Republicans, the corporate cult
David Horsey
Seattle PI
Which is it? Are Congressional Republicans cynical or obtuse? Are they pandering to anti-government, pro-business fanatics or are they, themselves, fanatics?
Case in point: The trumped-up charge that the Obama administration is sucking up to organized labor by failing to waive the Jones Act so that foreign vessels can be brought in to help the oil spill cleanup in the Gulf of Mexico.
In plain terms, it's a lie.
A story by McClatchy Newspapers reporter William Douglas effectively takes the air out of this blimp-sized canard. As Douglas observes, Republicans -- from erstwhile running mates Sarah Palin and John McCain to zealous Republican House members -- have eagerly spread the story that the Jones Act, which limits operations of foreign-owned vessels in American waters, is undercutting the oil spill response. They have demanded to know why the president has allowed maritime unions to keep him from waiving the restrictions. These Republicans have either bought into, or purposely created, a myth.
The unions have not blocked action. Michael Sacco, president of the Seafarers International Union, told Douglas, "It is offensive for anyone to suggest that American maritime labor would hinder cleanup operations in the Gulf in any way, shape or form."
(More here.)
Seattle PI
Which is it? Are Congressional Republicans cynical or obtuse? Are they pandering to anti-government, pro-business fanatics or are they, themselves, fanatics?
Case in point: The trumped-up charge that the Obama administration is sucking up to organized labor by failing to waive the Jones Act so that foreign vessels can be brought in to help the oil spill cleanup in the Gulf of Mexico.
In plain terms, it's a lie.
A story by McClatchy Newspapers reporter William Douglas effectively takes the air out of this blimp-sized canard. As Douglas observes, Republicans -- from erstwhile running mates Sarah Palin and John McCain to zealous Republican House members -- have eagerly spread the story that the Jones Act, which limits operations of foreign-owned vessels in American waters, is undercutting the oil spill response. They have demanded to know why the president has allowed maritime unions to keep him from waiving the restrictions. These Republicans have either bought into, or purposely created, a myth.
The unions have not blocked action. Michael Sacco, president of the Seafarers International Union, told Douglas, "It is offensive for anyone to suggest that American maritime labor would hinder cleanup operations in the Gulf in any way, shape or form."
(More here.)
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