Secret ballots for workers in Mexico, but not the US?
posted at 3:00 pm on February 20, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
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Who said this about the secret ballot?
We understand the secret ballot is allowed for, but not required by Mexican labor law. However, we feel that the secret ballot is absolutely necessary in order to ensure that workers are not intimidated into voting for a union they might not otherwise choose.
We respect Mexico as an important neighbor and a trading partner, and we feel that the increased use of the secret ballot in union recognition elections will help bring real democracy to the Mexican workplace.
The same people who signed this letter also co-sponsor the Employee Free Choice Act here in the US, better known as Card Check. Kevin Mooney exposes the hypocrisy for The Examiner:
Democrats leading the charge in 2009 for legislation that critics say will abolish secret ballots for employees voting in U.S. workplace unionization contests signed a 2001 letter urging Mexican officials to protect their workers’ electoral privacy as a defense against union thugs. …
Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the main “card check bill” sponsor on the House side, and nine other Democratic co-sponsors,” all signed the letter to Mexico demanding that the secret ballot be maintained. Rep. Joe Baca (D-Calif.), Rep. Bob Filner (D-Calif.), Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Rep. James McGovern (D-Mass.), Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.). all joined Miller in both co-sponsoring EFCA and signing the 2001 letter.
So why are these American legislators more interested in protecting Mexican workers from union abuse than workers in their own country? The easy answer: Mexican unions don’t contribute millions of dollars to the Democrats and to these politicians. Therefore, they oppose the Union Boss Bills of Mexico while working to enable them here in the US.
The secret ballot exists to protect people from influence and intimidation, both in the workplace and in the electoral system. It’s a sad day in America when one major political party has no problem defending that principle in someone else’s nation and abandons it for Americans.
Previous posts on Card Check:
- Will Stern strong-arm unions to join the SEIU?
- Video: Labor officials can’t explain why they need to dump the secret ballot
- Card check a dead letter?
- Audio: Sharpton opposing Card Check?
- Card Check loses a vote? Perhaps
- Video: Blago, SEIU, and Card Check
- DeMint conference call: Card Check, bailouts
- Card Check: A direct pipeline to corruption and abuse
- Can Obama get Democrats to support Card Check?
- Video: The Card Check ad CBS doesn’t want you to see
- Irony escapes the House Democratic Caucus
- Guess who used the secret ballot … again?
- Video: Meet Union Boss Bill
- USA Today: Stop Card Check …
- Video: McGovern on Card Check
- George McGovern to fight Card Check in debate ad
- Video: What if Congress passed Card Check for all elections?
- FRC Action Summit: Barbara Comstock on EFCA
- George McGovern: Stop Card Check
- Where did the SEIU get $150 million for politics?
- Right Online Conference: John Fund
- Maybe this is why they need Card Check?
- Video: “I Hate Heroes”
- Johnny Sac takes on the unions
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Huh. Leftists are lying scum.
Didn’t see that one coming.
/sarc
PimFortuynsGhost on February 20, 2009 at 3:04 PM
To be fair, workers in Mexico are too busy dodging bullets and RPG’s to write their name on a card, they barely have time to scratch a checkmark in a box before needing to dive to the floor again.
Bishop on February 20, 2009 at 3:04 PM
Head bashing smiley icon…
want it…
(Or angry smiley icon…)
No wait… I’m at acceptance level of death… rolleyes icon…
Skywise on February 20, 2009 at 3:05 PM
Ed, are you trying to start a revolution? There’s a theme to the HA posts. I might be crazy, but put together, it almost sounds like the Democrats are trying to destroy our way of life in order to ensure permanent rule.
JiangxiDad on February 20, 2009 at 3:07 PM
Democrats, Liberalism, Leftism = HYPOCRISY
J.J. Sefton on February 20, 2009 at 3:08 PM
How does this help Michelle Obama’s children? >.<
BlameAmericaLast on February 20, 2009 at 3:08 PM
All Democrat politicians are painfully corrupt and hideously incompetent.
There’s no questioning it any longer, it’s a fact.
NoDonkey on February 20, 2009 at 3:09 PM
Ya think? /s
coldwarrior on February 20, 2009 at 3:10 PM
It won’t be long before workers in America are too busy dodging bullets and RPG’s to write their name on a card (that is if they are literate) , they will barely have time to scratch a checkmark in a box before needing to dive to the floor again.
izoneguy on February 20, 2009 at 3:16 PM
Somebody better be shaking things up. And remember nothing is permanent .
izoneguy on February 20, 2009 at 3:17 PM
This need to be published all over with names included,,the MSM will not do it,,,,,so emails and phone calls,,,,,we have got to take charge and shine the light on these cockroaches.
retiredeagle on February 20, 2009 at 3:17 PM
We’ve had a month of sad days. God help us.
Christian Conservative on February 20, 2009 at 3:18 PM
Union Boss Guillermos are not happy.
Abby Adams on February 20, 2009 at 3:18 PM
Kramer just admitted on CNBC that the stimulus bill was nothing more than a payoff to the people and groups who got Obama elected. I almost fell off my chair.
TheBigOldDog on February 20, 2009 at 3:21 PM
:)
JiangxiDad on February 20, 2009 at 3:22 PM
We’ve got at least two…barring a Rep take-over and impeachment in 2010…probably four years of sad days…
Rogue on February 20, 2009 at 3:25 PM
That’s all well and good, but where the f**k was this ass, and every one else who is suddenly having an epiphany, BEFORE Election Day?!
J.J. Sefton on February 20, 2009 at 3:31 PM
I fully expect Williams, Couric, and Gibson to have this as the lead story tonight.
jukin on February 20, 2009 at 3:35 PM
Anyone ever notice that these leftist socialist demoRatz use deceiving names to disguise their freedom hating legislation?
I mean, Employee Free Choice Act = Employee Removed Free Choice Act, is more like it.
Just like the No Fairness Act
Kini on February 20, 2009 at 3:37 PM
I wish I had your sunny outlook.
I’m thinking eight years of sad days. The Dems will blame all of our woes on BOOOSH. We’ll have another ACORN/Daily Kos election where the left side and squishy middle of the IQ bell curve vote for more hope and change. If he only had more time, Obama could change EVERYTHING, including the hearts and minds of evil conservatives. They take no responsibility for anything.
If you need me, I’ll be digging a bunker.
Laura in Maryland on February 20, 2009 at 3:38 PM
I fully expect all the listed politicians to resign in dishonor…tonight, right after the lead stories.
right2bright on February 20, 2009 at 3:38 PM
Being against the secret ballot is objectively fascist.
Tav on February 20, 2009 at 3:38 PM
Uuuuhhhh, I have a bracelet too.
Big Brother Barry.
Mercy4Me on February 20, 2009 at 3:41 PM
Good catch. Liberal facists can put a happy spin on anything. Who else would have thought of the term “concentration camp”. It sounds like we should pitch our tents closer together before we go on our nature walk.
I hate libspeak. Dems conveniently forget that Hitler started out a socialist full of ideas for national programs.
Laura in Maryland on February 20, 2009 at 3:43 PM
Just about everything the Democrats say or do frustrates me, but mostly they just make me sad.
myrenovations on February 20, 2009 at 4:08 PM
Not only that, they seek to slime the Right by claiming Fascism is a Rightist philosophy. Well blow me down, I thought Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez were LEFTISTS.
Anarchy is the extreme Right position, not Fascism.
BlameAmericaLast on February 20, 2009 at 4:15 PM
So I guess the Mexicans are doing the secret balloting that Americans don’t want to do.
Meryl Yourish on February 20, 2009 at 4:42 PM
backing Obama. He’s a big Dem….
TheBigOldDog on February 20, 2009 at 4:45 PM
True, not even the U.S. if we aren’t careful. All citizens have been given a sacred duty to protect this nation.
Heh. That would make a good slogan.
Esthier on February 20, 2009 at 5:05 PM
Come on J.J. They were intoxicated with “Hope n’ Change”. It is just too bad “The One” did not take them all to Guyana for some Kool Aid.
brtex on February 20, 2009 at 5:06 PM
From Glenn Beck, they know Card Check is not likely to pass, but while they are slapping us in the face they will continue to use the misdirection to take our wallet. At the least they will push for changing the 45 waiting period employees have to wait to vote, to 4 days where emotions are higher and thereby more likely to unionize.
Conservative Voice on February 20, 2009 at 6:34 PM
i guess that would equal the playing field between us and mexico. Anymore of this fact-free crap from the left is going to give me a severe case inflation.
UNREPENTANT CONSERVATIVE CAPITOLIST on February 20, 2009 at 6:37 PM
LOL..snork.
Itchee Dryback on February 20, 2009 at 9:29 PM
Ah, so we are discussing the Union Boss Bill Bill, no?
unclesmrgol on February 20, 2009 at 9:57 PM
Inconvenient Truth
Back at em
CommentGuy on February 20, 2009 at 11:57 PM
That would be one way of saving Mexico from collapse. Have ALL manufacturing activity move there.
curved space on February 21, 2009 at 11:46 AM
Ed, I appreciate the information you provided in this post. I will be cutting and pasting some of it into my next email to my Senators, both of whom are D’s. If they have ears to hear, they ought to be ashamed of what their political party is shoving down our throats.
ORrighty on March 5, 2009 at 11:06 AM
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