Ted Cruz Met With Icy Silence
[su_thin_right_skyscraper_ad]Republicans have suddenly realized that they might just have a teensy problem with unions – and we’re not talking about the Teamsters, IBEW, or other groups regularly maligned by the Mighty Limbaugh Wurlitzer. So they are taking a few tentative steps toward mending fences with select union organizations, most notably those that represent first responders.
[H]undreds of firefighters offered polite applause or silence to GOP White House prospects Tuesday at a union-backed presidential forum, a Washington event that highlighted organized labor’s evolving role in national politics.
“Both parties want to work with firefighters,” said former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, a likely Republican presidential candidate who addressed the crowded hotel ballroom in a brief video message. “People on both sides of the aisle understand the tremendous commitment our courageous firefighters make each day.”
Bush was among a half dozen potential Republican White House candidates to address Tuesday’s gathering of the International Association of Fire Fighters, an organization that has poured millions of dollars into recent elections — largely to benefit Democrats. Union leaders could not remember endorsing a Republican presidential candidate. Organized labor generally has worked aggressively against some of the GOP’s more controversial leaders such as Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who signed legislation to weaken union members in his state on Monday and did not appear at the firefighters’ conference.
Calgary Teddie brought his clown car road show to the IAFF presidential forum. It did not go as planned.
After the speeches, the firefighters I talked to had a few good things to say about South Carolina Lindsey Graham, who discussed homeland security, and Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who stuck largely to a story about his upbringing. No one had anything good to say about Cruz. “I had to take a shower after listening to that,” said Washington state IAFF leader Ricky Walsh.
Next time, they’ll know enough to wear the iso suits! ‘Nuff said…[su_fb][su_center_ad]
William March 12th, 2015 at 11:05 am
What as he thinking?
Suzanne McFly March 12th, 2015 at 2:12 pm
I am glad to see at least some of them realize how the rest of us see their politicians.
arc99 March 12th, 2015 at 11:22 am
Let’s start with a basic question. Why should any union member vote for a politician whose policies serve to weaken and destroy unions?
Can these GOP candidates be so tone-deaf that question never even comes to mind?
One of the Democratic speakers at the convention summed things up perfectly. The issues most important to these union members, received zero mention in any of the speeches from the Republican speakers.
These right wingers can shuck and jive all they want. Organized labor is not easily fooled like the TeaParty base of the GOP. Getting teachers and firefighers and police officers and auto workers to vote to cut their own throats is a task that is orders of magnitude more difficult than it would be with the average FOX viewing/Rush listening partisan voter.
Organized labor recognizes who has their interests at heart, and who refers to them as “union thugs” in speeches when preaching to the choir inside their ideological bubble.
http://www.businessinsider.com/marco-rubio-ted-cruz-brave-the-unions-2015-3
Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) delivered the closing remarks at the event and earned a standing ovation from the crowd for praising his commitment to supporting unions.
“There are two important things you did not hear from any of today’s Republican speaker. One is a commitment to collective bargaining. The second is a commitment to funding public safety.”
anothertoothpick March 12th, 2015 at 11:49 am
How true arc99 and thanks for a great post.
When you play that video you would think Cruz was talking to the brain dead t-baggers.
Quick story;
Back in the early eighties I was on a construction job. I think it was O’hare Airport.
There was a union pipe fitter working in my area and on his radio he was listening Rush. And then he was quoting Rush. And then he was calling himself a “ditto head” This guy bought into every hate filled sentence that Limbo was spewing. That was the first time I realized the unions where in trouble.
tracey marie March 12th, 2015 at 3:17 pm
Very true, Walker believes he has a chance even after signing “right to work laws”. He just alienated millions of Union members and their friends and family
Candide Thirtythree March 12th, 2015 at 2:22 pm
Wow, I hope republicans were not surprised that actual fully formed, functioning human beings are sickened by them.
They are so used to speaking only to throngs of foaming at the mouth neanderthals that they think that is what America is now.
That is what happens when you live in the echo chamber of Fox Noise!
FatRat March 12th, 2015 at 3:21 pm
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/science/131217/respecting-their-elders-neanderthals-cared-their-elderly
The GOP is not full of Neanderthals, they took care of their sick and elderly. We have the skeletons to prove it. (smile)
Paleontology tells us that humans and dinosaurs didn’t coexist but PALIN-otology reckons somewhat differently. lol
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/65/Thagomizer.png
Foundryman March 12th, 2015 at 2:55 pm
It’s really a shame they didn’t throw rotten vegetables at him….
Ronald Woolever March 12th, 2015 at 4:06 pm
They would have if he was Walker.
Warman1138 March 12th, 2015 at 5:43 pm
Too bad tomatoes aren’t in season.
allison1050 March 12th, 2015 at 8:52 pm
Soon Warman soon. 😉
Guy Lauten March 12th, 2015 at 5:48 pm
Classic. Each time he takes the 3-count, waiting for the applause; each time his eyes give a “Huh?” when no one accommodates.
I have to wonder about who scheduled this. Letting any of these clowns outside of their bubble never works out well for them. But for the rest of us… Schadenfreude Ho!
allison1050 March 12th, 2015 at 8:53 pm
lol! That reminds me of the episode of Golden Girls when Rose Nyland was practicing her speech and she read in the waiting for applause.
fancypants March 13th, 2015 at 1:43 am
Ted cruz
a perfect example why comedians don’t give eulogies at funerals
labman57 March 13th, 2015 at 8:24 am
Even the crickets were unimpressed.