Leading Democrats Go AWOL

I don't get it. . .

Leading Democrats Go AWOL on Overtime Vote
by Nikos Valance ; Village Voice ; July 18, 2003

There are millions of men and women in America who not only work hard every day but also put in overtime. Sometimes the overtime helps to pay the bills. Sometimes it helps them stay a little ahead of the game or to save for things they otherwise couldn't afford, like a college education or a bigger house for a growing family. There was once a time in America when these men and women believed they could depend on Democrats in Washington to defend their interests and to battle to protect their rights.

That time is apparently gone. On Thursday, the House of Representatives-with seven Democrats absent, including presidential candidate Richard Gephardt-voted 213 to 210 to approve new regulations that would cut off a universe of Americans-anywhere from 1 million to 8 million-from guaranteed overtime pay. Under the new rules, backed by the Bush administration and campaigned for heavily by business lobbyists, those employees would still have to put in extra hours. They just wouldn't get any extra pay. Instead, some would qualify for comp time-try paying the rent with that-and others would simply be reclassified as executives, even if they wield little managerial authority.

Where were the Democrats? Nowhere to be found. Gephardt was in Iowa getting an endorsement from the International Order of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, promising veterans of the picket line they'd be part of a new American prosperity. Among the leading Democratic contenders, neither Gephardt nor senators John Edwards, John Kerry, or Joe Lieberman returned repeated Voice calls for comment. The office of Representative Dennis Kucinich, a staunch labor supporter who voted against the measure, at least returned a call, as did former Vermont governor Howard Dean's office. Dean spokesperson Tricia Enright says of Gephardt's absence, "It's disgraceful. . . . Don't votes like this keep people off the picket lines?"
It's fine for Dean's people to take a shot at Gephardt on this issue, but the fact of the matter is that none of the presidential candidates made this into a major national issue. Neither did any of the Democrats in Congress. Yet all are counting on support from labor, and they're likely to get it.

(much more http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=19&ItemID=3925)

...who voted for this are royally screwed in my book.

YES, blame the AWOLS. :mad:

The absentees lost it. They are too blame for this.
I thought Mr. Gephardt was the friend of labor?

you mean WE get screwed because of 4 votes?!?!

Hey Dick Gephardt, do you know what those workers are going to do with all of that new comp time? THEY'LL HAVE TO GET A 2ND OR 3RD JOB TO MAKE UP FOR LOST OVERTIME WAGES!!! Crikey!

progress the Dems have made in tearing down the repukes these last few days. It's just this stuff that makes me sick....how goddamn dumb can they be?? Perhaps they think they can use it as a campaign issue. If they are willing to do crap like that to hardworking Americans to gain an "issue" they don't deserve to be elected. Gephardt should be made to answer....and where the hell was Pelosi and other leaders in getting the people together for this vote? This makes me sick. Perhaps all the unions who are a-okaying Gep might want to ask him some questions.

I'm sure non-union workers will be screwed but maybe unions have more protection

fact that of the people named in it, only Gephardt and Kucinich are in congress, the rest are in the senate where the bill has not been voted up or down. Gephardt DID make this into a national issue and all opposition to the bill has come from the Democrats and there is bipartisan opposition in the Senate including opposition from (of all people) Lindsay Graham.

This reminds me of the Cockburn hit pieces from the left tha helped spread rumors about Gore. Remember the Love Canal allegations were spread by THEM not the Repubs.

HOw about a little investigation and critical thinking from the left. I see people post Nat Hentoff articles on Du all the time as though Hentoff is the voice of the left....anyone happen to realize Hentoff IS A NEOCON???

I am relieved to hear that my own senator hasn't had a chance to vote against this odious bill, yet.

But a problem is that the repuke leadership can bring the vote to the floor, when they KNOW that our Dem hopeful senators are out at some previously committed engagement!! Imagine that...

Who wants to bet if the missing 7 Democrats had been there, the vote still would have gone down?

Would you put it past these Republicans to purposely get a close vote done so as to embarass the Democratic Presidential candidates?