Mitt Romney Compares Unions Making Campaign Donations to a 'Form of Corruption'

[Emit]

Mitt Romney has come under fire for his statements saying that right-to-work laws should remain a state issue, even though, as he reiterated here during Sen. Jim DeMint's GOP Presidential Forum, he said that he would sign a national right-to-work law if it came across his desk as President. Romney has also previously had some praise for unions, making similar statements to the one here where he said "unions play an important role in our country." Apparently Romney doesn't think much of that role if you're either talking about government worker's unions, or heaven forbid unions being allowed to have any influence over our politicians and making campaign donations.

Jim DeMint explained what the Republican Party's real issue with unions being involved in our politics is with the way he framed this question to Mitt Romney -- they support Democratic politicians. And of course with all of the corporate money pouring into Republican campaign coffers these days after the Citizens United ruling, no one in the Republican Party wants to see anything remaining to balance that on the left.

Romney said he was concerned about anyone in union leadership being allowed to make decisions for their membership as to who they make campaign donations to, but he doesn't share that concern for the all of the workers in America of varying political affiliations that have their bosses and CEO's making decisions about which politicians to donate to, or that corporations being allowed to buy off our politicians might also be "almost like a form of corruption." No, that's just free speech in Romney-GOP world.

~snip~

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/mitt-romney-compares-unions-making-campaig

[Skittles]

1. but corporations - well, that's just DANDY!!!

[and-justice-for-all]

10. EXACTLY!!! nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Tell me 'xacly how these guys are not fascists.

[drm604]

3. If unions shouldn't be able to make those decisions for their membership

then corporations shouldn't be able to make those decisions for their stockholders.

[Booster]

4. or their employees as some have done.

[drm604]

7. In what way have they made that decision for their employees?

Are they forcing employees to donate? How can that be legal?

[Booster]

15. Just one example but there's others.

http://news.firedoglake.com/2011/04/20/koch-industries-sent-political-mailers-to-employees-telling-them-who-to-vote-for/

[madrchsod]

5. my wife is the people chair of her afscme union.

the union can not give general membership dues to political candidates or to the people committee. a certain amount of the money is allocated from the people members who sign a card that their dues can be used for political purposes.

http://www.afscme.org/members/afscme-people

it will be interesting how the unions adapt to the new citizen united ruling.

[Fuzz]

6. Since we own stock in hundreds of corporations via mutual funds, we should demand corporations

not give money to causes, pacs or politicians for the same reason. It's even worse than a union because we actually own part of the company.

[drm604]

8. Exactly right.

If unions can't do it with money they've gotten from their members, then corporations shouldn't be able to do it with their stockholders' money. They shouldn't be able to use ANY of the corporation's assets for political purposes since the stockholders own it all.

[Waiting For Everyman]

9. Lying out of both sides of his mouth as he does is corruption too.

He should spontaneously combust for daring to even say that word.

[ibegurpard]

11. but a buddy incorporating for the sole purpose of giving him a million dollars

is fine and dandy..."no harm...no foul"
these fuckers are unbelievable

[OHdem10]

12. Look at what is behind the attack on Unions. Fear. Tonight

on The Last Word or The ED SHOW, they put up
a graphic which was a Message on Sarah Palins Website??

Anyway, the message was so obvious.

She was warning her followers not to listen to Union
Members like Hoffa. I could not believe it how
specific her message. They fear Union Message to
Working People. It is so obvious--stay ignorant
and support us.

It became obvious. They wanted Hoffa shunned
because they only want a bad image of Unions out
there.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

13. Uh-huh. And corprats buying politicians ISN'T? Typical Republican hypocrisy.n/t

[gordianot]

14. Unions need to figure out a way to become Corporations then they would be people?

Just remember Mitt is supposed to be one of the more rational GOP choices in the field.