Posted on 02/15/2011 5:56:19 AM PST by Gopher Broke
My friends … threatening legislators by promising to withhold campaign cash if they don't vote the way union bosses tell them is nothing short of extortion.
Virginians probably aren't surprised to see these union thug tactics in Chicago and Washington but we're disgusted to see this brand of politics practiced here in the Old Dominion.
Unfortunately, this past week, House of Delegates Democratic Leader Ward Armstrong failed to answer questions from Delegate Tim Hugo as to why he would vote against HB2367, a measure that would reduce burdensome communications regulations in the Commonwealth.
In the video below, Delegate Armstrong fails to give a reason as to why he doesn’t support the bill and also fails to acknowledge if an e-mail exchange with a member of the Communications Workers of America (CWA) union had anything to do with it.
In the referenced e-mail, Carol Summerlyn, a CWA representative, says that if liberal members of the legislature support the bill, it would be nearly impossible for her and the CWA "to authorize the thousands of dollars [they] normally contribute to the [Democratic] party and individual candidates." Delegate Tim Hugo then reads an excerpt of the e-mail aloud on the floor.
Unfortunately, it appears that 19 of the legislators who are thought to have received this e-mail voted the way they were told and that raises some serious questions, especially since the CWA has donated over $300,000 to liberal candidates in recent years. This is a clear violation of the public trust and it may even be illegal.
Through a Freedom of Information Act request, we have asked all legislators believed to have been sent this letter to turn over all records related to the CWA, Summerlyn and her associates. The Virginian-Pilot is also covering the story here. In the interest of transparency and open government, these public records should be turned over immediately so that the extent to which this bribery scandal exists can be fully known and reported on.
We need you to demand that legislators release any and all communications they have recently received from the CWA. Please join us today in putting pressure on liberal members of the General Assembly believed to be linked to the CWA to turn over these documents and reveal the truth.
Sincerely,
Ben Marchi Virginia State Director Americans for Prosperity
Unfortunate but not surprising. The liberal agenda can only be won with bribes, lies and threats. If they told the truth, they would be in the permanent minority. Conservatives need to run and follow conservative principles.
Sounds to me like this matter should be investigated by the House for corruption, bribery, malfeasance, a violation of RICO provisions, etc.
“My friends … threatening legislators by promising to withhold campaign cash if they don’t vote the way union bosses tell them is nothing short of extortion.”
I’m at a loss. Do incumbents have some sort of right to the campaign contributions of their supporters? Where is that written?
I know nothing about the issue, though my default position is usually to oppose the unions, these days.
But the idea that it is extortion for the Union to suggest to legislators that it would direct its campaign resources to those who support its positions and away from those who do not is simply absurd.
As my late father-in-law often said, “Virginia has the best politicians that money can buy!”
Is there a link for the Virginian-Pilot coverage? Not finding it on their site. Thanks!
Unions are dying in America and deservedly so.
Unions have strayed far afield from their necessary beginnings.
Unions now are nothing more than a political tool, not a watchdog as they once were.
Union leaders get paid millions of dollars while their own members have to make do with whatever the unions says is okay for them and also endure strikes if their unions call for them. Unions like to throw their weight around but in a global economy they have become worse than useless and irrevelant. Union members need to wake up to reality and not follow everything their leadership says is good for them so sheepishly. Unions have become so corrupt which is another reason for their steady decline.
Some how prostitutes fits better than politicians in that sentence.
Ha! So what’s your point.
Ha! So what’s your point.
LOL, Ill let you come to your own conclusion.
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