A dust up has broken out between Eric Cantor and big labor. It started when the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and the liberal group Americans United for Change produced ads featuring Cantor targeting Republicans who opposed the stimulus. As a joke, Cantor spokesman Brad Dayspring sent Greg Sargent a parody video that mocked AFSCME, with some choice language.

AFSCME and Americans United for Change are now huffing and puffing and demanding an apology.

“Eric Cantor may think the greatest economic crisis in seventy years is a joke, but we don’t,” said AFSCME President Gerald McEntee in a joint statement.  “He should talk to the people in Virginia who are losing their jobs, health care and homes.”

Brad Woodhouse, president of Americans United for Change, added: “Does Eric Cantor believe that peddling profanity-laced filth around the Internet is consistent with the values of the people of Virginia or the country?  This is childish, inappropriate and disgusting behavior from someone who is supposed to be a leader in Congress and a role model to others.  Eric Cantor’s response to one of the most serious crises facing America in our lifetimes is to spread this filth, denigrate government employees and treat the current economic crisis like a joke.  This video has been floating around on YouTube for years – but Eric Cantor’s use of it in this context shows how completely and utterly out of touch he is with the current economic crisis and the lives of his constituents. Eric Cantor should be ashamed and he should apologize.”

Here is the AFSCME ad attacking Republicans:

And here is the parody video (warning, lots of profanity):