Specter Town Hall Lebanon

Yesterday, Senator Arlen Specter held a town hall in Lebanon, PA.  Of course, the “screamers” were there to complain with the “talking points” that were handed to them.  The New York Times reports on this event.  Evidently, the Union members that arrived were told to get to the back of the line.  What caught my attention was this comment by John Stahl of the Berks County Tea Party.

John Stahl, chairman of the Berks County Tea Party, a local branch of conservatives, was one of those who helped recruit opponents of change to the event. A former truck salesman, Mr. Stahl, 65, said he was laid off about 18 months ago. Since May, his group has organized four protests in the state opposing taxes and the stimulus plan, but none have attracted the crowds like health care, he said.

“We believe there are several issues out there that leave the existence of the Republic at risk,” he added, “not the least of which is this Obamacare.”

John Stahl has his government run health care, Medicare, and he is so greedy that he doesn’t want other Americans younger then him to have the same opportunity for affordable health care.  If you take a close look at many of these screaming teabaggers, you will notice that they are of the age where they are receiving Medicare.

As a matter of fact, one woman, age 81, told President Obama that she didn’t want government run health care.  Now what exactly did she think her Medicare is?  Who is paying for her health care now?  We are, collectively, and we deserve the same opportunity for quality, affordable health care.  The Gecko said no to Glenn Beck and his propaganda and we need to say no to the screaming teabaggers that are trying to destroy our country.  And boycott Whole Foods.

One more thing… read about George W. Bush’s death panel.

Specter And The Insurance Money UPDATE

From project at Crooks and Liars…

Here is a list of elected people taking payoffs to cheat the American people and the amounts of bribes being taken. This is just from health care and insurance.
It is mind boggling to think how much these people are taking from others!
Arlen Specter (R-D- PA- $4,026,933)
Max Baucus (DLC- MT- $2,833,731)
Mitch McConnell (R-KY- $2,758,468)

And when you just go right to Big Insurance, the non-presidential candidates who got the biggest legalized bribes were the 7 senators who have been tasked with the job of killing single-payer:

Ben Nelson (DLC-NE- $1,196,799)
Max Baucus (DLC- MT- $1,184,113)
Joe Lieberman (DLC- CT- $1,036,302)
Arlen Specter (R-D- PA- $1,035,530)
Chuck Schumer (D-NY- $981,400)
Mitch McConnell (R-KY- $929,207)
Chuck Grassley (R-IA- $884,724)

There will be a health care rally in Washington, DC on June 25 starting at 11:30.  This is your chance to meet with Senator Specter and tell him how you feel about the public option for health care.

Now that Arlen Specter is a Democrat, let’s see if he chooses his constituents over the insurance industry.

UPDATE:  Here’s a link to the Rovian talking points.

A Real Democrat for Senator

Let me introduce you to a real Democrat, a lifelong Democrat, a Democrat that didn’t switch parties just so he could get elected… Bill Kortz.

Learn more about Bill Kortz at http://www.kortzforsenate.com/

Be sure to view the video at Bill Kortz’s website.

Legislator Bill Kortz will be at the “Rally for Single Payer Health Care” in Harrisburg on Thursday.

RALLY ON THE CAPITOL STEPS
for
SINGLE-PAYER
June 11th
Get the latest info here!

Meet Bill Kortz, Democratic State Representative from the 38^th Legislative District in Allegheny County, a candidate for the United States Senate in 2010.

Bill Kortz, life long democrat entered this race “For All the Right Reasons”, just as he entered the race for State Representative in 2006 when it became abundantly clear that’s some of our State Representatives were out of touch with the citizens of Pennsylvania. As a member of the Appropriations Committee for the State House of Representatives Bill Kortz the working class candidate is in the unique position to see first hand the economic devastation tax breaks for the wealthy and the unjustified Iraq War Policy by the Bush administration and his republican allies, including now long time republican, conveniently turned democrat, Arlen Specter, have reeked on Pennsylvania and our nation.

As one of the political enablers, Specter helped devastate our economy by way of a wink and nod attitude to the corporate greedy on Wall Street, wealthy bankers, and predator lenders. With the end result being a cost in dollars and broken lives that is immeasurable.

It will take hard work and dedication by elected U.S. Representatives that truly aspire to public service, “For All the Right Reasons”, to reverse this problem. Bill Kortz has proven to his colleagues in the State House with untiring commitment to his duties and dedication to constituents in his district, that he is that person.

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More on Specter and Employee Free Choice – UPDATEbb

UPDATE:  The Plumbers Unions are outraged at Joe the Plumber… read about it here…

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Oh no… looks like Arlen Specter has just been given the kiss of death… death of his political career, that is.  Joe the non-plumber, is lobbying Arlen Specter’s on the Employee Free Choice Act.

(h/t Huffington Post)

Americans for Prosperity’s National Save My Ballot Tour Travels to Pennsylvania, Mar. 30-31 Wednesday, March 25th 2009

Americans for Prosperity’s National Save My Ballot Tour Travels to Pennsylvania, Mar. 30-31
Events in Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Philadelphia will feature special guest speaker Joe the Plumber

AFP urges Senator Sen. Arlen Specter to vote against Employee Free Choice Act

HARRISBURG─ Americans for Prosperity (AFP) will defend workers’ rights to cast secret ballots in Pennsylvania as part of its nationwide Save My Ballot tour in opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act, also known as “card check,” which would strip workers of their rights in union organizing elections.

“Some lawmakers want to abolish private ballot elections through the misnamed Employee Free Choice Act, and allow unions to organize just by collecting signatures on union cards. This would give them the ability to pressure and intimidate workers in public,” said AFP President Tim Phillips. “We support the secret ballot so every worker has the right to vote on such an important matter without coercion or retaliation.”

AFP will be joined by Joe the Plumber in taking its Save My Ballot Tour across Pennsylvania– Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, and Philadelphia– to urge U.S. Senator Arlen Specter to vote against card check legislation.

“Senator Specter may be the deciding vote on this key piece of legislation,” said Phillips. “We need to send him a strong message that the so-called Employee Free Choice Act is an enormous assault on our democratic values and on our rights here in Pennsylvania and across the nation.”

Beginning in North Carolina, the nationwide tour kicked off in Greensboro and Raleigh last month where over 500 citizens urged Senator Kay Hagan to vote ‘no’ on card check legislation. After Pennsylvania, the tour will travel to Virginia and Arkansas.

Speakers will include business, community, and political leaders concerned about what “card check” legislation could do to hurt economic prosperity in Pennsylvania.

All events are free and open to the public. Food will be served.

Now for another point of view… below is a copy of a comment that was posted to the Arlen Specter and the Employee Free Choice Act by EFCANOW:

EFCANOW Says:
March 25, 2009 at 11:27 am e

EFCA Senator Specter A victim of FEAR, Intimidation and Coercion Tactics

by Employee Free Choice Act News
Wednesday Mar 25th, 2009 7:08 AM

Employee Free Choice Act: Senator Specter is No Different than a Worker Faced with an Employer Union Busting FEAR Campaign.

In an essay Senator Specter recently wrote for the Harvard Journal on Legislation, he states that for people like himself, “finding a practical solution is more important than political posturing.” That’s why we’re dismayed by those who say they support the democratic process, yet refuse to allow meaningful debate and a democratic vote on critical legislation like the Employee Free Choice Act.

Yesterday Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) had a change of heart after he announced that he would support a filibuster this year in an attempt to block the legislation from coming to a Senate floor vote.

What made Senator Specter change his mind after years of supporting cloture and the Employee Free Choice Act?

Surprisingly to most Senator Specter who was a sponsor of the original Employee Free Choice Act in 2003, supported the bill again in 2005 and voted against a Republican filibuster of it in 2007, was the newest victim to feel the wrath of a powerful union busting campaign built on FEAR, Intimidation and Coercion by Corporate Front Groups such as the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace who have embarked on a multi-million dollar public Union Busting campaign, against workers rights, the Employee Free Choice Act and targeted senators in key states that included polling, television, radio, Internet ads and direct mail.

Like most union campaigns workers who originally support unionization are faced with an all out assault by Employers who spend hundreds of thousands of dollars in hiring Union Busting consultants who’s job is to instill FEAR, Intimidation and Coercion tactics in an effort to defeat these workers from forming or joining a union.

Senator Specter who faced a primary from his own republican party caved into the pressure by these Corporate Front Groups NOT because he doesn’t believe in the Employee Free Choice Act and workers rights, NOT because he doesn’t believe in democracy or the right to debate legislation that could improve the lives of millions of working Americans but because the FEAR, Intimidation and Coercion tactics were enough for him to bare.

While labor unions such as the AFL-CIO, SEIU, USW, UAW, Teamsters, Change to Win and the SPFPA continue to fight for The Employee Free Choice Act, which has now become the biggest Union Busting campaign in history, the record will show that Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) like many workers who originally support unionization, higher wages, better benefits, better working conditions, a voice on the job, can be persuaded to vote against their beliefs if enough FEAR, Intimidation and Coercion tactics and pressure is bestowed upon them either by an Employer or a Corporate Front Group such as the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace.

Senator Specter new position denouncing the Employee Free Choice Act on the senate floor yesterday is just one more reason why both congress and the senate need to pass the Employee Free Choice Act NOW!

For more information on Employer Intimidation and Union-Busting FEAR Tactics Press Below

http://efcanow.blogspot.com/2009/02/just-say-no-to-employee-free-choice-act.html

http://www.TheTruthAboutEFCA.Org

http://efcanow.blogspot.com/

“Americans for Prosperity”… what a name.  The Republicans really know how to choose deceptive names for their organizations.  Reminds me of the “Clear Skies Act” which in reality added more polution to the air that we breathe.  Now if only the Republicans would tell the truth instead of trying to hide their lies.

Arlen Specter and the Employee Free Choice Act

Yesterday, I sent an email to PA Senator Arlen Specter asking him to support the Employee Free Choice Act.  This is his response.

Dear Pennsylvania Constituent,

After giving exhaustive consideration to the Employee Free Choice legislation, I have decided to oppose the bill for reasons specified in my Senate floor statement which is contained below or you may read here and watch here.

I remain open to working to correct the imbalance which exists with so many jobs being exported and substantial labor losses in areas like pensions and health care.

In my floor statement, I have also laid out some suggested revisions to the National Labor Relations Act which could provide the basis for correcting the current imbalance.

Sincerely,

Arlen Specter

Here is Senator Specter’s full floor statement:

Senator Specter’s full floor statement, including the appendix, follows:

I have sought recognition to state my position on a bill known as the Employee Free Choice Act, also known as card check. My vote on this bill is very difficult for many reasons. First, on the merits, it is a close call and has been the most heavily lobbied issue I can recall. Second, it is a very emotional issue with Labor looking to this legislation to reverse the steep decline in union membership and business expressing great concern about added costs which would drive more companies out of business or overseas. Perhaps, most of all, it is very hard to disappoint many friends who have supported me over the years, on either side, who are urging me to vote their way.

In voting for cloture – that, is to cut off debate – in June 2007, I emphasized in my floor statement and in a law review article that I was not supporting the bill on the merits, but only to take up the issue of labor law reform. Hearings had shown that the NLRB was dysfunctional and badly politicized. When Republicans controlled the Board, the decisions were for business. With Democrats in control, the decisions were for labor. Some cases took as long as eleven years to decide. The remedies were ineffective.

Regrettably, there has been widespread intimidation on both sides. Testimony shows union officials visit workers’ homes with strong-arm tactics and refuse to leave until cards are signed. Similarly, employees have complained about being captives in employers’ meetings with threats of being fired and other strong-arm tactics.

On the merits, the issue which has emerged at the top of the list for me is the elimination of the secret ballot which is the cornerstone of how contests are decided in a democratic society. The bill’s requirement for compulsory arbitration if an agreement is not reached within 120 days may subject the employer to a deal he or she cannot live with. Such arbitration runs contrary to the basic tenet of the Wagner Act for collective bargaining which makes the employer liable only for a deal he or she agrees to. The arbitration provision could be substantially improved by the last best offer procedure which would limit the arbitrator’s discretion and prompt the parties to move to more reasonable positions.

In seeking more union membership and negotiating leverage, Labor has a valid point that they have suffered greatly from outsourcing of jobs to foreign countries and losses in pension and health benefits. President Obama has pressed Labor’s argument that the middle class needs to be strengthened through more power to unions in their negotiations with business. The better way to expand labor’s clout in collective bargaining is through amendments to the NLRA rather than on eliminating the secret ballot and mandatory arbitration. Some of the possible provisions for such remedial legislation are set forth in an appendix to this statement.

In June 2007, the vote on the Employee Free Choice Act was virtually monolithic: 50 Senators, Democrats, voted for cloture and 48 Republicans against. I was the only Republican to vote for cloture. The prospects for the next cloture vote are virtually the same. No Democratic Senator has spoken out against cloture. Republican Senators are outspoken in favor of a filibuster. With the prospects of a Democratic win in Minnesota, yet uncertain, it appears that 59 Democrats will vote to proceed with 40 Republicans in opposition. If so, the decisive vote would be mine. In a highly polarized Senate, many decisive votes are left to a small group who are willing to listen, reject ideological dogmatism, disagree with the party line and make an independent judgment. It is an anguishing position, but we play the cards we are dealt.

The emphasis on bipartisanship is, I think, misplaced. There is no special virtue in having some Republicans and some Democrats take similar positions. The desired value, really, is independent thought and an objective judgment. It obviously can’t be that all Democrats come to one conclusion and all Republicans come to the opposite conclusion by expressing their individual objective judgments. Senators’ sentiments expressed in the cloakroom frequently differ dramatically from their votes in the well of the Senate. The nation would be better served, in my opinion, with public policy determined by independent, objective legislators’ judgments.

The problems of the recession make this a particularly bad time to enact Employees Free Choice legislation. Employers understandably complain that adding a burden would result in further job losses. If efforts are unsuccessful to give Labor sufficient bargaining power through amendments to the NLRA, then I would be willing to reconsider Employees’ Free Choice legislation when the economy returns to normalcy.

I am announcing my decision now because I have consulted with a very large number of interested parties on both sides and I have made up my mind. Knowing that I will not support cloture on this bill, Senators may choose to move on and amend the NRLA as I have suggested or otherwise. This announcement should end the rumor mill that I have made some deal for my political advantage. I have not traded my vote in the past and I would not do so now.

***

First of all… this is NOT the “card check” bill.  There is no “card check” in this bill so the Senator needs to stop being dishonest with his constituents.  Senator Specter does have a habit of bending the truth.  Remember the bouncing single bullet that killed President Kennedy?  That story is unbelievable.  Then there was Specter’s attack on Anita Hill during the Clarence Thomas hearings.  He dismissed her accusations as lies.  Senator Specter should have spoken with other women about sexual harassment on the job.  Maybe he would have learned that it is not easy for a woman to speak up and accuse her manager of sexual harassment.

So Senator Specter has decided to NOT support labor and unions in Pennsylvania even though Pennsylvanians are losing their jobs to places like China and India.  If he doesn’t care about us, then we won’t care about re-electing him in 2010.  This seat has now become very viable for any Democrat to fill.  Republicans really don’t care about “Main Street”.

Pennsylvanians Beware, Karl Rove is Coming to Our State

It looks like Arlen Specter is at it again.  Back in 1991, he attacked Anita Hill by attempting to make it appear that she was committing perjury when she testified that Clarence Thomas sexually harassed her on the job.  I remember this very well and I remember she was questioned as to why she waited so long before making this claim of sexual harassment.  Even my husband questioned this gap in time.  It was then that I proceeded to tell him about my own experiences with sexual harassment at past jobs.  After hearing my stories, he was shocked and then he understood that it is difficult for a woman to speak up about this issue because way back then, the people in authority would not listen to the woman and would defend the perpetrator who was usually in a management position.

Now, Arlen is preparing for his run for re-election in 2010 and he is already using Karl Rove tactics in his attack on Eric Holder.  What the press isn’t talking about is Arlen Specter’s connection to Eric Holder.  They go way back, into the middle and late 1970’s.

Dengre has a must read diary at Daily Kos.  Arlen Specter is exposed for all his sleaziness.  The information in this diary is important because this is the truth that will need to be exposed about Arlen Specter during the 2010 election cycle.

Pennsylvania, especially Democrats and Independents, it is time to remove Specter and replace him with someone that has integrity and that places the good of Pennsylvania ahead of their own political career.