WaPo, NYTimes, Networks Ignore Labor Unions Threatening Boycott of 2012 Democratic Convention
On Friday I noted an AP report about some trouble within the Democratic Party coalition as some labor unions have threatened to boycott the 2012 nominating convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.
I wondered if the major mainstream media outlets would report the news. Unfortunately it appears many haven't. A search of major newspapers published between August 12 and 15 and featuring the words "labor" and "Charlotte" failed to turn up any hits in either the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, or Washington Post.
A similar search of Nexis for ABC, NBC, and CBS news transcripts failed to generate any hits.
For its part the Chicago Tribune newspaper carried a brief item on the matter, on page 31 of its August 14 early edition:
Some unions plan to skip Dems' convention in N.C.
WASHINGTON -- Casting North Carolina as an anti-union bastion, more than a dozen trade unions affiliated with the national AFL-CIO have told the Democratic National Committee they will sit out the 2012 convention in Charlotte, N.C.
Coming on the heels of some liberals' complaints that President Barack Obama is giving in to Republicans, the unions' decision is another sign that key Democratic allies are unhappy with Obama and other party leaders as they gear up for a difficult election season.
Local and state labor leaders are still on board. The North Carolina AFL-CIO lobbied for Charlotte to be the convention site. On Friday, a leader of the labor group called the national unions' decision understandable, but "shortsighted."
Still, the decision by the national unions -- representing 2.5 million workers in the building and construction trades -- reflects disappointment from labor activists who Democrats count on to get union members to the polls.
In a letter last week to Democratic Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the unions bemoaned the high unemployment rate nationwide and the choice of Charlotte at a time when union members "face assault after assault."
"We find it troubling that the party so closely associated with basic human rights would choose a state with the lowest unionization rate in the country," Mark Ayers, president of the building trades unit, wrote to Wasserman.
Labor and Democrats had a similar squabble over the choice of Denver for the 2008 summit, where the gathering was held at the nonunion Pepsi Center.
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Comments
After the disasterous performance in the Wisconsin Re-Call . . .
Submitted by Galvanic on Mon, 08/15/2011 - 4:50pm.
. . . I don't think the unions will be boycotting any Democratic event between now and November 2012. At this point, they need the DP much more than the party needs them.
How's those boycotts working out for you?
Submitted by CobraMan on Mon, 08/15/2011 - 5:50pm.
Is this anything like the liberals' "Not another Damn Dime" boycotts that worked so well during the Bush administration? Or many it's like the Wisconsin Democrat's boycott of their own legislature? Ether way, we all know how well those "boycotts" work our for liberals.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
It's about paying union
Submitted by Zippy on Mon, 08/15/2011 - 5:52pm.
It's about paying union wages. In a "right to work" state.
So the boycott will hurt no one
Submitted by CobraMan on Mon, 08/15/2011 - 5:56pm.
So the boycott will hurt no one. Typical.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
Oh, yes they will. If the DNC
Submitted by Zippy on Mon, 08/15/2011 - 5:51pm.
Oh, yes they will.
If the DNC won't pay. They are not going to play.
Cheap bast**ds like M.Moore won't pay the union wage. When he makes a movie in MI, it's always on the cheap. The police don't even show up.
It's funny when a gun is involved. Or there are too many "White folks around".
The Cops are all over it.
Trumka and The Unions Will Be Too Busy...
Submitted by Motormouth KOS on Mon, 08/15/2011 - 5:58pm.
Breaking heads
Getting their asses kicked in Wisconsin
Getting their asses kicked in Ohio
Shaking down local governments and legitimate businesses
Trying to prevent the car companies from opening non-union factories in the South
Being fucking irrelevant forever.
The Obamination... A crisis leading to a catastrophe..(please donate to MRC)
Motormouth---
Submitted by matthewdean on Mon, 08/15/2011 - 6:20pm.
Some unasked for friendly advice:
Asterisks are your friend.
You keep dropping the F bomb full out, your countdown clock at NewsBusters won't even have a chance to get started before you are gone.
MD
Is THAT the real logo of their convention?
Submitted by Fenwick on Mon, 08/15/2011 - 5:59pm.
Seriously? How incredibly dopey!
The union goons are full of it and are just blowing smoke
Submitted by Dave. on Mon, 08/15/2011 - 6:35pm.
They have nowhere else to turn, and they know it.
They will be at the jackass' convention, kissing all the donkey behind they can find until their lips are sore.
And the MSM will be there with bells on, making sure they record every smooch.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November