Trouble in Paradise – ACORN Founder Calls Out SEIU
While I was busy celebrating the electoral victories last week I didn't step back to think about how Wade Rathke would view them. Lucky for us, he took the time to blog about them. Much like Pelosi and Gibbs he insists the Republican victories in New Jersey and Virginia have nothing to do with President Obama or America's frustration with his agenda. Instead Rathke blames the Republican victories on SEIU leadership and the fact that ACORN wasn't allowed to do what it does best, steal elections:
Rathke on SEIU:
"Unions need to listen to their members more and to political pros and consultants less. It's embarrassing to know that two huge NYC political players, SEIU and UFT/AFT, took a walk on this election. Their members didn't. Controller Thompson, the challenger, romped with African-Americans and voters making less than $100,000 both of which are heavily represented by those two unions. Had they not been twiddling thumbs on the sidelines, this race would have been even closer and might have sent a message against big money politics that could reverberate around the country."
Rathke on ACORN:
"What are the progressive forces going to do without the GOTV and registration work in the community which ACORN has indicated it is unlikely to play in 2010 and beyond? It was wild to read the pre-election right turnout scare tactics using ACORN as the boogieman. A DC spokesperson for ACORN said they were not even involved anywhere in this race in New Jersey, and despite all of the strum and dang, ACORN had no base or operations in the NY-23rd race. Turnout was low and decidedly down among minorities and youth. The more one reads and studies this rightwing ideological attack the smarter and more effective it seems, if its main purpose was to help level the playing field by successfully pushing one of the players off the field."
Rathke on Obama:
"And, yes, none of this was about Obama, but all politics is local and the President will get the message."
Rathke's Big Winner:
"The Working Families Party of New York is once again a HUGE winner this election! WFP was vocal from the first blush against the 3rd term effort and said so unabashedly. They refused Bloomberg access to their line, despite persistent pressure. Not having the WFP doing turnout hurt the Mayor, and having them do turnout for Thompson dramatically helped him bring the race close. Big, WOW, here with props for Danny Cantor and all of the WFP team!"
Isn't denial a beautiful thing? You can read Rathke's full post at his blog.