Unions Punish Lincoln in Arkansas

[marmar]

via truthdig:



Unions Punish Lincoln in Arkansas
Posted on May 18, 2010


Bill Halter (wearing tie) will be Sen. Blanche Lincoln’s opponent in a Democratic primary runoff for the U.S. Senate.

Sen. Blanche Lincoln helped sink the proposed Employee Free Choice Act, which would have made labor organizing much easier. Now the Democrat is headed to a primary runoff against Arkansas Lt. Gov. Bill Halter, thanks in part to a massive multimillion-dollar campaign effort by the AFL-CIO and the SEIU that paid off for the unions in Tuesday’s primary.

Lincoln is seeking a third term in the U.S. Senate.

Even if Lincoln wins the primary runoff, she faces a tough fight in the general election. The labor movement, by targeting Lincoln and other imperiled Democratic incumbents who opposed the Employee Free Choice Act and health care reform, has really been showing its teeth. —PZS

Washington Post:

Working America started eight weeks ago with six organizers. At its peak, the group sent 45 paid workers a day to knock on doors, Holmes said. In all, the group spoke to about 90,000 people in 27 towns and sent 1.75 million pieces of pro-Halter mail.

A pairing of the Service Employees International Union and the Communications Workers of America reached an additional 85,400 prospective voters who agreed to discuss the Senate campaign, said Jon Youngdahl, SEIU national political director.

SEIU, which has only 1,000 members in the state, spent more than $1.5 million, including a $1 million television buy, Youngdahl said. The national AFL-CIO spent $3 million or more on Halter’s behalf, spokesman Eddie Vale said.

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http://www.truthdig.com/eartotheground/item/unions_punish_lincoln_in_arkansas_20100518/

[KharmaTrain]

1. Blanche Is Toast...

The Halter gamplan was to get to the run-off...and here we are. Congrats to Bill for taking on not only an estabished candidate but the DC "establishment".

Last night was a great night for Labor and Progressives. While the corporate media is still obsessed with the teabaggers, Democrats sent a real strong message last night. Not only should the DLC and other "power brokers" inside the beltway be put on notice they're a liability this year, but that the corporate media is as well.

While I still expect Democrats to lose some seats in November, I don't see them losing control of either House and are starting to build a stronger party...now to help Sestak and Halter over the finish line. The GOOP peaked too soon...and read too many of their own press clippings. Last night made me feel a lot better about the future of the Democratic Party and the American electorate.

[Stuart G]

2. Lincoln can go to hell...She is in the pocket of big oil too..and

she was a long time opponent of health care. She is as much a democrat as is George Bush.

[marmar]

3. That's when they can borrow her from Wal-Mart's pocket.....

nt

[ellie]

4. That's what I like to hear!

Bye bye Blanche!