Labor Unions and Violence: Notice a Trend
By Krystle Weeks | Thursday, February 24th, 2011 | PolicyWith the recent protests by labor unions in Wisconsin, Ohio, and Indiana, you would not expect that they would embark on Washington, D.C. to show their disdain. Unfortunately, the labor unions decided to protest in front of FreedomWorks headquarters yesterday and showed their true colors by smacking one of their employees.
It’s hard to believe that the media is not all over this, especially considering that Rep. Michael Capuano (D-Mass.) made comments at a union gathering on Tuesday urging the unions to “get a little bloody when necessary,” and the fact that DNC Chair (and former Virginia Governor) Tim Kaine has been largely silent on the protesters’ behavior.
Now, this is not the only incident of union violence. According to a study conducted by the National Institute for Labor Relations Research, nearly 9,000 incidents of violence have been recorded. Of those incidents, there have been close to 2,000 arrests and 258 convictions. It is really apparent that the media is ignoring this critical fact as well.
For all of this talk about restoring civility in politics (especially in the wake of the shooting in Tucson), why hasn’t President Barack Obama and DNC Chair Tim Kaine condemned the violence from the unions?
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About the author
Growing up in Maryland typically does not yield a Republican. Fortunately, Krystle Weeks was one of the lucky few booted to the Commonwealth for her staunch conservative views. From an early age, she has been debating politics, and since 2006, she has been involved here in the Commonwealth helping Republican candidates to victory. Aside from politics, Krystle is a runner and a dynamite cook. You can email her here. Krystle also blogs at Crystal Clear Conservative and Charm Offensive Cooking.
Comments
21 Responses to "Labor Unions and Violence: Notice a Trend"
I’m getting really sick and tired of the “union thug” nonsense. Yes, there are people who go to far. Yes, that guy was wrong to hit Tabitha. At the same time, sticking a camera in a guys face in what is clearly a hyper-stress environment is almost entrapment.
That vast majority of union workers are regular people – your neighbors, your local cop, your kid’s teacher – people who have never and would never raise a hand to another human being. It’s not fair and it’s not right to label all of us affiliated with the union movement – including me – thugs.
Tens of thousands of my members have sailed into harms way – willingly volunteered to take war material into the Gulf – without asking how much they’d get paid or if it was safe. Are they thugs?
How many union firefighters died on 9/11 in New York and Virginia? Are they thugs too?
9000 incidents of violence, in a movement with millions of people. And that allows us all to be defined as “thugs” and “goons.”
What a crock.
Brian,
The funny thing is that I did not refer to union members as being thugs. I am only merely pointing out the unnecessary violence. I have family members, who are union members, and even they agree that there is no need to resort to such violent behaviors.
Krystle, the first video you linked to is called “Union Thug.”
Then you say “why hasn’t President Barack Obama and DNC Chair Tim Kaine condemned the violence from the unions?”
The violence is NOT coming from the unions. It is coming from individuals who are breaking the law and deserve to be punished. It isn’t “union violence.” It’s “violence.”
When Timothy McVeigh blew up the Murrah Federal Building, did Bill Clinton need to come out and condemn “Christian violence?”
Was it union violence with OJ Simpson killed his wife? He was a member of a union (the NFL players association) at one time.
Violence is violence. It is no more or no less deplorable based on who is committing it or who it is being committed against. Unless you’re for hate crime legislation now, which I doubt, I’m tired of hearing this union thug/goon/violence bullfeathers.
It needs to stop.
Brian,
Did I give this video a title? No! FreedomWorks did. Do I agree with the title? I think it could have been labeled differently.
I was pointing out the unnecessary violence that is occurring. As for President Obama and DNC Chair Tim Kaine, you would think that they want to condemn political violence. After all, they would not like to be treated the way many on the right have been treated.
Brian,
“I’m getting really sick and tired of the “union thug” nonsense.”
Maybe next time you decide to bash the Tea Party or discuss how stupid a Tea Party candidate is…you’ll think twice.
I don’t know, Brian. You’re a pretty big dude and have jostled me before….
John, I don’t bash the Tea Party and I have never called anyone stupid.
JR, that doesn’t count. You deserved it.
Calling people stupid you have not but you have painted a clear picture of your position and it by no means supported anything Tea Party.
JR, I was by no means threatening anyone but you and Brian can keep your night time activities to yourself.
John, if I disagree with someone, I’m going to say so. That I disagree with them does not mean I think they’re stupid. There are things the Tea Party believes in that I believe in. There are things we disagree about. But I have never been anything but respectful.
John sounds like he wants to put his blue pills to use
BS, I will definitely give you credit, you definitely disagree in a respectful manner.
We will just need to disagree that I believe your efforts favor the Tea Party in a negative light. As the Tea Party was disected with a microscope, the unions are getting a pass. It’s a shame when normal Americans (such as the Tea party) go to protest their legislators and they’re met with a media watchdogs who watch the people rather than their crony politicians.
Krystal – Good article and I agree.
I’m also sick of the union bashing. These are loyal, productive American’s with families who are being targeted by others. Dividing the country seems to be the GOP’s #1 priority.
As for unions and thugs, “Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin on the punked phone recording, after Walker said he would be willing to meet with Democratic leaders, the caller said he should bring a baseball bat to negotiations.
Walker laughed and responded that he had “a slugger with my name on it.”
The caller suggested he was thinking about “planting some troublemakers” among the protesters, and Walker said his administration had thought about doing that, too, but decided against it.
Walker told reporters the plan to bring in outside agitators was one of many ideas his supporters and aides have raised that were dismissed.”
I ask you: Who is the real thug???
William,
The Unions are the real thugs! In addition, these cowardly Democrats ran to another state. Stand proudly by that.
FYI: Wisconsin is stil part of America. You might remember… Remember: Land of the FREE.
They are free to travel anywhere they choose unless the GOP has invoked restrictions on our personnal freedoms…
John, I’ve been fair. When the Tea Party gets attacked unfairly, I’ve defended them. http://www.novacommonsense.com/2010/07/19/enough-with-the-tea-party-racism-accustations/
The unions aren’t thugs. There are individuals who haven’t figured out that the best way to make a political statement isn’t smacking people around. Those people are called criminals and they belong in jail.
“I ask you: Who is the real thug???”
That would be ME, dude. As a “jack-booted” thug, I’ve busted Union pickets at Caterpillar and Chevrolet plants in a number of states, as well as coal mines in a number of other states. When you sit ‘em on their asses, they cry like bitches. (save for those miners in WV….they lit a couple of trooper’s cars off and pushed ‘em in for emphasis.)
“They are free to travel anywhere they choose unless the GOP has invoked restrictions on our personnal freedoms…”
The GOP has reminded them that they were elected to serve the people. And that’s happening in Wisconsin…
So we’ve dispatched Troopers to go grab ‘em by their delicate lil’ ears to bring ‘em home….cryin’ “wee weee weee” all the way home.
Thanks monk. I rest my case…
@william
This isn’t about the workers – this is about the organization and its impact on budgets and the taxpayers.
You can seperate the two.
What the Democrats are doing in Wisconsin is anything but democratic.
What thugs did in DC is anything but peaceably assembling.
Sorry, but I can’t get my dander up about a kid shoving a camera in a guys face and trying to provoke an incident. It worked.
This particular author has a history of “spinning” the truth beyond the realm of simple spin and into the realm of spreading misinformation. I remember back sometime ago she tried to say that Rep. Slaughter supported having domestic violence as a pre-existing condition for health insurance. Of course that claim could not be farther from the truth and when I called her out on it she backtracked and said her post was “satire.” Yeah, ok…..I guess this is satire too….
Some guy walks up to me with a camera and sticks it in my face I’m going to get pissed too. The whole ambushing people with a camera thing is really over used and folks like Jason Matera who make names for themselves by being annoying little pests need to do some legit journalism for a change.
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