In a Southern drawl a woman tells Arkansans that Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) went native in Washington, D.C., and is now an insider looking out for the interests of lobbyists, insurance and oil companies, rather than the interests of folks back home.
The ad is funded and sponsored by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and is a down payment on the $1.4 million the labor union promised to spend in the runoff between Lincoln and Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter.
While this internal battle within the Democrat Party brews, we can’t help but notice the irony of it all. Imagine AFSCME, based in Washington, D.C., taking aim at a Democrat for being a Washington, D.C., “insider.” Then imagine AFSCME, along with other major labor unions, planning to spend more than $100 million to reelect Democrats to Congress this fall. AFSCME alone plans to spend in excess of $50 million.
Last Friday, The Hill reported Big Labor is poised to spend in excess of $100 million to save the jobs of incumbent Democrats.
“At Least Two Influential Unions Will Spend Close To $100 Million On The 2010 Election, With Most Of Those Funds Going To Protect Incumbents.” (Kevin Bogardus and Sean J. Miller, “Unions To Spend $100M In 2010 Campaign To Save Dem Majorities,” The Hill, 5/21/10)
“The American Federation Of State, County And Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Plans To Spend In Excess Of $50 Million During The 2010 Campaign…” (Kevin Bogardus and Sean J. Miller, “Unions To Spend $100M In 2010 Campaign To Save Dem Majorities,” The Hill, 5/21/10)
• “The money will go to help defend the union’s top tier of eight Senate seats and 34 House members.” (Kevin Bogardus and Sean J. Miller, “Unions To Spend $100M In 2010 Campaign To Save Dem Majorities,” The Hill, 5/21/10)
“The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Plans To Spend $44 Million In Total On Its 2010 Election Program.” (Kevin Bogardus and Sean J. Miller, “Unions To Spend $100M In 2010 Campaign To Save Dem Majorities,” The Hill, 5/21/10)
• “SEIU has a list of 15 top-priority House districts across the country that it plans to campaign in to protect members who voted for the healthcare reform bill.” (Kevin Bogardus and Sean J. Miller, “Unions To Spend $100M In 2010 Campaign To Save Dem Majorities,” The Hill, 5/21/10)
“And The Number Will Be Even Higher Since The AFL-CIO Declined To Give Its Figures.” (Kevin Bogardus and Sean J. Miller, “Unions To Spend $100M In 2010 Campaign To Save Dem Majorities,” The Hill, 5/21/10)
• “Karen Ackerman, the AFL-CIO’s political director, told reporters on Wednesday that the labor federation will be active in 18 states, will campaign in gubernatorial and Senate races and will likely have a role in 60 to 70 House races this election.” (Kevin Bogardus and Sean J. Miller, “Unions To Spend $100M In 2010 Campaign To Save Dem Majorities,” The Hill, 5/21/10)
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