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Dougherty Responds to YPP
Submitted by Ben Waxman on Thu, 11/02/2006 - 12:03pm.
I got a phone call this morning from John Dougherty. He wanted to respond to my recent criticism of some Philadelphia-area unions that are supporting Rick Santorum. He explained that there are a number of reasons why Local 98 is behind Santorum in this election cycle. While I still disagree with Dougherty, I appreciate his willingness to engage in a constructive dialogue.
Dougherty pointed out that he is not on the public payroll and works full time for his union, Local 98. Rick Santorum has managed to bring a number of high profile projects to Philadelphia that has directly led to jobs for Dougherty’s members. In particular, Santorum has worked with Local 98 to organize workers at the Navy Yard, helped bring a new post office facility, and supports the dredging of the Delaware River. Dougherty believes that he has no choice to support a politician who has brought home so much bacon. Click "Read More" to find out about the rest of the conversation.
It might be true that Dougherty has no choice but to support Santorum. Still, that doesn’t mean that union members and their allies should get behind Little Ricky. A Democratic-controlled Congress will be much more receptive to the needs of Philadelphia than the current crop of Republicans. Santorum can get federal dollars for Philly because it’s politically expedient. The junior senator doesn’t actually care about our city or the people who live here. He only cares about being reelected.
Dougherty also wants readers of Young Philly Politics to know about some of his progressive credentials. He has been an outspoken critic of the war in Iraq and believes that if rich kids had to fight, we wouldn’t be there at all. He loved Michael Moore’s movie Fahrenheit 9-11 and made copies available for all his members. At the same time, Local 98 is very active with a number of initiatives designed to support our men and women in combat. Dougherty’s union has also been very supportive of the Katrina refugees and recently sent three tractor-trailers to help with relief efforts.
I still disagree with Dougherty about Rick Santorum, but I am glad that he is at least responding to our concerns. He also indicated that he would be willing to sit down with some of YPP's contributors and readers to talk politics after the election.
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My considered response to Doc
My considered response to Doc is PFFFFFFFFFFT. He has a choice.
So basically, Doc, the friend of the working man, is trying to elect a Senator who thinks:
1)the minimum wage should never be raised
2)votes for agreements that export jobs
3)votes against workplace protections and workplace safety
4)says women should stay in the home
5)is against expanding health care
As I have said before, it makes no sense for a union even to support a moderate Republican. Why? Because they may be shaking your hand, but you are enabling their party to stab you in the back, the front, and the side.
But, of course, Santorum is no moderate. He is a bizarrely regressive nutjob.
The myopic view that we should support him because he throws pork our way is ridiculous. Every day he is in office he actively works against the interests of organized labor.
I'm sure that Doc and Fera's
I'm sure that Doc and Fera's lack of support for Casey have nothing to do with the fact that Fumo supported him for Governor last time around and they, obviously did not.
I remember the tension in South Philadelphia at the time. It is never just about rank and file and certainly not about hte good of the nation.
I would like to point out, as
I would like to point out, as much as I appreciate Ben's attempt to relay DOC's views on this issue, it is not so much a response to YPP as it was a response to Ben. If DOC actually wanted to respond, he would be doing what Mike Fera is doing, declaring his name on the site and engaging us. Now, I know that DOC and Fera answer only to their unions, but if DOC wants to be a mayor maybe he should realize that NO MATTER HOW GOOD HE THINKS SANTORUM IS FOR LOCAL 98, HE IS TERRIBLE FOR THE OTHER 1.4 MILLION PEOPLE LIVING IN THIS CITY. Not very mayoral, is it?
So, again, I would just like to point out my strong belief that DOC and Fera have allowed personal politics to affect this decision. I can only imagine the voter intimidation that will occur this year. YAY Democracy!
Throwing the Race
I think that Doc has thrown the mayors race by endorsing Santorum this election, unless he plans to run as a republican and get the traditional 10% of the vote. It is political suicide in a Democratic city or just for a Democratic politician to support Santorum or any of the other incompentent corrucpt politicians who are currently rubber stamping the policies which are eroding America and our values.
Don't let the Perfect be the Enemy of the Good.-Howard Dean
What's a senator for? Or a union?
If you think the primary function of a US senator is the distribution of pork, then Dougherty's position makes perfect sense. You should always support the incumbent, especially if the incumbent is a member of whichever party is currently in the majority, as long as that incumbent has brought home her/his fair share of the goodies. (And any senator who can't or won't do that has no business in politics.)
I think the actual legislating that US senators do is more important than the pork function, and as a progressive and a union member I find Santorum's record horrific.
Similarly, if you think a union's only function is to provide a certain amount of work for its current members, Dougherty's position makes perfect sense. The fact that public employee and service unions consistently get screwed by the policies Santorum supports is neither here nor there; they aren't Dougherty's members.
I think unions work best for everyone when they act as part of a movement that supports the aspirations of all working people. By that standard, I find Dougherty's record, let's say, unsatisfactory.
The rank and file
I too was curious about this endorsement of Santorum by the Philly Building Trades so I went to some friends of mine who are actually in one those unions and asked them what it meant for them.
I won't give you which union they are members of since I never told them that the conversation would be on the record but they have been called into a work the phones a number of times on Santorum's behalf. They told me that when they get to the phone bank, they make one or two calls, tell people people not to vote for Santorum or just make small talk and then sit around for a couple hours collecting their hourly wage. For the most part that seemed to be the course of action taken by the rest of their coworkers including one guy who was so incensed that the union had chosen to back Santorum that he was actively campaigning for Casey while making his calls.
Aside from the PR boost that Santorum gets from being able to say that Philly unions are endorsing his candidacy, he gets little else in the way of actual voter turnout work.
Just goes to show, the guys on the ground, the rank-and-file, are often much more cognizant of what's in their own best interest than their leadership is.
This is great
Union democracy at it's finest.
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http://benwaxman.com
That is not true.
The Philadelphia Building Trades Unions have voted to endorse BOB CASEY. There are just three very small locals who support Santorom. The larger more important unions like the Carpenters, the Laborers, the Plumbers, the Iron Workers, the Sheet Metal Workers and many others are solidly behind Casey.
All of PA's Labor Unions are with Bob Casey. Bob Casey is going to win. Those who have strayed including their so-called president Pat Gillespie's future are still in question.
the Councilman is right (of course)
gee Dan, for someone who is following the mayor's race for a living, you clearly are not reading your Public Record, that Pulitzer Prize winning paragon of political journalism - http://www.phillyrecord.com/2006/1102/0-article-01.html
Tell me ,Jim Kenney, just how
Tell me ,Jim Kenney, just how is the future of my union in question?? Also, why the personal attack on Pat Gillespie?
I did see it
I mostly just look at the Philly Public Record for the pictures. They all seem to have a certain "Senior Prom 1993" quality to them. But anyway I did see that item.
I guess my buddies are part of one of those locals that Councilman Kenney is talking about. In the past I remember them saying that their union goes along with whatever John Dougherty's union does - in this case, unless I'm misreading it - that would be supporting Santorum. Either way, I think the point about their experience at the phone bank is true and I think my point about Santorum being able to get some - not a lot - of pr from that support is also valid. He can legitimately say, "I also have union support." Clearly however, that support is just on paper.
GBAH
GBAH
Hey Kenney, What does GBAH st
Hey Kenney, What does GBAH stand for??
GBAH
GBAH
GBAH
GBAH
Stop.
Stop.