I'm not sure Claire's 100% right here. While I have no doubt that Sen. Jim DeMint is nuts, I think a big part of this is his love for grandstanding. On CNN's State of the Union today, DeMint tried to weasel out of responsibility for holding up the confirmation of President Obama's nominee to head the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Erroll Southers. Called on it, his argument that unions are evil seems a little stupid, given the consequences.
Hey Jim, you know who else was unionized and practiced collective bargaining? The first responders to the World Trade Center on 9/11. In other words, union members have done one helluva lot more for the nation than you ever have or ever will, you self-important empty suit. Didn't really interfere with their ability to do their jobs and give their lives for the safety of others, did it?
You might also notice that, at the end, DeMint basically lies about holding up Southers. According to The Hill:
You're holding up the nomination, Jim. You can't pretend you're not now that it's become bad politics for you. Decisions have consequences -- live with yours.
Hey Jim, you know who else was unionized and practiced collective bargaining? The first responders to the World Trade Center on 9/11. In other words, union members have done one helluva lot more for the nation than you ever have or ever will, you self-important empty suit. Didn't really interfere with their ability to do their jobs and give their lives for the safety of others, did it?
You might also notice that, at the end, DeMint basically lies about holding up Southers. According to The Hill:
Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) has held up the nomination of Erroll Southers to head the TSA, which handles security at the nation’s airports. Reid spokesman Jim Manley labeled DeMint’s hold on Southers as “outrageous” Tuesday as Democrats sought to cast Republicans as a party obstructing tighter security at airports.
DeMint has held up the nomination because of concerns about the unionization of TSA workers, but he also linked his effort to the attempted terror attack in Detroit.
That attack is a “perfect example of why the Obama administration should not unionize the TSA and allow our airline security decisions to be dictated by union bosses," DeMint said in a statement.
DeMint said that if TSA workers were unionized under Southers, “union bosses” would have the power to delay further security improvements to airports.
“I hope this incident will lead the president to rethink this policy and put the interests of American travelers ahead of organized labor,” DeMint said.
You're holding up the nomination, Jim. You can't pretend you're not now that it's become bad politics for you. Decisions have consequences -- live with yours.
