Ben Nelson To Filibuster Key Obama Labor Nominee

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Huffington Post

In a move that will further irritate his Democratic critics, Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) announced on Monday evening that he would not just oppose but also help filibuster President Barack Obama's nominee to a key labor relations agency

In a statement from his office, the Nebraska Democrat announced that he would oppose cloture for Craig Becker's appointment to the National Labor Relations Board, all but assuring that confirmation won't take place.

"Mr. Becker's previous statements strongly indicate that he would take an aggressive personal agenda to the NLRB, and that he would pursue a personal agenda there, rather than that of the Administration," said Senator Nelson. "This is of great concern, considering that the Board's main responsibility is to resolve labor disputes with an even and impartial hand. In addition, the nominee's statements fly in the face of Nebraska's Right to Work laws, which have been credited in part with our excellent business climate that has attracted employers and many good jobs to Nebraska. Considering these matters, I will oppose the upcoming cloture motion and the nomination."

An associate general counsel for the Service Employees International Union since 1990 and previously counsel for the AFL-CIO, Becker's nomination to the NLRB already appeared in peril after the victory of Scott Brown in the Massachusetts Senate election. He had previously been held up in Congress by objections from Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) -- who worried he was too allied with unions -- before being re-nominated by Obama in January.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/08/ben-nelson-to-filibuster_n_454437.html

[potone]

1. Right to Work laws are precisely the problem.

Is there any way we can lose this guy in the next election? He is a millstone around the neck of the Democratic party.

[TankLV]

46. "Right to Work" should be "Right to Fire Indescriminately".

RTW is anything but...

[babylonsister]

2. What a flaming asshole. Obama nominated him, yet Nelson

is 'concerned' his agenda is not that of the Administration's?

Spare me, and I so wish this guy would retire. :mad:

[Zorra]

3. Nelson is just another corrupt corparasite, Give him to the republicans.

He's a POS traitor selling us out from the inside.

[SpiralHawk]

8. Nelson, a corporate kiss ass, is pissing everyone off - Dems and Repubbies

Everyone can see his stunning lack of integrity -- and his bad hairpiece.

[IndianaGreen]

4. Hopefully this pig will be defeated in November

He and Lieberman did more than enough damage on HCR.

[Omaha Steve]

18. That would be Nov 2012

Not soon enough. Ben has voted over 70% lifetime with the AFL-CIO. I think this is his goodbye tour, and he doesn't know it.

[Freddie Stubbs]

34. Primaries aren't held in November, unless you were advocating the election of a Republican

[IndianaGreen]

38. Ben Nelson is a de facto Republican, as are blue dogs

which should all be euthanized IMHO.

[Freddie Stubbs]

40. So, you would rather have a Republican who votes against you most of the time, rather than a

Democrat who votes with you most of the time?

[IndianaGreen]

41. What part of Nelson's role in HRC is on the side of the people?

Or Evan Bayh for that matter?

[Freddie Stubbs]

45. They both voted to pass the bill. No Republican voted for it

[unkachuck]

5. since....

....we don't have a super-majority and since we won't be passing any major meaningful legislation, it's now time for some Party discipline....

....kick that worthless son-of-a-bitch out of the Democratic Party!

[Liberal Veteran]

6. That's what prompted my little statement in GD. Nelson is competing with LIEberman for...

...fucktard of the year in my book.

[quiet.american]

7. What a skunk. nt

[saigon68]

39. HERE is a BIGGER SKUNK

[TheBigotBasher]

9. Just shock.

What is it with Democratic Senators that just want to keep aiming bullets at their own feet?

[JDPriestly]

10. How anti-union are the Bush appointees to this commission?

Would it be unfair to introduce some balance?

[Grassy Knoll]

11. Time to change the guard.....

OHHH EEHH OHHH......

[ramapo]

12. What a waste of a D

The Democrats are like a slow motion train wreck.

[mac56]

13. And people wonder why Republicans got so much done

when they didn't have a strong majority,
and we can't move a paper clip from one end of the table to the other.

Why can't we all stand together?

[wisteria]

14. And, he calls himself a Democrat? n/t

[pansypoo53219]

15. FUCKING MAKE HIM

no more 'threats. JUST FUCKING MAKE HIM DO IT.

[jgraz]

16. SO glad that the DSCC is giving this clown our donations

:grr:

[rpannier]

25. It's why the DNC and DSCC gets none of my money

My money goes to candidates I support only.

[BlueIdaho]

17. I live in a right to starve state.

Its no surprise that Idaho ranks at or near the bottom in virtually every quality of life indicator.

[Doctor_J]

19. recess appointments

fuck these people.

[tomm2thumbs]

24. +1

[SoapBox]

20. Nelson...I hate you. And here is his contact info.

...this guy is scum...Contact this creep here:

http://bennelson.senate.gov/contact-me.cfm

Or Call/Fax:

Washington, D.C.
720 Hart Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Omaha
7602 Pacific St.
Suite 205
Omaha, NE 68114
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Lincoln
440 North 8th Street
Suite 120
Lincoln, NE 68508
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

[hollowdweller]

21. Is there nothing the leadership can do to this guy??

Is there a way to strike him of his earmarks?

I mean to me it would seem like that rather than offering carrots the leadership should be threatening these guys with cutting off their abiltiy to bring money back to their district.

[vegiegals]

36. My guess is that the WH will now bargin with him and give him MORE

concessions.

[Jefferson23]

22. Oh yea, thats right, we're suppose to need this guy for some

God damn reason or other.

What I would give for Obama to tell this guy to go to hell.

[rpannier]

23. So...

"Mr. Becker's previous statements strongly indicate that he would take an aggressive personal agenda to the NLRB, and that he would pursue a personal agenda there, rather than that of the Administration," said Senator Nelson.

Ummm. Ben, you moron. He was chosen by the Administration. He will pursue the Administrations agenda. Which, interestingly enough is the same as what he has been saying.

Nelson needs to go.
No more Republicans with a D next to their name.

[New Dawn]

26. Ben Nelson is just like any other Republican.

[ProudDad]

27. As usual fucking nelson is full of shit...

The NLRB was set up to protect USAmerican workers against the bosses...

NOT the other way around...

Dumb fuck...

I hate that clown nelson...

[Lasher]

29. You are correct. From the NLRB website:

What We Do

The National Labor Relations Board is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1935 to administer the National Labor Relations Act, the primary law governing relations between unions and employers in the private sector. The statute guarantees the right of employees to organize and to bargain collectively with their employers, and to engage in other protected concerted activity with or without a union, or to refrain from all such activity.

http://www.nlrb.gov/

There's a Congressional recess coming up. If I were Obama I would appoint every single one of my nominees just as soon as they adjourn.

[No Elephants]

28. What "personal agenda" does Becker have? What "personal agenda" does Nelson have?

From the article in the OP:

"Nelson has been much more inclined to filibuster Obama's nominees than he was George W. Bush's. As the Huffington Post reported back in May 2009:"



And he got the anti-choice provision into the Senate bill.


Can anyone tell me the differences between Nelson and a Republican?

[joeglow3]

37. The difference is that he is a Democrat in name.

As a Nebraska resident, I can sadly say this is the best you can expect from us. No matter how you look at it, we will never get the votes we want out of a Nebraska senator. The most you can ever expect from us is an addition to the numbers in the Senate, thereby granting the majority (which is exactly what we did a few years ago). Hopefully this will change in the future, but right now he is the lesser of two evils.

[No Elephants]

42. A Democratic majority means something only if it enables you to press a

get a Democratic agenda done. If he behaves and legislates like a Republican, his presence is detrimental, IMO.

The worst thing that happened to us in 2009, IMO, was to have appeared to have been in total control of D.C., yet still unable to get done what we wanted to get done. I believe Americans will forgive a mistake sooner than they will forgive seeming powerless and ineffectual--despite having the power.

In this particular case, I mind his fillibustering a lot more than his opposition. Vote however you want, but don't fillibuster your own damn Party and make it seem weak and ineffectual.

[joeglow3]

43. Well, lets elect a Republican here and then come back to me...

...and tell me which option you would prefer. I am simply stating the reality of the situation.

[Democat]

30. The only time we can get Dems to filibuster is against our own.

Sad idiots!

[Solly Mack]

31. He wants something

and not just money from business either

[Vidar]

32. Damned politicians won't stay bought. Go figure.

[Ian David]

33. Maybe Obama should appoint someone from the coal industry who OPPOSES labor like Bush did!

:sarcasm:

[Ian David]

35. I propose we all call Ben Nelson's office today.

Our message should be simply, "Please, with all due respect, tell Senator Nelson to go fuck himself. Thank you."

Please be polite and civil, though.

[yurbud]

44. It's time to start spaying and neutering blue dogs. Take away their chairmanships

and call their implied bluff about switching parties.

[Supply Side Jesus]

47. Recess Appointment?

Can Obama do it with this position?

[depakid]

48. And Mitch McConnell's wife didn't?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elaine_Chao

Bottom line- the DNC needs to remove all funding from this guy.

[mbperrin]

49. Opposing the cloture vote and filibustering are not the same.

Make him filibuster! Make him! See how long he can go while the business of the country stops. Then see who will vote for cloture. Tired of bastards making hay on threats only.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

50. The thing about it is this. I seriously doubt that the majority of his constituents know or give

a fuck who Obama puts in this position. So he's just doing this out of straight up right wing douchebaggery. I bet he's getting preassure from whomever owns his ass.

[BostonScorpion]

51. I am starting to think

that nelson may jump ship to the republicans before his next election. He keeps moving further and further right.