Clinton’s Anti-Union Rant

jstuart — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 14:32:53 +0000

Montreal It wasn’t a surprise that Halter lost against Senator Lincoln in the Arkansas Democratic primary the other day. He had been running a “come from behind” effort from the beginning against a well financed incumbent in a conservative southern state. His win was always unlikely when ballots were really cast. It certainly wasn’t a surprise when Lincoln ran hard against Washington, outside interests, and, particularly unions, since she had been clear that she was a Democrat in name only and a strident voice for farm and business interests over anything else, which is how she got in this fight in the first place.

In politics the rule has always been don’t slap the bear unless you are able to kill it, and in this case for those of us who have worked in Arkansas and care about its people and politics, a bad bear is now running hard and the setback for working people in the state will be a long time recovering. It’s not the first time though, and that brings up the huge disappointment of seeing former President and ex-Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton once again riding the anti-union horse in Arkansas after having kept it in its stall back in the paddock in Hot Springs for decades.

As always, you know and I know, he knew better, but just couldn’t help himself given the crowd he keeps now in the high air of world leaders, big business, and philanthropy, where money is the only marker. Obama and Clinton supported Lincoln of course, but that doesn’t mean you have to wallow with the pigs in doing so.

Reading quotes by old friends like Ernie Dumas, the reportorial dean of Arkansas politics now, and Alan Hughes, who has led Arkansas labor for many years, made it impossible not to remember when Bill Clinton broke the hearts and for many decades the back of organized labor in Arkansas in the bitter contest to repeal the anti-union, so-called right-to-work law in the 1970’s. Bill Becker, Hughes successor, had set up the petition campaign to repeal right-to-work for years. He finally got the support from the national AFL-CIO and some of the international unions when he was able to say that he had locked down hard the commitment from Bill Clinton, then governor and running for re-election every two years, that he would not only support the repeal but campaign for repeal in his own contest. Everyone helped get the signatures and the measure made it to the ballot. It really looked like we had a shot, and then deep into the campaign, Clinton reneged on the tarmac of the small airport in Fort Smith, as Becker told me and many others the story many times, and said he just “couldn’t do it,” and at best would be neutral. Painfully the repeal effort lost, and Clinton’s desertion was a critical factor, if not the most important reason.

When Clinton ran for President, Becker couldn’t bit his tongue and was quoted everywhere about his view that Clinton was anti-labor and couldn’t be trusted. As Clinton emerged as the candidate, Becker was taken to the woodshed by the national AFL-CIO, and many speculated that the original support for Hughes to run against and then replace Becker was pushed by labor allies in DC, who were hopeful of getting on a new foot with a new President.

I had hoped Bill would do better and it was one of those things. It was sad to see him come into Arkansas and let himself be used in redneck, small town square ways about unions.

Becker from the grave would now be telling everyone again how he told us so!

SEIU Brings Christmas to Arkansas’ Halter

jstuart — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 03:58:54 +0000

Quepos A week before Christmas there was a long AP piece by Andrew DeMillo that indicated that the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) was going to take the lead in seeking to retire the campaign debt of over $400,000 which Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter owed himself from his election several years ago. All of this caught my eye, having run an SEIU local for almost 25 years with a small 500 odd SEIU membership in the state, and usually having not succeeded in getting them to hardly even do the bare minimum for most Arkansas pols, including Bill Clinton [don't ask me about Mike Ross or SEIU might ask me to see if those contributions could be refunded!]. What was up with this Christmas present for Halter?

The official explanation was given by SEIU’s razorsharp political director, Jon Youngdahl, a couple of jumps over relative of the late and wildly great Arkansas labor lawyer, Jim Youngdahl:

“SEIU has met with Bill Halter, and finds him to be a great voice for working families with an extremely bright political future,” said Jon Youngdahl, the union’s national political director. “That’s why we’ve solicited contributions to retire his campaign debt and support his re-election campaign.”

Hmmmm…..Bill Halter has quite a lot of work to do before he quite qualifies as a “great voice for working families,” so that’s not the real answer though SEIU supporting “his re-election campaign” might just be closer to reality.

A few weeks ago when I speculated that I thought we could bank on Senator Blanche Lincoln as a sure vote in the 60 for health care passage by throwing a sop to her Democratic base despite her only real concern with her seven (7) Republican primary opponents, I also guessed that it was unlikely that Halter would agree to challenge Lincoln given what I was hearing from friends and relatives in the Wonder State. I would have to guess that SEIU’s sudden interest in Halter’s debt and anything in Arkansas at all, given that at this point they have no significant membership in the state anymore that could be helped by a Lt. Gov, must have come from some high level backroom discussions not with Halter, but probably with Lincoln and her campaign that dollars to donuts ended up with SEIU promising to support Lincoln aggressively if she slipped over and gave a needed vote on healthcare in the Senate.

For Halter this probably feels like Christmas, but in real terms this was just a consolation prize for him running in place and staying put for the future.

Union says it will help Ark. Lt. Gov. retire debt

12/18/2009, 5:34 p.m. EST

ANDREW DeMILLO

The Associated Press

(AP) — LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A major labor union said Friday it will help retire the 2006 campaign debt of Arkansas Lt. Gov. Bill Halter, a Democrat who’s been touted as a potential primary challenger to U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln next year.

The Service Employees International Union said it is soliciting contributions to retire the debt along with the help of other labor unions. Halter reported in October that his campaign still owed him more than $444,000 that he had loaned it.

[1]

The move may help remove a barrier for Halter, who’s been mentioned as a potential rival to fellow Democrat Lincoln in next year’s primary. Halter has said he is focused on his re-election campaign, and has not said whether he is considering running against Lincoln.

Lincoln, who is seeking a third term, has more than $4.1 million in the bank for her re-election bid.

“The lieutenant governor continues to raise money to retire his debt and he’s thankful for anyone who offers their help, whether it’s SEIU or any Arkansan or union or person who believes Halter is doing a great job as lieutenant governor as he prepares to run for re-election,” Halter spokesman Bud Jackson said Friday.

Steve Patterson, Lincoln’s campaign manager, said he didn’t see any indication that the union was backing Halter as a potential primary challenger.

“I accept their statement on its face,” Patterson said.

A spokeswoman for the union, which represents 2.1 million members, said union officials had not decided whether to endorse Lincoln in her re-election bid.

Lincoln has been targeted by liberals and conservatives, particularly on health care legislation. The state GOP has criticized Lincoln for voting to open debate on Democratic-led health care legislation, while the liberal organization MoveOn.Org has aired ads pressuring her for opposing a government-run insurance option.

Labor unions have expressed disappointment with health care legislation in the Senate for not including the so-called public option.

Seven Republicans have announced they’re seeking the party’s nomination to challenge Lincoln next year.

Wade Rathke: Chief Organizer Blog » bill halter

Clinton’s Anti-Union Rant

SEIU Brings Christmas to Arkansas’ Halter

Union says it will help Ark. Lt. Gov. retire debt