Biden to AFL Town Hall: They know if they cripple labor, the gate is open, man.

[LynneSin]

Sorry it's HuffPost but it was the only place I could find the story:

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



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

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).

[Canuckistanian]

1. Oh, great.

Is Biden going to be canned now?

[larkrake]

2. no, why would he be?

[Canuckistanian]

7. Oh, I know

He's elected and therefore untouchable. And there's not even a recall process.

But Obama's team has ways of expressing their displeasure. Look for an apology soon.

[LynneSin]

3. Biden is the mouthpiece - he knows how to fire up folks way better than Obama

Obama is the cool calm one - let Joe rally up the folks

Go Joe Go!

[Canuckistanian]

8. I hope so

Because the official line from the Administration hasn't been encouraging.

[dkofos]

9. The gates are already open Joe.

What do you think the last election was all about.

[Canuckistanian]

10. Let's hope he has pull with the President

If Obama can pull himself away from all those meetings with corporate leaders long enough.

[IntravenousDemilo]

4. I don't care what other people say about him and his supposed gaffes.

Biden would make an excellent president. For one thing, he knows where ALL the bodies are buried in Washington.

[provis99]

5. Biden, man.

Way to go, man.

[SpiralHawk]

6. "You little people - you American citizens - need to STFU." - Billionaire Barbarians, Inc. (R)

"Just shut up, and go back to listening to Rush DraftDodger Limbaugh, and Fox Propaganda. That's what we pay them mega-millions for: to tell you what to think. So just shut up, you smelly American suckers, and give us MORE MORE MORE tax cuts for the rich. Sneer."

Billionaire Barbarians, Inc. (R)

[Major Hogwash]

11. Indeed, the gates are aleady open in Idaho. They killed the teacher's union here.

The bill to take away almost all of the collective rights of teachers was signed into law by the Governor today.

[socialist_n_TN]

12. I've said it before that Biden has more labor cred..........

than Obama and he was the one that needed to make the statements. I'm glad they FINALLY listened to me. :rofl:

[Gold Metal Flake]

13. OK. Lets see if they mean it.

[Omaha Steve]

14. Biden voted with the AFL-CIO 86% during his Senate career

http://www.aflcio.org/issues/legislativealert/votes/index.cfm?location=Senate&termyear=2008&memberid=2449&statecode=&Go.x=12&Go.y=12&Go=Go&act=3

[Shiver]

15. Was about to post this myself.

You'd think it'd be higher up, what with everyone wondering where statements from the administration have been...