Labor Brings Its Frustrations To Charlotte

Buzzfeed Politics ^ | 9/392012 | Rosie Gray

[KansasGirl]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The newly-elected president of the giant public workers’ union AFSCME, Lee Saunders, took a page out of Clint Eastwood's book at an Ohio delegation Labor Day breakfast on Monday, speaking to an empty chair that he pretended was occupied by Eastwood. At first it was just a lark.

"He's been sitting here listening to all the speakers before me, he's been listening to me, I want you to give Clint Eastwood a round of applause," Saunders said. "I brought him with me to learn some things, OK? To teach him, to educate him." The audience murmured and laughed.

Saunders asked the chair questions, then joked, "He doesn't have anything to say."

"Mitt Romney doesn't have anything to say," Saunders continued. "Paul Ryan doesn't have anything to say."

Suddenly, the tone changed: Saunders, finishing his speech, began to kick the chair, threw it, and yelled "Dirty Harry, make my day! We're gonna kick ass in November!"

[KansasGirl]

I think we've gotten under their skin.

Btw, most American's will choose Clint Eastwood over corrrupt union bosses anyday!

[2banana]

Labor is going to bet it ALL on this election and lose big.

They have no plan B.

They have no idea the anger people have with public unions.

They will wonder why so many states (especially blue states) went the “Scot Walker” way of dealing with them.

[whitedog57]

Look at Obama’s record. STILL stuck in recession after almost 4 years.

http://confoundedinterest.wordpress.com/2012/09/03/obamas-record-on-the-economy-and-housing-are-we-better-off-than-4-years-ago/

[dk88]

Throwing and kicking a chair - way to shatter that union thug stereotype.

[tumblindice]

Saunders, finishing his speech, began to kick the chair, threw it, and yelled "Dirty Harry, make my day! We're gonna kick ass in November!" You can take the thug out of the union, but you can't something else ... Oh yeah, Saunders sounds like a union thug. But I repeat myself. Btw Clint would butter your clip-on tie, punk.

[KansasGirl]

My thoughts exactly!

[Iron Munro]

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery"

[DoughtyOne]

[Brown Deer]

[Eleutheria5]

We need somebody more prominent to go kookoo for cocoapuffs. A union boss is close, but still no cigar. Wait for that Wellstone moment. It’s coming. I can feel its approach:-)

[riri]

This only vindicates Clint's unusual improv speech. Draws more attention to it.

Idiots.

[M Kehoe]

I think we've gotten under their skin.

Yep, Clint is living in every democRAT's head rent free.

5.56mm

[kcvl]

AFSCME, Lee Saunders

SAUNDERS: Number one, we've got to continue to organize new members. That's very important over the past two years. We've also got to continue to play in the political and legislative arena. We're under attack like never before - not only at the national level but we're also under attack at the state and local government levels, where we've had to deal with the Scott Walkers of the world, the governor of Wisconsin.

The John Kasich, the very, very conservative governors who are trying to steal our voices away from us, take collective bargaining away from public sector workers and trying to limit our right to represent our members across the country.

[Yosemitest]

Yep, Clint got under Obama's skin.

Call it "THE EMPTY CHAIR CONVENTION."

Rick Klein, Senior Washington Editor ABC News, just tweeted this photo of the stage the Democrat convention will be held on.

... Klein's photo reveals screens that serve as television backdrop behind whomever's speaking -- and ... Democrats intend to show an artificial sea of faces in order to make the convention hall look a whole lot fuller than it might be.

...Look closely, they have three tiers of adoring, enraptured Obama-worshippers at the ready should they need them.

There's talk and concern amongst Democrats and their Media Palace Guards that ... President Obama might not be able to fill the stadium. There's reports that Democrat operatives have been reduced to handing out free tickets to the event at bars -- in a frantic last minute attempt to fill seats.

... Long before Clint Eastwood forever branded Obama an "empty chair," the President's been plagued by ... no longer being able to pack a house. ...

...Team Obama's been forced to save face and not risk a repeat of that calamity with the hilarious spin that President Greek Columns has now chosen to campaign before smaller, more intimate crowds.

... Thankfully Obama need not worry about filling his convention hall. We live in a magic age of illusion, one manufactured by Democrats and their media allies who constantly tell us a failed president currently sitting with an approval rating of 43% is still popular.

... If the people won't come to see The One, The One will simply ... manufacture his own adoring multitudes.

This article was edited to fit the 300-word requirement for "an excerpt".
You might want to read the full article here.

More information:

Dems Giving Away Tickets to Obama's Speech By Patch Staff, August 31, 2012.

Obama Launches Campaign in Empty Arena by Alexander Marlow , 5 May 2012.

Gallup Daily: Obama Job Approval

Rick Klein, Senior Washington Editor of ABC News, just tweeted out this photo

[Brad from Tennessee]

AFSCME has already kicked ass. The ass of the taxpaying citizen. These selfish bastards are bankrupting cities and counties everywhere with the help of corrupt public officials.

[nascarnation]

They're on a glide path to oblivion.

[Newtoidaho]

This union clown would head for the nearest dark closet to piss himself if he ever actually came within a mile of the 82 year old Clint.

[KC_Lion]

I am the only one who noticed that "DNC 2012" White and RED Star.

That may not seem like such a big deal until you remember the 2008 poster.

It is patterned after the Communist Flag!

They aren't even hiding it anymore.

[bronxville]

Great info...thanks.

[Humble Servant]

The more they lose their cool and we can point out their out-of-control behavior to our persuadable family, friends, and neighbors, the better our chances.

They are the dangerous extremists.