In the midst of rising tensions between state legislatures and unions on changes in labor’s collective bargaining rights, Congressman Michael Capuano, Massachusetts told a union audience on Tuesday, “You have ‘get a little bloody when necessary.” Mr. Capuano found himself in the middle of a firestorm after that remark. Reminders that the Democrats have been calling for “civility” and a “new tone” rightfully surfaced. Mr. Capuano found himself apologizing. In a released statement the Massachusetts congressman said on Thursday:
“I strongly believe in standing up for worker rights and my passion for preserving those rights may have gotten the best of me yesterday in an unscripted speech. I wish I had used different language to express my passion and I regret my choice of words.”
Unions are becoming more concerned they are losing more power as a result of new lawmakers who are not willing to bend over backwards to labor demands. However, with so much anger coming from the unions over this issue fears remain that the real storm has yet to hit and remarks like Mr. Capuano’s are from helpful.
