AFL-CIO Backs Halter In Arkansas, Commits $3M To Defeat Lincoln

Source: Talking Points Memo

A labor source confirmed to TPMDC tonight that the AFL-CIO voted to back new Senate candidate Lt. Gov Bill Halter over Sen. Blanche Lincoln in the May 18 Democratic primary in Arkansas. Three unions within the umbrella group have committed to a $3 million independent expenditure on Halter's behalf.

In the day since he officially announced his intention to take on Lincoln in the primary, Halter has lined up the support from Democratic base groups, including progressive groups MoveOn.org and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee. Those two, among others, raised nearly $500,000 for Halter from progressives across the country in less than 24 hours.

Lincoln still enjoys the support of at least one prominent national progressive though. The White House says President Obama backs Lincoln as he would any Democratic incumbent.


Read more: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/afl-cio-backs-halter-in-arkansas-commits-3m-to-defeat-lincoln.php?ref=fpblg

???

heck, she's a female Lieberman.

What a harvest it is, eh, Mrs Lincoln?

:applause:

And the AFL-CIO is stupid to defeat her in the primary in hopes of getting another pro EFCA Senator elected?

It's time for every part of the Democratic Coalition to do what the blacks and the gays and now labor is doing -- engage in some tough love and say - we've had enough of senators who stabs us in the back.

Conservadems better take notice - the era where you can be a sold out democratic whore to corporate power without paying a price is over.

Sadly, the practical effect in the long term will just be that it costs more for corporate power to buy Senators.

Maybe you need more experience and dedication to have your opinion become credible.

Oh, and you are wrong.

was new to DU once, even you. At some point your post count was 10 or 12, am I right? Did it make you "inexperienced" or diminish the credibility of your opinions, which you no doubt had formed over years, if not decades, of living? That was really condescending.

And to be honest, I don't see any "opinions" in the OP at all; it looks like a reprint from Talking Points Memo.

you did.

or you?

Oh, the other Halter.

the corporate dems will be fine. they don't need to be elected. where the ones that will be hurting.

...

He said there wasn't a dime's worth of difference between the two parties. He was right about that. I would guess there is about a nickel's worth.

He still needs her vote.

Then not campaign for Lamont, after Lamont won the primary?

The Party line (literally) is to back incumbents. It's that way for the Republican Party and for the Democratic Party. And Obama is head of the Democratic Party.

ESPECIALLY up front.

She choose to be the Senator for corporate America.

where they are easily manipulated by corporations.

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She is the Senator from Wal-Mart.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_NUZ_fM-TQKQ/Sjh9WO-e01I/AAAAAAAAOBg/dStYWzOTkAA/s400/Blanche+Lincoln+Clown.jpg
Blanche Lincoln (D-Wal-Mart)

???

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so only walmart voted in the election?

even though bill campaigned there. reality.

that is funny.

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Blanche is a southern equivalent of Stinky Joe Lieberman.

that he/she does not understand how our board works, thus the layers of comments on separate lines, replying to him or herself AND he/she does not understand what we are actually talking about.

So, I think it is safe to assume a visitor from freeperland.

Join date of - big surprise - two days ago. :eyes:

and as far as trolls go, he is not even that entertaining either.

LOL

sit back, and watch how Fascism entrenches itself.

i suspect the insurance companies want her to lose.

Yes, the money will pile on, but Halter needs to take a lesson from the Brown turd. In the Massachusetts primary, Brown said ov er and over how much health insurer money was going to Coakley. (Sadly, Brown was correct.)

Halter has to say over and over where Lincoln's money is coming from. If his is coming from individual Democrats around the country and the union, I'd put that up to voters against DNC and corporate money any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

and he just announced his candidacy....way to go Progressives and AFL-CIO. Money talks, Blanche walks...

???

what do politicians use most of their campaign money for?

At DU we like to do our own homework. Google is your friend.

But knowing Lincoln's record on labor, it wasn't a hard decision.

...

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But not all labor groups have taken sides in the primary yet. When we asked SEIU earlier today what they thought about Halter's entry into the contest, the union reiterated its past high praise and financial support for Halter, but declined to make an official endorsement in the contest.

"What happens in the Arkansas primary is up to working families there," SEIU spokesperson Lori Lodes said.

Then you won't be a spammer on top of whatever else you are.

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The fact is, Employers hate workplace democracy and will do anything to prevent free trade union movements including calling for a vote and then firing all the pro union workers. The EFCA would give the workers the CHOICE whether to have a vote or accept a card check.
It is way past time to level the playing field and to reform our labor laws in this country. This is yet another area that the USA is behind the rest of the industrialized world. Is it any wonder we have the highest desparity of wealth of any 1st world...and many 2nd and 3rd world countries?

Did you even read the EFCA bill, or just corporate spin?

Here's why we need the Employee Free Choice Act: http://www.aflcio.org/joinaunion/voiceatwork/efca/whyunion.cfm

Get the facts about the Employee Free Choice Act: http://www.aflcio.org/joinaunion/voiceatwork/efca/10keyfacts.cfm

My union (AFSCME) is affiliated and will be kicking in on this btw.

OS

I see the unions, even though they have been attacked for 5 decades by some of the more ignorant members of my tribe, as one of the few institutions of any size, who are on our side. Just about everything that brings American life even close to the comfort level of the average European is the result of the blood and sweat of unions. Don't you all notice that the decline of union membership directly correlates with a ratcheting down of the share of profits enjoyed by the workers who produce, in favor of the bankers who bullshit, bribe and con? Just as crumbling bridges, aging waterworks, an outdated electric grid, and our unaffordable education system should be warning signs to the continued viability of America as a great nation, unions are another part of our infrastructure that we neglect and under-appreciate at our peril.

I can tell you we had more non members than members.

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Those two, among others, raised nearly $500,000 for Halter from progressives across the country in less than 24 hours.

a "Dino" once they've been elected --

I've donated money to Mr. Halter.

Hawkeye-X

Interesting thread.

Primaries!

Hopefully!

:evilgrin:

dino bastards.

Proud Halter donor as of Monday morning, here.

Pretty sure the seat will go in the red column next election. I'm actually surprised a Dem of whatever stripe won the seat in the first pace as Arkansas is a conservative state.

Arkansas usually votes Democratic

Governors:
Beebe-D (Present)
Huckabee-R (96-07)
Tucker-D (92-6)
Clinton-D (83-92)
White-R (81-83)
Democrats 71-81

Lt Governors:
Halter - D (Present)
Huckabee & Rockefeller (92-07)
Democrats 71-92

as a note: Both Winthrop Rockefeller and his father were rather progressive people

United States Senators:
Class II: The only Republican to hold that seat in the last 100 years was Hutchinson 97-03. He was beaten by Pryor
Class III: Democratic for 131 years. Interestingly, this seat was won by Hattie Carraway in 1931. She was the first woman elected to the United States Senate. This was also the seat held by Fulbright and Dale Bumpers (2 rather progressive US Senators)

United States House of Representatives:
3 Democrats 1 Republican

Arkansas Attorney General: Dustin McDaniel - D (Prior was Beebe and before that was Mark Pryor)
Secretary of State: Charlie Daniels - D (on edit: Not the Singer)

Arkansas House of Representatives 72 Democrats 28 Republicans
Arkansas State Senate 27 Democrats 8 Republicans

If Lincoln is defeated, then the rest of the conservative democrats will have been sent a loud message.

Blanche will start an "Arkansas for Lincoln" partyand run as an Independent?

:)

i dont think she will run as an independant. her poll numbers are awful. i dont think she can win as a dem, repug, or independant. a large number of dems think she is DINO repugs are mental and will only vote for true crazys...and independants smell the stink of washington all over her...i think she is dead in the water no matter what

MoveOn also active! Donate even just a few dollars if you can!

Funny how now labor is ok. Yesterday's LBN story about 4,000 janitors winning was barely noticed.

A split party = GOP victory. Massachusetts, anyone?

Blanche Lincoln's goose was cooked and overdone long before this happened.

Donate via MoveOn.org at URL:

https://pol.moveon.org/give/halter.html?id=19185-2913021-AVbWKSx&t=1

you are not too bright.

close your eyes and tap your heels three times....and then the usa will become holland.

and where Halter's already won statewide office.

Their idiot is missing.

GOOD RIDDANCE.

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:sarcasm:

$174,000/yr.

What's wrong with this picture?

I don't think we'll see him campaigning for her--and I'd be willing to bet that they secretly hope she'll get bounced.