Mr. Santorum, my Grandfather was a coal miner too

[Drahthaardogs]

He went into the mines at age 13 because his father was killed in a cave-in and someone had to support the family. He too was paid in script. He was at Ludlow. He fought the militia there. He met Mother Jones. He was a union man through and through. He gave me freedom all right. Freedom to work a 40 hour week. Freedom to work in a safe environment. Freedom sick days. Freedom for paid vacation.

He would have had a question for you, it would have been this, "If you are so proud of your Grandfather's legacy, why the hell are you a Republican?"

See, my Grandfather was a LABOR Democrat! I bet yours was too. What a sad state of affairs this country has become when a right-wing zealot invokes Labor Democrat Principles while calling for austerity. My grandfather would have fought against you sir, he would not have voted for you.

[livetohike]

1. Great post!

(I'm the daughter and Granddaughter and niece of steel workers all deceased now....) Santorum should STFU while he can, because if he even thinks Ohio and PA are going to fall for his B.S. he is delusional.

[one_voice]

2. Great post!...

[pinboy3niner]

3. K&R from another coal miner's grandson

[spanone]

4. k&r...

[tedbear]

5. THANK YOU MY GRANDFATHER WAS A MINER ALSO

I had to comment somewhere as soon as I heard this on MSNBC a few minutes ago!!!

Yes, my grandfather worked in the mines in Pa. and fought for the union there, became the first union rep there. The lives of our family were totally enriched by that determination of my grandfather and your grandfather and many, many people. I get so angry when I hear ignorance from anyone about the need for unions, but when I hear a man running for President of the United States make a stupid statement about something so critical to all Americans and think this ignorant man has no idea about reality or worse, he knows he is selling what his grandfather fought for his own gain.

Santorum appreciates what his grandfather did to create unions and so what? so Santorum should make money for himself and the greedy Americans in the top tier? and let the rest of us starve on third world country wages.

Shame on you Rick Santorum - shame on you.

[HangOnKids]

18. Indeed!

Santorum is selling out the legacy and hard work of his Grandfather just to pander for votes. What a nitwit. BTW Santorum has NO SHAME. Serial assholes are like that. K&r your post ted.

[Brickbat]

6. So tired of politicians riding on their parents' and grandparents' bona fides.

ETA: Politicians on both sides do it.

[Drahthaardogs]

8. Santorum knows nothing

He called getting paid in script from the Company Store, getting paid with "coupons". He does not even know what it was called. I doubt he even realizes how those miners sacrificed for all Americans, and how his party is fighting like hell to undo that which was paid for in labor blood. It is all a fairy tale for Rick, so far removed from reality, Rick.


Solidarity Forever!

[FSogol]

7. Santorum's grandfather would have disowned him. n/t

[mailman82]

9. Thank You!

My grandfather and my father were coal miners too!

[limpyhobbler]

10. +1

my grandad wouldn't have voted for this guy in a million years

[Raine]

11. So his grandfather was a miner, what does

that have to do with him, obviously it didn't make him (Santorum) a better person.

[HangOnKids]

19. Greedy Fucker Is Mining For Votes! n/t

[demosincebirth]

12. His grandfather is crying in his grave. Sigh.

[blue neen]

13. Pennsylvania Coalminer's Granddaughter...right here.

Rick Santorum isn't good enough to clean my grampap's bituminous-covered boots.

Spare us, Ricky, please.

[Boudica the Lyoness]

14. My grandfather was a coal miner as well.

He was born in the Rhondda Valley in Wales and took part in the Tonypandy (1910) riots. He hated Churchill because of what Churchhill did during the riots.

My grandfather was NOT a conservative!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonypandy_Riots

[yortsed snacilbuper]

15. Coal miner's son here,

My Dad alway's told me the comapany gets the profits, and the Miners get the shaft!
http://www.coalcampusa.com/westpa/klondike/bobtown/bobtown.htm

[horseshoecrab]

16. K&R

Excellent post Drahthaardogs!

[pinboy3niner]

17. "They will plunder willy-nilly"

Gwalia Deserta XV
by Idris Davies

Oh what can you give me?
Say the sad bells of Rhymney.

Is there hope for the future?
Cry the brown bells of Merthyr.

Who made the mineowner?
Say the black bells of Rhondda.

And who robbed the miner?
Cry the grim bells of Blaina.

They will plunder willy-nilly,
Say the bells of Caerphilly.

They have fangs, they have teeth!
Shout the loud bells of Neath.

To the south things are sullen,
Say the pink bells of Brecon.

Even God is uneasy,
Say the moist bells of Swansea.

Put the vandals in court!
Cry the bells of Newport.

All would be well if-if-if –
Say the green bells of Cardiff.

Why so worried, sisters, why?
Sing the silver bells of Wye.


--From Gwalia Deserta (1938)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bells_of_Rhymney

The Bells Of Rhymney - Pete Seeger

The Byrds - The Bells of Rhymney (1965)

&feature=related

[Blue Owl]

20. Rick Santorum is a humble turd miner

n/t

[NNN0LHI]

21. My guess would be Santorum's grandfather was a company man, Sir

Last edited Thu Jan 5, 2012, 08:40 PM - Edit history (1)

Just like his grandson is.

Don