Vice President Biden Fires Up Union Activists: Organized Labor Keeps 'Barbarians From The Gate'

[onehandle]

Source: Huffington Post

WASHINGTON -- Vice President Biden gave the Obama administration's most forceful statement of solidarity with organized labor in its current battles around the nation on Thursday, encouraging thousands of activists to continue fighting for workers' rights.

"You guys built the middle class," said Biden in a virtual town hall conversation hosted by the AFL-CIO. "I would just emphasize what Hilda said and say it slightly different: We don't see the value of collective bargaining, we see the absolute positive necessity of collective bargaining. Let's get something straight: The only people who have the capacity -- organizational capacity and muscle -- to keep, as they say, the barbarians from the gate, is organized labor. And make no mistake about it, the guys on the other team get it. They know if they cripple labor, the gate is open, man. The gate is wide open. And we know that too."

The e-mail announcement for the call went out to labor activists, including members of the growing advocacy group Working America, and it pitched the call as a conversation with 100,000 supporters about "Republican assaults on collective bargaining in at least a dozen states." AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka and Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis joined Biden on the call, where listeners were also allowed to ask questions (although Biden had to leave before that portion).

Biden's comments underscored the importance of labor not only in terms of workers' rights but also politically. He acknowledged the role that unions played in helping launch his political career, and he noted his personal identification with the activists as someone who grew up in the Rust Belt in Scranton, Penn.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/17/biden-union-barbarians-labor_n_837346.html

[DonCoquixote]

1. This is going to be mean

But there are times I wish Joe would be let out of his cage so that he could play bad cop to O's good cop, even to the point where if O resigned, Joe could get some time to whack at the gears. Hillary would make damned sure that would not happen, as she is warming up for the VP job in 2012.

[LynneSin]

3. Seriously, Obama has always been the 'cool cat' whereas this is Biden in his glory

let him loose, let him rally up the support. He's way better at it than Obama is

[Blue Owl]

29. release the attack dog

The GOP needs to be put in its place, and Biden is the man to do it

[SpiralHawk]

2. "Sit down and STFU. - Barbarian Billionaires, Inc. (R)

[LynneSin]

4. No one tells Biden to STFU

Go Joe Go!

[ShockediSay]

5. Forget 'middle class.' 98% of us are targets of Billionaires/ Super Millionaires who haven't paid

taxes at such a small rate since Eisenhower, while 98% of US carry their load.

Nor do the Top Two Percent want to pay taxes. They want to cut US down to nothing so they can get away with highway robbery, murder of our workers, rape of our Nation's environment and looting of our finances. Big government my ass. They don't want government for the people telling Big Corporate Money what they can't do.

And what do they do with all the extramoney they have in their pockets? For one they fund the Right Wing Propaganda machine including the likes of the Tea Party, Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh, Fox news and the list goes on.

Better raise the hue and cry before we get taken over completely by these crypto-fascists.

[pacalo]

6. Joe, thank you to the nth degree! I wanted validation for the workers from this administration

& Joe came through very plainly. The workers have sacrificed much of their quality time to stand up for their rights & for the survival of fair work compensation -- they needed to know Democratic leadership was standing with them!.

As vice president, Biden is surely echoing Obama's sentiments. Kudos!

[msongs]

7. good to see this happen. maybe Joe can do a road trip and spread the love nt

[Sabriel]

8. Thanks for your outspoken support during our Wisconsin protests, Joe

Oh, wait...that's right...you didn't say a fucking word.

[Jackpine Radical]

9. I'm not resentful of that at all.

It would have rendered the Cheesehead Revolution more partisan and maybe even made it harder to draw in the independents and many moderate Republican voters who ended up standing with us. I think the way it went was the best path.

[elleng]

10. I appreciate seeing this slant, Jackpine.

Have seen it elsewhere here today (recall thread) and think it could use more 'air,' that is, explanation of benefit to 'movement' of permitting it to be local rather than about Potus.

I think Ed Schultz could use some education on this, too.

[lunatica]

18. Some people need to have all their battles fought by politicians

I'm of the opinion that the people standing up for their rights is more powerful, but what do I know.

[Sabriel]

25. I see your point, but he would've brought more media with him

The problem here in Wisconsin wasn't buy-in from diverse groups, it was getting out the message to the rest of the country.

A visit from Air Force 2 might have kicked the MSM into actually showing something.

Yes, it was all over Twitter and independent media, but the majority of folks still don't use those outlets. If I hadn't send information directly to my relatives, they would have known very little about what was going on here in WI, as few of them do anything other than watch TV and read local newspapers.

[Jackpine Radical]

28. That's a different problem.

I don't necessarily think we'd have liked the kind of coverage an Obama visit would have brought.

[lunatica]

19. Was it necessary to have politicians say anything?

I don't see the need. Wisconsin is doing a great job without them.

[cui bono]

11. "most forceful statement of solidarity" - how about ONLY statement of solidarity? n/t

[BlueIris]

12. Words mean nothing, and they're too late at this point, anyway.

Fail. I would say try again, but I doubt he intends to, or could wrangle any sentiment from me if he did.

[lunatica]

17. Too late for what?

This battle is far from over.

[SpiralHawk]

30. Yes - it's really just getting into gear. There is MUCH more to come

and it will likely play out over the next several years.

Hardly time to whimp out...

Excelsior!

[deacon]

13. WTG Joe. n/t

[eilen]

14. Did they ask for money at the end of the call?

I keep getting campaign fundraising emails from the administration with topic lines referencing organized labor. I'm saving it for the food banks, since the poor have no one now.

[lunatica]

20. Way to see defeat in everything

n/t

[eilen]

27. At least some people will eat,

Defeat? I guess you believe I am being negative. I am cynical and a realist. I'm also being practical and have determined that millionaire politicians need my help less than the hungry. The hungry are that way because of the millionaire politicians and their banker sponsors.

[bread_and_roses]

15. oh whoop de do! I heard the last part of that call - must be campaign time

I missed the first half hour. I doubt I missed much. I guess we're on the campaign trail, eh, Joe? Remind me about the time Obama walked across the street to the AFL-CIO - oh, wait - that was the Chamber of Commerce. I am deeply disappointed that our union leaders are stuck in this failed paradigm of looking to politicians to "support" us. Anyone who doesn't realize by now that it doesn't matter what they SAY - they'll say anything that they think serves them.

[lunatica]

21. Wisconsinites have proven they don't need support from Washington.

Personally I think that rocks. Any support coming from DC is icing on the cake at this point. It should be welcomed.

[Le Taz Hot]

24. I'll never forget that.

Obama had a chance to show support for Wisconsin's public workers OR go to a Chamber of Commerce affair. He made his choice and they're STILL going to kick his ass during the upcoming campaign.

[lunatica]

16. Yeah! Biden gets it.

[No Elephants]

22. Say what will you will about Biden, he is likeable. And he had the two funniest lines of the

campaign.

1/ Saying only "Yes," and nothing else when asked, after a long intro re: his gaffes, if he could stop talking too much. (You hadda be there.)

2/ Noun, verb, 911.

I laughed loud and long both times. I ended up backing Obama anyway, though.

[Le Taz Hot]

23. NOW he shows up????

Polls must have shown support for unions. Please tell me most union members won't be fooled by this Johnny-come-lately.

[Overseas]

26. K&R and Many Thanks ! //nt

[yurbud]

31. When will the rubber meet the road with Dems? What happened to EFCA or better yet repeal

Taft Hartley?

They are giving unions lip service but still bending over for Wall St.

[Kingofalldems]

32. K and R for a great American.