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Extremist Media Steps Up Attacks on Workers, Unions
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In their attack on the union movement, extremist reactionary media outlets increasingly are depicting unions and workers as thugs, Communists and destroyers of free enterprise. Media Matters has compiled these recent attacks and we’re cross-posting some of the watchdog group’s findings here. We urge all unionists to take a minute from pinko thuggery to check it out.
The Blame Game: Conservative Media Try to Pin Problems on Unions
Beck says unions have “raped” police and firefighters. On the August 4 edition of his radio program, Glenn Beck said of unions: “Look what they’ve done to the police and firemen. They’ve raped these guys. Along with politicians. Along with politicians—raped them. The bravest among us.” Beck went on to ask, “What, do you think the politicians are not in bed with the unions?”
Beck blames unions for woes of local governments and industries. On the February 25 edition of “The Glenn Beck Program,” Beck blamed unions for the financial woes of local governments, the auto industry, airlines, schools, the steel industry, and the textile industry. He continued: “Mr. President, until you get the unions out of this business, I don’t think we have anything to talk about.”
Carlson blames cost of living in NYC on “union pensions” and “raising taxes” for “schools.” On the August 5 edition of Fox News’ “Fox & Friends,” co-host Gretchen Carlson asserted that the cost of living in New York City, California, and Honolulu is “so expensive” “because of union pensions; because of raising costs for other things; for raising taxes along the way for schools.” Carlson concluded: “If you go back in history and look at who incorporated a lot of that, maybe the blame comes right back to the same party. Or maybe it doesn’t.”
Root: “Unions destroy capitalism and free enterprise.” On the May 27, 2009, edition of Fox News’ “Glenn Beck,” guest Wayne Allyn Root stated that a “point we all agree on” is that “unions destroy capitalism and free enterprise.” As examples, Root cited the public school system, the auto industry, and the steel industry. Beck pushed back slightly, stating that he’s “against unions, but not all unions” and explaining that “the way to success is to be a decent person, treat other people with dignity, give them a good fair living wage because if you’re good to your people they’re going to make a better product, everybody wins.”
Bernard: “[A] lot of labor unions are what holds America back and keeps us from being as good as we can be.” On the August 19, 2009, edition of MSNBC’s “Morning Meeting,” Independent Women’s Forum CEO Michelle Bernard stated:
The labor unions right now simply exist for one reason: To self-perpetuate, receiving union dues, and having political influence. I think it’s absolutely amazing to watch that clip from “The Rachel Maddow Show” last night where this guy is, he’s saying to President Obama, “I’m strong arming you, buddy.”
And my answer to this would be they are showing themselves to be as ridiculous as many members of the American public think they are. What happened to pragmatism, what happened to competition, and what actually happened to winning? Maybe it would be great for the Democratic Party to lose the support of labor unions because quite honestly, a lot of labor unions are what holds America back and keeps us from being as good as we can be.
Conservatives Smear Unions as Violent ‘Thugs’
Limbaugh accuses unions of resorting to violence. On the May 18, 2009, broadcast of his radio show, Rush Limbaugh attempted to smear unions as violent, declaring that the Employee Free Choice Act should be titled “The Union Brass Knuckles Busting On Your Knees Act.”
Beck warns of “possible super-union” of “out-and-out thugs” that will have “extraordinary power.” On the April 14 edition of his radio show, Beck warned listeners of “a possible super-union coming” with “extraordinary power.” He added: “And they’re thugs. Out-and-out thugs. Not the members, the unions.”
Beck says violence is a “self-fulfilling prophecy” of labor unions. During the May 3 edition of his Fox News show, Beck said, “The unions are in bed with Washington and special interests and they are not in your or this nation’s best interest anymore. They are following the playbooks from Europe.” Beck went on to spell out the “playbooks from Europe,” concluding that the process ends with “violence. … This is a self-fulfilling prophecy.”
Beck suggests unions are prone to violence. On the April 12 broadcast of his radio show, suggesting that unions are prone to violence, Beck asked of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie: “How long does that guy live? Seriously, how long does that guy survive? He’s in New Jersey. He’s got to break up the union pensions.” Beck further said, “If I do my job and I don’t get paid, I’m angry too.”
Trace Gallagher: “With the 1930s came … the labor movement — organization by way of strikes, votes, violence.” During the January 15, 2008, edition of “The Fox Report with Shepard Smith,” in a segment discussing Michigan history and the issues pertinent to voters there, chief correspondent Trace Gallagher asserted: “With the 1930s came men like Jimmy Hoffa and the labor movement—organization by way of strikes, votes, violence.” However, Gallagher did not mention the positive effects of the 1930s labor movement for workers in Michigan, which included banning “oppressive child labor” and federal laws “which strengthened unions’ rights to organize and negotiate with employers.”
Beck pushes Obama “civilian army” conspiracy theory: “The unions are his enforcers.” On the April 12 edition of “The Glenn Beck Program,” Beck told listeners, “People say, ‘Oh, Barack Obama’s building a civilian defense force—a civilian army.’ He has one. It’s called the unions. The unions are his enforcers.”
Cavuto tells union spokesman: “You politely do your Tony Soprano thing, albeit in your little sweater vest there.” During the January 11 edition of Fox News’ “Your World with Neil Cavuto,” Stewart Acuff of the Utility Workers Union of America appeared to discuss union opposition to a tax on health care plans backed by President Obama. Cavuto told Acuff: “You politely do your Tony Soprano thing, albeit in your little sweater vest there, ’cause you’re such a decent guy, but you’re saying ‘Mr. President, may I remind you that you are sitting in this room because of us.’ Which is a very nice way of saying, ‘Tread slowly, big guy.’ “
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8 Comments
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Unfortunately, more people listen to and believe the fool Glenn Dreck than listen to or watch the lousy broadcasters like Ed Shultz who are supposedly trying to present a more realistic view of labor.
Part of the problem is the utter failure of the Obama administration and Democrats in Congress to defend organized labor, stand up for the working class that elected them, or make a strong case for passing the Employee Free Choice Act and building the union movement. There is no balance in the media because the media is owned and controlled by mega-corporations who are anti-union and anti working class.
If only the labor movement was militant and socialist; then we would see real progress.
As long as there are people like Beck and Rush spreading there lies and getting stupid people to lisen and beleive them we’ll always have a to fight for whats real and right
As a former conservative, I’ve seen the light & became a liberal & became an active union member. I often wonder what they are drinking & or smoking?????
The difference between the union worker & the non-union worker is that union workers have a contract that defines the terms of their employment. The non-union worker must except their employment terms w/o recourse other than to quit. Beck, Cavuto, Limbaugh & all the rest would not set foot in a studio w/o a binding contract in place to protect their interests. Otherwise let them get paid in FOX Company script, buy their suits from the FOX store & live in FOX Company housing. Not on your life but, they are eager to deny me a chance @ the American dream of a middle class life. Remember when General Motors was the largest employer in the USA now it’s WalMart. You can do the math & ride down Main St. in any American City to see the proof.
The American veterans who saved the world in WWII came home and joined unions and made great improvements in Americans lives. They improved wages , benefits safety and uplifted all Americans lives, not just union members. They were the ones who made this country great , and the envy of the world. They also contributed to many charities and churches and improved education. At the same time they were contributing to rebuilding the war torn world. , The American veterans who came home from Korea , and Vietnam did the same. They were all American patriots , and not thugs or communists , as Limbaugh , Beck and other right wing commentators suggest.
They claim Unions are holding America back . The only thing unions are holding back ,are corporations , insurance co’s credit card co’s Banks and etc . from comletely driving America back ito the dark ages . Unions don’t seem to have enough strength to prevent what they and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are doing today. . I wonder what the American legion , VFW , Amvets and other veterans organizations think about Fox news and others calling union members who were veterans of WWII, Korea , Vietnam, thugs and communists? I would like to hear from them.
America , is in terrible shape today , because of the economy and lack of jobs, but I hate to think what it would be like if we had not had unions in the past to improve everyones live , and put things into practice that would help people in times like this.
As for me, I think the real thugs and communists,fascists are Beck Limbaugh and others of their kind .They are just like Hitler and Musselini who spread their lies and propaganda to gain power, and to try to take over the world. The whole world allowed those people to do their thing and gain power, and take over Europe , in their quest to rule the world. Americans had better wke up to what these people are doing , before it is too late
I am a veteran of the Army National guard and the US Air Force. I was a United Steelworker , for 29 years. In all that time , I never saw any thugs , or communists. No so called union boss ever called us out on strike. When we had a strike , it was voted on but us , the union members. The worst time we had was when the company locked us out for 83 days, because they refused to negotiate.
I feel the union helped us to make our lives and our families lives much better, and certainly helped our communities and America
Is that a picture of Jay Lovestone washing his hands of Bolsheviks?
The template for all this is David M. Parry’s Presidential address to the 1903 convention of the National Association of Manufacturers in which Parry vowed to “set about the task of pulling up, root and branch, the un-American institution of trades unionism.”
It would behoove modern trade unionists determined to resist present-day attacks by extremist media to examine closely this earlier history of defamation and slander. Some of the lies propagated by the N.A.M. eventually found their way into college textbooks as “economics” — where it fools even union officials who should know better.
This anti-union drive comes from the very top, those that fund the Tea Party ‘movement, fund the racist campaign against immigrants, and own and control both the media and the Democrats and Republicans in Washington. To think that Latino immigrant workers could be the subject of such a vitriolic hate campaign, and the unions would somehow come out unscathed is a complete pipe dream. We are the immigrant worker, the high school dropout flipping hamburgers, the chronically underemployed and the newly unemployed, the disabled worker, the women facing harassment and the glass ceiling – we, black and white, young and old, straight and gay, must unite to fight first and foremost for the most oppressed among us. We must unite and fight and reject racism and all other divisive, reactionary ideologies, or we will be crushed.