AFL-CIO Goes Big And Aggressive, Sends Out 2.5 Million Mailers (Targeting GOP Candidates )

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/09/20/labor-group-sends-out-2-5-million-mailers-targeting-gop-candidat/

Christopher Weber Correspondent

Following up on its promise to spend big and fight hard for Democrats this election year, the nation's largest labor federation sent out 2.5 million campaign mailers Monday, going after GOP candidates in nearly 50 congressional and gubernatorial races.

The aggressive mail campaign by the AFL-CIO and the Service Employees International Union accuses Republicans of being anti-union, wanting to privatize Social Security, being too close to Wall Street donors, and opposing basic worker safety requirements, The Huffington Post reported:

But it's some of the specific attacks -- in addition to the sheer size of the campaign -- that stick out for their directness. The AFL-CIO takes Kentucky Republican Rand Paul to task for casually dismissing the death of two Kentucky coal miners. The federation pastes harrowing footage of the 2007 Minnesota bridge collapse to attack that state's gubernatorial candidate, Tom Emmer, for voting "against funds that may have prevented" that catastrophe. It takes on Florida gubernatorial hopeful Rick Scott by insisting that Florida taxpayers paid for his "fraud-fueled, million-dollar fortune," and it mocks Oregon gubernatorial candidate Chris Dudley for moving his residence to Washington during his NBC career to avoid paying higher taxes.

The labor group is targeting 32 races in the House, at least 11 Senate campaigns and ten gubernatorial contests.



Last month, the AFL-CIO and the SEIU announced they would join financial forces and spend a combined $88 million on the midterm elections.

The two unions are coordinating spending on races in 26 states, most of which are battlegrounds such as California, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Part of their effort will be to reach out to some 15 million union members and encourage them to vote in national and state races.

The Wall Street Journal reported the unions' coordinated effort was the result of meetings between AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka (pictured) and Mary Kay Henry, who took over as SEIU president earlier this year.

[jxnmsdemguy65]

1. Thank God for what's left of our unions....

make no mistake, they fight for all of us!

[Dappleganger]

2. The unions always do right at election time...

which leaves a lot to be said about a number of candidates who've dumped them in favor of "pragmatism."

[AmericanMan1958]

3. Union Proud!!!

The way the Union's go, so does the Middle Class.
Been watching big Business and the GOP killing to Unions for years.

They got us down but we will never give up.
This countries future depends on it..

United we stand
Divide we beg

[senseandsensibility]

4. Go, Unions

Thank you brothers and sisters.

[Omaha Steve]

5. Kick

[Scurrilous]

6. K & R

:thumbsup:

[pampango]

7. In a related mobilization - "One Nation Working Together" Releases Public Service Announcement

Campaign to Engage Americans in March on Washington 10.2.10

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/one-nation-working-together-releases-public-service-announcement-campaign-to-engage-americans-in-march-on-washington-10210-103420509.html

PSA's feature NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, Former DNC Chairman Governor Howard Dean, NCLR President and CEO Janet Murgia, SEIU President Mary Kay Henry and many other prominent progressive leaders

WASHINGTON, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Prominent progressive leaders are speaking out about the need for Americans to come together in support of jobs, justice and public education this election season and beyond in a new series of public service announcements made available today by the One Nation Working Together coalition. Leaders are also encouraging Americans to get involved in the One Nation Working Together movement and join the March on Washington, October 2, 2010 to make their voices heard as the true American majority.

Excerpt from the PSA: "The reality is, those trying to divide our nation have become louder and more destructive, that's why we must get Americans to work together for unity again," said former DNC Chairman and Former Governor of Vermont Howard Dean. "It's going to take all of us to stand up as one nation to fight for the change that we deserve."

One Nation Working Together is an unprecedented, diverse national movement of people from all backgrounds united in a shared belief that in America today the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness mean jobs, justice and education. Across the country, people are putting aside their differences and political agendas to denounce the tactics of hate and divisiveness. Committed to Putting America Back to Work and Pulling America Back Together, One Nation Working Together supporters will march on Washington Saturday, October 2 at noon at the Lincoln Memorial to refocus national priorities on investments in America's people.

[mdmc]

8. ..