April 18, 2008
Beware the Purple Shirts

SEIU has established itself as a formidable political force at the national level, and certainly in our own Evergreen State as well. Yet, perhaps it is time members of both parties reflect a bit on the risk-reward profile of accepting their support.

Not content with gross intimidation and violence, the union has accomplished the feat of having one of its competitors take out a fairly comprehensive restraining order against the purple shirts.

Successful grassroots politics, mobilization, and campaigning is a respectable thing - even if one disagrees with most of their policy goals. This sort of sustained thuggery, however, should a) be receiving more condemnation and b) give recipients of SEIU support serious pause.

Posted by Eric Earling at April 18, 2008 07:32 AM | Email This
Comments
1. As I recall, Eric Earling was boasting just 18 months ago about how SEIU support of Luke Esser was going to be instrumental in getting Esser re-elected to the state senate over challenger Rodney Tom:

http://soundpolitics.com/archives/007213.html

Posted by: Richard Pope on April 18, 2008 07:38 AM
2. Richard -

That is a gross misreading of the post in question, whose point was to note that a number of significant left-of-center players in state politics wouldn't be doing expenditures against Esser. Of course, little of that ends up mattering when you're on the wrong side of a "wave" election that strikes with particular force in the Puget Sound region...Darcy Burner excepted.

Posted by: Eric Earling on April 18, 2008 07:57 AM
3. Let's hurry up and abolish union croynism and slavery in this state via the citizen's iniative! Let's free the workers of Washington from this thivery and corruption! Make Washington a right to work state!

Come on Tim Eyman, let's get this done!

Posted by: AP on April 18, 2008 08:37 AM
4. "...accused SEIU members and staff last week of stalking nurses association board members at their homes, looking through windows and shouting."

Lovely group, these democrats.

Posted by: Michele on April 18, 2008 11:58 AM
5. "....'certainly it's peaceful, and certainly it's not harrassment,' (SEIU spokeswoman Lynda) Tran said."

Do these SEIU people ever listen to themselves?

Posted by: Michele on April 18, 2008 12:02 PM
6. I disagree, Michelle. Those Democrats involved in politics, including blogging, are not lovely people.

Posted by: swatter on April 18, 2008 01:18 PM
7. After seeing some of the video footage of the SEIU thugs beating up nurses and terrorizing a meeting in Minnesota last weekend, it's beyond belief that a major lawsuit against the union wouldn't succeed pretty easily.

Assembling seven busloads of purple-shirted fascists for the purpose of assaulting and battering a meeting might even be a good piece of evidence in a criminal conspiracy trial.

Posted by: Insufficiently Sensitive on April 18, 2008 03:14 PM
8. As a state worker, I can attest that WFSE makes SEIU look like a Sunday school choir. I can only hope that Governor Rossi will have the gumption to lead the drive to make Washington a Right to Work state.

Posted by: Jman on April 18, 2008 07:38 PM
9. ..and they wonder why they get called "Union Thugs"

Posted by: Mickey on April 18, 2008 09:45 PM
10. As I've said before, the purple shirts are the new brown shirts.

Posted by: JB on April 19, 2008 02:00 AM
11. njmp mqyftnpc ndoy mqjlngw cgtpo hluexprsb ypmhlsa

Posted by: ugpaenb lxjrczkb on April 24, 2008 03:26 PM
12. njmp mqyftnpc ndoy mqjlngw cgtpo hluexprsb ypmhlsa

Posted by: ugpaenb lxjrczkb on April 24, 2008 03:27 PM
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