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Labor, Others Condemn DeLay Hate Letter
In case you weren't completely sure how the Republican
establishment regards organized labor, House Majority Leader Tom DeLay made it most clear in a recent fund-raising letter on behalf of the "Right to Work" committee's legal fund. It's a six-page diatribe lashing out at unions in vile language and assaulting the patriotism of "Big Labor Bosses" who want "to expand their power at the expense of homeland security and troops overseas."
So offensive was the letter that some fellow Republicans were among the first to denounce it. Only then did the Texas congressman try to distance himself from the union-bashing screed. He claimed he didn't authorize the letter and called it "sloppy," but hasn't disavowed the comments or apologized for them except to say the "hyperbole doesn't reflect how I deal with unions."
The letter appears under his personal letterhead -- Tom DeLay, Majority Leader -- and bears his signature.
"I am outraged, for myself and for every member, past and present, who served in our armed forces," CWA President
Morton Bahr said. "From my personal viewpoint, I did my service in the U.S. Merchant Marine in World War II and resent the slur deeply. This display of "patriotism" came from a man who spent the Vietnam years fighting bugs and cockroaches as head of his exterminating company."
Harold Schaitberger, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, said in 32 years of representing workers who risk their lives every day to save others -- including 343 who died at Ground Zero -- "I have never felt more outrage, astonishment and utter disgust over the actions of an elected official."
"In your attempt to raise money, you have shamelessly distorted history, attacked the entire labor movement and besmirched the character of our nation's professional firefighters and the other first responders," he said in a letter to DeLay. "Organized labor has consistently rallied to the defense of our nation in times of crisis and continues to do so."
The letter tears apart unions for fighting for workers at a time when the Bush administration is using claims of "national security" to justify its anti-union agenda. The White House and its partners in Congress have rolled back workers rights in federal agencies, busted federal unions and pushed for language in the homeland security bill to bar workers from organizing.
Some excerpts from the letter:
*** DeLay would be "deeply disappointed and deeply concerned" it says -- in italics and underlined -- if readers say "No" to his fundraising appeal. "Why," the letter asks. "Because the union bosses' selfish drive to use the national emergencies we face today to grab more power presents a clear and present danger
to the security of the United States and the safety of our armed forces."
After listing several strikes that have occurred since Sept. 11, 2001, and efforts by pro-labor lawmakers and unions to protect worker's rights, the letter says, "union bosses have only just begun exploiting the war effort . . . That is why I was relieved when I heard that the National Right to Work Foundation was launching an aggressive campaign to fight this shameful, post-9/11 power grab by Big Labor."
"As I rush this heartfelt appeal to you, our nation is engaged in a great struggle against an evil enemy that lurks in many nations and takes many forms. Meanwhile, our economy continues to struggle. And it is truly sickening that, at a time when we desperately need everyone in America to pull together, the Big Labor Bosses are willing to harm freedom-loving workers,
the war effort and the economy to acquire more power!"
"So please, for the sake of our men and women overseas, for the sake of our security, prosperity and freedom, check "Yes" on your RSVP and then rush it and a very, special, very needed, tax-deductible gift of $20, $35, $50, $100, $250 or more back to the National Right to Work Foundation today. If you can send $500 or $1,000 or more, that would be a tremendous shot
in the arm."
In a postscript, the letter says that a "generous foundation
supporter" will match every donation dollar for dollar, doubling the contributions.
Bahr said it's disturbing that Bush and Republican leaders have had nothing to say about the letter. "The only criticism -- but we are glad for it -- came from decent, labor-supporting Republicans like Rep. Jack Quinn of Buffalo who spoke out immediately," he said. "The rest of the GOP and the White House and its agents
have been silent. And, like the brave guy DeLay is, after feeling the heat from guys like Quinn and the labor movement, he blamed the letter on his staff."
establishment regards organized labor, House Majority Leader Tom DeLay made it most clear in a recent fund-raising letter on behalf of the "Right to Work" committee's legal fund. It's a six-page diatribe lashing out at unions in vile language and assaulting the patriotism of "Big Labor Bosses" who want "to expand their power at the expense of homeland security and troops overseas."
So offensive was the letter that some fellow Republicans were among the first to denounce it. Only then did the Texas congressman try to distance himself from the union-bashing screed. He claimed he didn't authorize the letter and called it "sloppy," but hasn't disavowed the comments or apologized for them except to say the "hyperbole doesn't reflect how I deal with unions."
The letter appears under his personal letterhead -- Tom DeLay, Majority Leader -- and bears his signature.
"I am outraged, for myself and for every member, past and present, who served in our armed forces," CWA President
Morton Bahr said. "From my personal viewpoint, I did my service in the U.S. Merchant Marine in World War II and resent the slur deeply. This display of "patriotism" came from a man who spent the Vietnam years fighting bugs and cockroaches as head of his exterminating company."
Harold Schaitberger, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, said in 32 years of representing workers who risk their lives every day to save others -- including 343 who died at Ground Zero -- "I have never felt more outrage, astonishment and utter disgust over the actions of an elected official."
"In your attempt to raise money, you have shamelessly distorted history, attacked the entire labor movement and besmirched the character of our nation's professional firefighters and the other first responders," he said in a letter to DeLay. "Organized labor has consistently rallied to the defense of our nation in times of crisis and continues to do so."
The letter tears apart unions for fighting for workers at a time when the Bush administration is using claims of "national security" to justify its anti-union agenda. The White House and its partners in Congress have rolled back workers rights in federal agencies, busted federal unions and pushed for language in the homeland security bill to bar workers from organizing.
Some excerpts from the letter:
*** DeLay would be "deeply disappointed and deeply concerned" it says -- in italics and underlined -- if readers say "No" to his fundraising appeal. "Why," the letter asks. "Because the union bosses' selfish drive to use the national emergencies we face today to grab more power presents a clear and present danger
to the security of the United States and the safety of our armed forces."
After listing several strikes that have occurred since Sept. 11, 2001, and efforts by pro-labor lawmakers and unions to protect worker's rights, the letter says, "union bosses have only just begun exploiting the war effort . . . That is why I was relieved when I heard that the National Right to Work Foundation was launching an aggressive campaign to fight this shameful, post-9/11 power grab by Big Labor."
"As I rush this heartfelt appeal to you, our nation is engaged in a great struggle against an evil enemy that lurks in many nations and takes many forms. Meanwhile, our economy continues to struggle. And it is truly sickening that, at a time when we desperately need everyone in America to pull together, the Big Labor Bosses are willing to harm freedom-loving workers,
the war effort and the economy to acquire more power!"
"So please, for the sake of our men and women overseas, for the sake of our security, prosperity and freedom, check "Yes" on your RSVP and then rush it and a very, special, very needed, tax-deductible gift of $20, $35, $50, $100, $250 or more back to the National Right to Work Foundation today. If you can send $500 or $1,000 or more, that would be a tremendous shot
in the arm."
In a postscript, the letter says that a "generous foundation
supporter" will match every donation dollar for dollar, doubling the contributions.
Bahr said it's disturbing that Bush and Republican leaders have had nothing to say about the letter. "The only criticism -- but we are glad for it -- came from decent, labor-supporting Republicans like Rep. Jack Quinn of Buffalo who spoke out immediately," he said. "The rest of the GOP and the White House and its agents
have been silent. And, like the brave guy DeLay is, after feeling the heat from guys like Quinn and the labor movement, he blamed the letter on his staff."