn't seem like this would be too difficult.

Looking at everyone's situation in this group, Landrieu could be the biggest douche of them all. Since she's not up for reelection till 2014, and it seems like she's just trying to leverage for as much as she can get for her vote. Harry Reid should make it clear that if she plans on doing this for every vote 5 years away from an election year, she can plan on never getting any help from the leadership on anything ever again.

And just to be clear, the White House can apply pressure here too. They've done it before, only on freshman representatives who didn't want to vote for the war supplemental. It would be nice to see them whipping shitty members on a good bill for a change.

For both Reid and the White House, I'm not sure what's stopping them from going all in with the arm twisting and threats. If not now on your biggest piece of legislation, then when? It's also not like any of this posturing is anything resembling "principled opposition" either. They've all changed their stance on these issues dozens of times already, and they've probably got a few more in them before the last vote.

It's worth repeating that if these Senators followed through with their threats, they would be joining with Republicans to obstruct legislation that is wanted by a large majority of their party.

That literally makes them no different than a Republican, and of zero value to the Democratic party going forward. I would gladly support primary challengers or 3rd party challengers that would take them out of office. If there are no repercussions for this type of behavior from either their constituents or the party leadership, it will only get worse.

Reid Threatens Douche Caucus with the Prospect of Their Own Irrelevance

What better way to deal with attention whores than to take away their ability to get attention?

At a special evening meeting of the Democratic caucus tonight, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid outlined, in broad strokes, the details of his health care bill, which the CBO has found, in a preliminary analysis, will expand coverage to 94 percent of Americans while reducing the deficit. And earlier in the day, during a separate meeting about floor procedure, Reid let three of his party's key skeptics know that if they join Republicans at any stage of the process to block the bill, he still retains the option of passing major parts of it through the filibuster proof budget reconciliation process.

In response to a question from TPMDC Nelson told reporters that, at a meeting this afternoon with Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Reid "talked about process, procedure, discussion about reconciliation and a whole host of issues of that sort."

"Nobody's really jumping up and down to push for reconciliation," Nelson said, "he's not threatening that, but anybody can conclude that if you don't move something on to the floor, that is one of the possibilities."

I guess you could ask why this wasn't the plan from the start, but frankly I'm just happy that it's being used as a threat. I'm sure president Snowe is extremely disappointed.

Blanche Lincoln 2010: Can't Someone Else Do it?

Apparently the senator from Arkansas has been watching some Simpsons Reruns:

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Sen. Blanche Lincoln says business and labor groups, not lawmakers, should be the ones to work out a compromise on a union organizing bill.

Lincoln said that she still opposes the Employee Free Choice Act and doesn't think the legislation should be considered while lawmakers are dealing with health care and other issues. Business groups have opposed the act because it would allow employees to unionize by signing cards instead of holding secret ballot elections.

Democratic lawmakers are working on a compromise version of the bill that may remove the so-called "card check" provision. Lincoln said any compromise would need to come from business and labor groups.

Lincoln spoke at the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Arkansas annual meeting in Little Rock.

Clearly big business will "come together" with organized labor and restore the same rights that they have methodically destroyed from existence over the past 30 years. I actually heard Senator Lincoln say this same thing during a lobby visit several months back and assumed she was just rambling. Nope, apparently she really is so clueless that decided to make this idiocy one of her main talking points on the Employee Free Choice Act.

And aside from the mind blowing stupidity of that comment, there's nothing like a LAWMAKER deciding that she isn't in the business of MAKING LAWS. With firm convictions like this, how can she lose?

Calling Out the Insurance Industry Whores

Good:

In a clear sign that the left will not hold back from targeting fellow Dems in the final stretch of the health care wars, MoveOn is going up on the air today with new radio spots slamming the “centrist” Dem Senators who voted against the public option amendments yesterday, a MoveOn official confirms.

The ads, which haven’t yet been announced, will target Senators Kent Conrad, Blanche Lincoln, and Max Baucus in their home states, the official confirms. All three voted against the public option amendments pushed by Senators Jay Rockefeller and Chuck Schumer in the Senate Finance Committee yesterday. The MoveOn official sends over the script:

Today in (ARKANSAS/NORTH DAKOTA/MONTANA), a patient lost insurance coverage for medical care she needs…

Hospital bills will eat up another family’s savings…

And a small business owner is worried about affording health benefits for his employees.

But when Senator (CONRAD/LINCOLN/BAUCUS) recently had a chance to help fix our health care crisis, (SHE/HE) voted no.

Instead of helping (ARKANSAS/NORTH DAKOTA/MONTANA) families get more affordable, quality health care choices, Senator (CONRAD/LINCOLN/BAUCUS) sided with the special interests and insurance companies.

If you believe we deserve the choice of a public health insurance option, call Senator (CONRAD/LINCOLN/BAUCUS) at (202) 224-3121 -– and ask him/her why (HE/SHE) doesn’t.

Tell him (NORTH DAKOTA/ARKANSAS/MONTANA) families can’t afford to wait for real reform with a strong public option any longer.

Pretty hard hitting as friendly-fire goes. MoveOn had for a time laid low in targeting Dems. But yesterday’s Finance Committee vote leaves no choice but to target them in advance of the final push for the public option. It could still survive if Harry Reid includes it in the final Senate bill or if it gets inserted in conference negotiations between the Senate and House or in the form of an amendment on the Senate floor.

An update on the next legislative steps in the health care fight can be found here.

A few more telling votes like this and the Douche Caucus will be a bit smaller come 2010. Good riddance.