Blagojevich link stings even rival union

McEntee said "unions paid their dues by supporting Democrats and President-elect Barack Obama in this year's election. He said they expect that effort to be rewarded with action. 'The payback would be Employee Free Choice Act...'" If a corporation used this kind of language expecting "payback" for "support" there would be a huge outcry about illegalities and ethical lapses. But when it's unions and Democrats, that's just politics as usual. Just exactly why do the unions get to buy politicians, and get lauded for it, when this kind of action gets condemned if its by anyone else, especially if it's business.

Exactly, Cornelius.

Cornelius, Democrats get away with it because they feel they are doing what they are doing for the common good, and that rules don't apply to them, so long as they have a good cause. Having a compliant media helps a ton. I can remember Bill Clinton once said, "There's a difference, sometimes there's a difference, between what is legal, and what ought to be done." It is this mentality that dems have that explains everything.

I can see unions that make sure employers provide a safe work environment, and pay a fair wage for a fair day’s work. That is how they used to me in the beginning. Today’s unions are much more like organized crime with way too much power. I think they need to back way off and start back at the beginning. Then people will be on their side again. Right now they are a scary entity.

Continued The other factor in the misnamed “Employee Free Choice Act” is union thuggery and corruption. Mr. McEntee would have the readers believe that he is as pure as the driven snow and that the SEIU are the bad guys painting all of union labor in a bad light. I urge everyone to do some research on http://www.nlpc.org/artindx.asp. The saintly AFSCME appears to be constantly embroiled in embezzlement, theft and corruption scandals. I have included a list going back to 2000. (EDIT: The list is too long to post per the guidelines). The list documents AFSCME scandals as far back as 1998 and the list is not short. The extensiveness of union law breaking that can include bribery, theft, intimidation, vandalism and murder is staggering. Do we need more bodies left in the street by union thugs? Do we need more union fueled corruption and violence? Do we need more unions complaining about their condition while enjoying $23 million dollar private golf clubs like the UAW that is destroying our car industry? Do we need to see union labor’s demands force more of our companies to find alternative labor overseas so they can remain viable? History is rich with real life examples of how union labor has destroyed their own industries. Textiles and steel are prime examples. Do we need to make it easier for unions to get more power? They are already a minuscule part of our economy yet wield enormous influence. Maybe they should spend that campaign money on their members? Why do we need a union for government employees anyway? It only costs the taxpayers more money in an already horribly mismanaged system. Aren’t there enough regulations preventing any real work from getting done at every level of government? Aren’t the employment practices in place for government employees that render the union obsolete? Why are we paying for this. In this country, we see report after report of bad employers getting caught. Unions haven’t been necessary for decades in this regard. There are too many whistle blowers, too much government oversight, too many employees with camera phones for bad employers to exist for very long. We just don’t need unions anymore. We need to quash “Card Check” as a nation or this economy will stagnate where it is today as the engine that drives the country begins to hire less and disappear under the crushing thumb of union influence like so many other vitals sectors of our economy have in the past.

We don’t need more union labor in this country. If anything, this economy is proving that our manufacturing sectors are rendered uncompetitive primarily due to union labor costs. Union labor costs are a huge drain on their local economies and on the nation as a whole. The Heritage Foundation issued a report titled “Union Rhetoric” which goes into painstaking detail of how far behind in economic growth union heavy states are versus right to work states. Michigan in particular is the worst performing state in America thanks to union labor. The result of union labor for its members is ultimately a lower quality of life as union heavy areas cost more than right to work areas to live in thereby causing the employees to have less buying power relative to other areas of the country. More union is not something we need and we certainly can’t afford. “Card Check,” will absolutely devastate small business. Small business provides 2/3’s of the jobs in this country. Small business has provided for and built the middle class. To say that union labor at 7.7% of the work force is responsible for the middle class is laughable. What happened to the other 92%? Who is responsible for their social standing? It isn’t the unions. Unions as stated above actually degrade one’s ability to maintain a middle class lifestyle. Card check would have the effect of forcing union labor on small to medium sized businesses that cannot afford it. The business would have to close which will take millions of jobs out of the market place. What would all those union workers do then? They’ll have no jobs. Small and medium sized businesses cannot afford to contribute the required funds to the bankrupt union pension plans which is what this push is all about. The unions are bankrupt and they think that forcing membership on a national scale will save them. It will not. It will further cripple our failing economy because no small business has the cash reserves or the revenue to pay ridiculous pension obligations or wages up to 30% higher than they currently are. It’s a show stopper for any company. They will have no choice but to close their doors putting everyone out of work. That’s typical shortsighted union thinking. The automatic unionization that forces an employer to comply with union rules instantaneously with no recourse is not a business model anyone can live with. At this moment in our economic history a policy like “Card Check” will ruin any hopes of a recovery. The potential that this law will be passed in January has already forced employers to reconsider their future plans and is already having a negative effect on our economy. Continued below

AFSCME Corruption 2006-2008 • Missouri Financial Manager Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud (11/3/2008) • Former Upstate New York Treasurer Indicted for Embezzlement (10/20/2008) • Upstate New York Local President Sentenced for Thefts (7/28/2008) • Ex-Headquarters General Services Manager Sentenced (7/14/2008) • Wisconsin Court Orders Ex-Union Employees to Stand Trial (6/30/2008) • Ohio Ex-Local Treasurer Sentenced for False Record-Keeping (6/2/2008) • Former General Services Manager Charged with Embezzlement (4/21/2008) • Local Official, Secretary of Wisconsin Local Charged with Theft (4/21/2008) • Judge Orders Hawaii Father, Daughter to Serve Sentences (12/3/2007) • Officials of Washington State Employees Union Requests Probe (8/13/2007) • Federal Court Upholds Convictions of Hawaii Boss, Daughter (7/2/2007) • Illinois President Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement (5/7/2007) • President of Ohio Union Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement (4/9/2007) • Illinois Local Secretary Indicted for False Record-Keeping (1/29/2007) • Ohio Ex-Treasurer Sentenced for Embezzlement (1/1/2007) • Ex-Bookkeeper in Arkansas Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement (11/6/2006) • Ohio President Charged with Embezzlement (11/6/2006) • Local Treasurer in Ohio Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement (8/28/2006) • Former Treasurer for Ohio Local Indicted for Embezzlement (7/17/2006) • Former Secretary-Treasurer in Indiana Sentenced for Thefts (5/8/2006) • Former Treasurer in Ohio Sentenced for Embezzlement (3/13/2006) • Indiana Secretary-Treasurer Pleads Guilty to Embezzling Funds (2/27/2006) • Secretary in Connecticut Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement (1/2/2006)

AFSCME Corruption 2003-2005 • Former Treasurer in Ohio Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement (12/19/2005) • Wisconsin Corrections Union Official Sentenced for Theft (12/5/2005) • Ex-Treasurer in NW Wisconsin Sentenced for Embezzlement (12/5/2005) • Local President in Connecticut Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement (10/24/2005) • Former Secretary in Arkansas Indicted for Embezzlement (10/10/2005) • Former Pittsburgh Local Treasurer Faces Theft Charges (5/9/2005) • Pittsburgh-Area Treasurer Accused of Embezzlement (3/14/2005) • Ex-DC 37 Bookkeeper Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement (6/7/2004) • NYC Union Reformer Sues DC 37 Boss for Libel (3/1/2004) • Reelected Chief of DC 37 Accused of Smears (2/2/2004) • Troubled NYC Local Hit with another Embezzlement Charge (1/4/2004) • WA State President Remains on Paid Leave Amid Charges of Sexual Harassment • DC 37 Exec. Director Accused of Nepotism in Contract • New DC 37 Local President Sues Ex-Boss for more than $1.5 Million • Ex-Treasurer Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement in Minn. Court • Convicted Hawaii Union Chief Claims $1 million in Unused Leave • Ohio Treasurer Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement • NY DC 37 Says "Never Mind" about Pension Fund Audit • PAC Pays $60K Penalty for Lack of Disclosure • Ex-Ohio Treasurer Charged with Embezzlement • Ex-HI Union Chief Continues Legal Fight as Intl. Takes over State Affiliate • Convicted HI Union Chief Struggles to Hold Reins of Power • Hawaii's "26th Senator" Tried for Fraud & Embezzlement • AFSCME Throws Out Milwaukee Boss, Charging Theft from Pension Fund • Uncovered Audit Reveals More Problems in NYC's DC37 • HI State Union Chief Convicted of Fraud, Embezzlement • Yet Another Guilty Plea in DC 37 Scandal in NYC • Ex-NY State Boss Gets Light Sentence for Cooperation

AFSCME Union Corruption 2001-2002 • Problems Continue at DC 37: $15 Million Stolen from Credit Union ATMs • Is Dist. Council 37 Back to Old Ways? • New Jersey Boss: 13 Months for $23,000 Theft (5.13 06/24/02) • Western Wisconsin Boss Pleads No Contest to $1,000 Theft (5.13 06/24/02) • Amid Lingering Corruption Allegations, DC37's Benefits Fund to be Audited (5.11 05/27/02) • Forgery, $36,600 Larceny Garners 3 Years for Connecticut Bookkeeper (5.9 04/29/02) • Western Wisconsin Boss Charged with Theft (5.9 04/29/02) • Elections Shenanigans Reported at DC37 Local (5.9 04/29/02) • New York Bosses Sentenced for $130,700 Theft (5.6 03/18/02) • New Jersey Boss Admits $23,000 Embezzlement (5.6 03/18/02) • Probation for New York Boss' $8,900 Theft (5.2 01/21/02) • Trusteeship to End at New York City's Corrupt District Council 37 (5.2 01/21/02) • Diop Gets up to 11 Years, $1.4 Million Allegedly Taken (4.25 12/03/01) • New Jersey Boss Gets 51 Months for $210,000 in Kickbacks (4.25 12/03/01) • Wisconsin Boss Gets Year for $88,000 Theft (4.25 12/03/01) • Second Albany Boss Admits Theft (4.24 11/19/01) • New Jersey Boss Allegedly Embezzled $23,000 (4.22 11/05/01) • Diop Pleads Guilty to $50,000 Larceny; Local Freed (4.21 10/22/01) • New York Boss Gets the Max Sentence for Vote Rigging (4.18 09/10/01) • Carey Trial Begins in Manhattan (4.18 09/10/01) • New York Boss Forged Checks for $111,000 (4.15 07/30/01) • Michigan Employer Stole Union Dues (4.15 07/30/01) • Maryland Employees Move to Decertify AFSCME Local (4.15 07/30/01) • Ex-UMW and AFSCME Employee Mary A. Uzelac on the Lack of Quality Union Leadership (4.13 07/02/01) • AFSCME Local 983 President Mark Rosenthal on DC37 Corruption (4.11 06/04/01) • Ex-Milwaukee Boss Indicted for $88,000 Theft (4.10 05/21/01) • DC37 Audit Reveals Systematic Abuse of Funds (4.10 05/21/01) • Three More New York Bosses Indicted for Grand Larceny (4.9 05/07/01) • Carey Indicted! Trumka Next? Hamilton Loses Appeal (4.3 02/05/01) • Diop Mentally Unfit for Trial (4.1 01/08/01) •

AFSCME Corruption 2000 (a busy year) • New York Boss Sent to Bellevue (3.25 12/04/00) • Ohio Boss Sentenced for $1,900 Theft (3.25 12/04/00) • New York Dissent Loses LMRDA Suit (3.25 12/04/00) • Gore, Unions Hit With FEC Complaint Over Ad (3.23 11/06/00) • Fitch: Bosses' Protection Money Invested in Gore (3.23 11/06/00) • Local 983 Boss Cheated Immigrants (3.22 10/23/00) • Local 1508 Boss Pleads Guilty (3.22 10/23/00) • Three Local 1549 Bosses Plead Guilty (3.22 10/23/00) • DC37 Boss Sentenced to Prison (3.22 10/23/00) • New Jersey Family Guilty of $200,000 Embezzlement (3.21 10/09/00) • Justice Delay: Diop's Embezzlement Trial Postponed (3.21 10/09/00) • Rhode Island Boss Accused of Stealing from Town (3.21 10/09/00) • New York Boss Indicted for $3,000 Theft (3.20 09/25/00) • Ex-Ohio Boss Indicted for Theft (3.25 09/25/00) • New Jersey Grocery Pleads Guilty in DC37 Turkey Scam (3.19 09/11/00) • Local 983 Boss Gets 18 to 54 Months in Prison (3.18 08/28/00) • Gore and Corrupt Bosses at Democratic Convention (3.18 08/28/00) • AFSCME Funds New 501(c)(4) (3.17 08/14/00) • Union Soft Money Update (3.17 08/14/00) • Jury Convicts Diop, Lubin for Fraud (3.16 07/31/00) • Daily News Columnist Juan Gonzales on AFSCME boss Gerald W. McEntee and New York's corrupt District Council 37 (3.16 07/31/00) • DC37 Clean-Up Offical Charged with Vote Fraud (3.15 07/17/00) • Clinton Gets Gift from Boss McEntee (3.15 07/17/00) • Florida Boss' Punishment for Racist Email Overturned (3.15 07/17/00) • Two Local 372 Bosses Sentenced; Hughes Gets 3 to 9 (3.13 06/19/00) • Local 376 Boss Gets 2 to 6 Years (3.13 06/19/00) • Local 983 Boss Guilty of Larceny, Fraud (3.13 06/19/00) • New Mexico Members Move to End Local (3.13 06/19/00) • Manhattan Jury Convicts Boss of $670,000 Theft (3.12 06/05/00) • 10 Unions Give DNC $5 Million (3.12 06/05/00) • Connecticut Group Backs Red Cross Strike (3.12 06/05/00) • Five More DC37 Indictments (3.11 05/22/00) • Another Hughes Pleads Guilty (3.11 05/22/00) • DC37 Democracy Battles Continue (3.11 05/22/00) • Election Reforms Proposed for DC37 (3.10 05/08/00) • New York Boss Plead Guilty to Stealing $2 Million (3.9 04/24/00) • Wall Street Journal on AFSCME's Power With AFL-CIO (3.7 03/27/00) • Minnesota Boss Embezzled $21,000 (3.6 03/13/00) • Study Uncovers AFSCME's Secret: Putting Politics First (3.6 03/13/00) • Local 1251 Ex-Boss Gets No Jail Time for Larceny (3.5 02/28/00) • DC37 Appointments Questioned (3.5 02/28/00) • $100,000 Abused; Another New York Takeover (3.4 02/14/00) • Gore & McEntee Do DC37 (3.4 02/14/00) • Buffalo Boss Misused $4,400 (3.4 02/14/00) • Union Lost $4.1 Million to Corruption in 1999 (3.3 01/31/00) • Ex-New York Boss Gets 1 to 3 Years (3.3 01/31/00) • Union Bosses' Salaries and Benefits/Allowances for 1998 (3.3 01/31/00) • RNC Post Hamilton Trial Testimony (3.2 01/17/00)

He isn't any different then some dirty Multinational CEO making 10's of millions. Just another over paid "suit" I bet he has an ivy league education. Goes to the same country club and social circle as the CEO's of the companies he is representing.