Nearly every time I heard a Democratic candidate speak to a
progressive audience last year, there was a line about how "We
need to once again have a Labor Department that is actually
pro-labor," which was typically met with thunderous applause.
Well, it looks like Obama has granted progressives' wishes. The
left is absolutely ecstatic over Obama's choice of
California Rep. Hilda Solis as Labor Secretary. "Hilda Solis is
great," the American Prospect's Harold Meyerson beams in
a
fawning post. SEIU president Andy Stern has declared the pick
"extraordinary,"
noting that she has stood with big labor on every important
issue. And based on her voting record, she has received pristine
ratings from virtually every major union, which isn't surprising,
because she owes her Congressional seat to
union backing. As Jim wrote
in our print edition last year, the Labor Department has been one
of the few conservative success stories in the Bush
administration, and now it's looking like it will be a long four
to eight years for the business community.
For a taste of what's to come, here's a speech she gave in favor
of card check legislation that is
making the rounds on
liberal blogs,in which she discusses coming from a union
family:
"the Labor Department has been one of the few conservative
success stories in the Bush administration."
Even so, President Bush chose to award the Medal of Freedom not
to his dedicated, gifted and accomplished Labor Secretary Elaine
Chao but to the scandal-tainted mediocrity Donna Shalala. The
Bush family is frequently accused of excessive loyalty to those
who work with them; let those who sing that song explain this
injustice.
Chris| 12.21.08 @ 8:21AM
If this illiterate speech is any indicator, she'll be a joke as a
cabinet member.
Xavier| 12.19.08 @ 2:10AM
"the Labor Department has been one of the few conservative success stories in the Bush administration."
Even so, President Bush chose to award the Medal of Freedom not to his dedicated, gifted and accomplished Labor Secretary Elaine Chao but to the scandal-tainted mediocrity Donna Shalala. The Bush family is frequently accused of excessive loyalty to those who work with them; let those who sing that song explain this injustice.
Chris| 12.21.08 @ 8:21AM
If this illiterate speech is any indicator, she'll be a joke as a cabinet member.