The ASSociated Press has Organized Labor at Crossroads With Feud.

A politically charged feud over the future of organized labor comes to a climax this week when nearly 1,000 delegates gather to celebrate the 50th year of the AFL-CIO.

Four of the federation’s 56 affiliates, representing about one-third of its dues-paying union members, are threatening to leave Chicago before the convention begins Monday and, eventually, bolt the AFL-CIO itself.

A divided House of Labor threatens the Democratic Party, which relies on the AFL-CIO’s organizing powers on Election Day, and could affect the livelihoods of 13 million workers represented by the federation’s affiliates. Whether the civil war jolts organized labor from its slumber or hastens its decline is a subject of intense debate.

“Divided we fall,” said Gerald McEntee, president of a government workers’ union who hopes to keep the AFL-CIO intact.

On the flip side, Andy Stern of the Service Employees International Union is leading an effort to overthrow his former mentor, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney, and radically overhaul the federation. He has formed a coalition of seven reform-minded unions, including the four threatening to quit the AFL-CIO if their demands on not met.

The radically socialist SEIU will help destruct the moderate union movement, AFL-CIO.

Say good bye to the American Labor Movement.

Looks like the Democrat Party will have to find another cash cow.

Technorati Tags: AFL-CIO, SEIU

Talk about a BIG TENT, Dean Urges Dems to Court Pro-Life Voters.

Democrats need to reach out to voters who oppose abortion rights and promote candidates who share that view, the head of the party said Friday.

Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, told a group of college Democrats that their party has to change its approach in the debate over abortion.

“I think we need to talk about this issue differently,” said Dean. “The Republicans have painted us as a pro-abortion party. I don’t know anybody in America who is pro-abortion.”

Dean’s approach echoed similar arguments advanced in recent months by former President Clinton and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.

“We do have to have a big tent. I do think we need to welcome pro-life Democrats into this party,” said Dean.

Right!

Dean, a former Planned Parenthood board member, said the difference between his party and Republicans is that “we believe a woman has a right to make up their own mind and they believe (House Majority Leader) Tom DeLay should make it up and Rick Santorum should make it up for them.”

John Brabender, a consultant to Santorum’s re-election campaign, said Dean’s distinctions were meaningless. “It makes absolutely no sense for Howard Dean to attack Rick Santorum unless he’s also attacking Bobby Casey,” he said.

DeLay spokesman Kevin Madden said, “Howard Dean’s rants are a perfect example of why the American people have lost faith in the national Democratic party.”

Symbolism over Substance.

They want the votes they have lost with a failed policy.

So, pander away……….

Technorati Tags: Howard Dean, Rick Santorum, Tom Delay, abortion, Pro-Life