Obama Administration And Allies Congratulate Voters For Overturning John Kasich's SB 5

WASHINGTON -- The extent to which Ohio Gov. John Kasich's collective bargaining measure has been a national issue has always been a bit murky. But with Mitt Romney getting drawn into endorsing SB 5 and with the White House subsequently backing its repeal, the threads to the presidential campaign became clear.

With Tuesday night's vote overturning the measure, the Obama administration and its allies were quick to offer statements of solidarity and support, and in one case, a bit of partisan taunting.

Jay Carney, the president's press secretary, offered the following remark shortly after the Associated Press reported that Ohio voters rejected Issue 2, the ballot referendum on SB 5 that would restrict collective bargaining rights for more than than 360,000 public employees.

The President congratulates the people of Ohio for standing up for workers and defeating efforts to strip away collective bargaining rights, and commends the teachers, firefighters, nurses, police officers and other workers who took a stand to defend those rights.

Vice President Joe Biden offered similar congratulations in a statement Tuesday night.

Tonight the people of Ohio delivered a gigantic victory for the middle class with their overwhelming rejection of a Republican attempt to strip away collective bargaining rights. Fundamental fairness has prevailed. By standing with teachers and firefighters and cops, Ohio has sent a loud and clear message that will be heard all across the country: The middle class will no longer be trampled on. The people of Ohio are to be congratulated.

Others were less reserved. Bill Burton, the former deputy press secretary for the president and now a senior strategist for Priorities USA Action -- a campaign-allied group -- blasted out a statement under the title "Ohio Rejects Mitt Romney's America."

"Tonight, Ohio voters rejected the Republican vision for America that rewards big corporations and the wealthiest at the expense of middle class families," the statement read. "John Kasich's agenda in Ohio is a mirror of Mitt Romney's vision for America: Cutting education, health care and public safety to finance more tax cuts for big corporations and the wealthiest. In 2012, voters will not have to guess what Mitt Romney's America looks like because they have seen and rejected it in Ohio."

The Obama campaign, meanwhile, did not immediately issue a statement. But campaign manager Jim Messina tweeted his congratulations.

"Congrats to my brothers and sisters in labor. Big win in Ohio tonight!"

Earlier on The Huffington Post:

Comments

[intranautt]

10:34 PM on 11/13/2011

Way to go, Ohio.

[Grichde]

06:56 PM on 11/09/2011

Yea more union dues heading into Obama's campaign.

[Hooponopono]

12:23 PM on 11/10/2011

I would dearly love to know what motivates the conservative H8red for the 11% of the American work force that is in a union.

[Grichde]

08:16 PM on 11/10/2011

If you really want to know. First I'm not a convservative. While doing my job as a non union worker, I was threaten to be thrown off a roof because I was installing a thermostat to start a heating unit in the middle of winter. General contractor needed the heat to be able to pour concrete. I went back two days later after they put hannesses on the union workers.

As a non union general contractor renovating my own building, the union picketed the job it cost me over 80,000. If the union had come to me and asked to hire their carpenters I would have, because I needed additional help.

Living in Michigan i watched the unions drive the automotive business driven out of the state.

They may have had their use in the labor movement, but that time has past.

[l78lancer]

04:19 PM on 11/09/2011

A significant portion of Ohio's 99% have spoken...and they have been heard loud and clear.

May it give heart to the rest of the working and middle class all across the nation.

[Grichde]

06:57 PM on 11/09/2011

Wait until that 99% of Ohio hear that big sucking sound as more jobs head for right to work states.

[l78lancer]

04:16 PM on 11/09/2011

While wages are going down, profits are going up. The economy is supposed to be down, so why is big busines still posting record profits, holding on to record cash and saying we can't pay you, we have to cut your benefits, we have to cut your hours or lay you off - and we don't want to negotiate with your unions. Big business is pissing on the little guy and saying it's rain. The republicans, meanwhile, are poking holes in our umbrellas. Why settle for that?

Congrats OHIO. WELL DONE.

[jdwlor]

03:23 PM on 11/09/2011

All you cry baby ritghwingers go on down to the south and work for the man,you must really like being in slavery to your employer and get paid for what ever they want to pay.Have any of you been listening to how the wages have been going down instead of up,you don't have to be a rocket scientist to look at your pay check and see that your not going anywhere.If just haveing a job satisfies you, good but If you think you should expect a little out of life ,then you might think of chaging diretions.

[kinogod]

12:08 PM on 11/09/2011

Sorry bama, you can ride these coat tails but you did nuttin to form them.

[Char59]

12:44 PM on 11/09/2011

Who's bama?

[Sophist FCD]

03:11 PM on 11/09/2011

He must be an Auburn alum.

[treadway123]

01:20 PM on 11/09/2011

Show some respect even if you are a Dem/Repub/Indep of the President of the United States! Rather u like it or not he is your President! I showed my Respect for President Bush/Laura Bush is a Teacher an a good person. You want to get back to our Government doing Right/working together out of Respect. WE the people must debate this respectfully an show them HOW it is done!

[kinogod]

01:49 PM on 11/09/2011

I am a proud progressive and I respect this president even as I criticize him. You can bet with the scary choices on the republicon side I will be voting for oBAMA. But respect doesn't include lock step. The president has been sorely missed on supporting the efforts to reverse union busting around the country. As for bush -- not one friggin iota of respect my friend...but I will work with anyone that sincerely is willing to compromise for the good of the working people of this country.

[ConnieDr]

11:43 AM on 11/09/2011

Wonder why he didn't congratulate them on opting out of his healthcare plan!

[Observer963]

11:56 AM on 11/09/2011

They will come back begging on their knees to implement his healthcare plan once they realize what a mistake they made. Just wait for it.

[Char59]

12:42 PM on 11/09/2011

They were more worried about Issue2!

[JoanMeijer]

11:33 AM on 11/09/2011

I don't watch Fox News even on Huffington Post.

[treadway123]

01:23 PM on 11/09/2011

I once in awhile tune in. During the O.J trials Greta was very objective an it became a habit. Now, I am so disappointed that every once in awhile I check in to see if they have impoved w/the truth.

[tomjefferson2005]

02:10 PM on 11/09/2011

I once in awhile tune in. During the O.J trials Greta was very objective an it became a habit ..................................Wikipedia: Great Van Susteren: During coverage of the O. J. Simpson murder trial, she appeared regularly on CNN as a legal analyst.[6] This led to her stint as co-host of CNN's Burden of Proof and The Point.

In 2002, Van Susteren switched to the Fox News Channel after a highly publicized contract bidding war. According to People Magazine, Van Susteren has utilized cosmetic surgery to enhance her screen presentation.[7] Since then, she has hosted the current affairs show On the Record w/ Greta Van Susteren.

[Labor Party USA]

10:54 AM on 11/09/2011

The Democrats have done what they have been paid to do. It is now time for new leadership and a new, stronger party to stand up for workers of this nation...........


AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka told reporters that labor groups are planning to scale back their involvement with the Democratic Party in advance of the 2012 elections.

Going forward, Trumka said, the labor movement will build up its own political structures and organizations rather than contribute to and depend on the Democratic Party’s political operation.

“We’re going to use a lot of our money to build structures that work for working people” Trumka said. “You’re going to see us give less money to build structures for others, and more of our money will be used to build our own structure.
http://www.masspartyoflabor.org/



Labor is on the march - to Washington.

[ResignedSigh]

11:14 AM on 11/09/2011

And they will back Obama 100%. Trumka isn't stupid.

[Char59]

12:43 PM on 11/09/2011

You are so right!!!!

[RLaitres]

11:33 AM on 11/09/2011

The AFL-CIO, as should many union leaders should expand their perspective beyond what they want for themselves. As a past county Democratic Party leader, what I found is that when invited in to participate, they attempted to take over the party for their own purposes, not something to which I was prepared to accede. What was also found to be the case is that local or regional officials of two (2) unions were more administrators than leaders and thereby more interested in their own advancement than fighting, either for their members or their fellow citizens. While I support organized labor (to a point) their leadership might take a very hard look at their own officials (local and regional) and see what progress they have made, if any. As to Mr. Trumka, he might do well to encourage his members to become more politically active in local affairs instead of "sitting back" and allowing others to carry the entire burden for them.

[blinkthink]

10:31 AM on 11/09/2011

For me, Ohio is the heart of it all !

[Charlene Estes]

10:14 AM on 11/09/2011

If republicans think they can constantly defeat all efforts to get jobs created and jobs continued for teachers, fire fighters and then blame the president for these jobs losses, they are in outerspace! Look at the approval rating for congressional republicans. It is less than 10%!! They know who is to blame and they are placing the blame squarely on congressional republicans, not the president. They also blame democrats, but not nearly so highly.

If republicans don't come up with ideas really soon and start working with democrats to solve these problems, the voters will turn them out next year.

[Inkosi]

10:17 AM on 11/09/2011

We can only hope the voters have long term memories.

[Galene Stockwell]

05:32 PM on 11/09/2011

It's Catch 22, Charlene. And I'm gloating Heh heh.
If Republicans straighten up their act, and develope a conscious and some compassion
And conjecture with the president to work together to start governing in an adult and responsible manner, to began getting the job situation in hand, and stop pandering to the most wealthy, they may be able to save their reelection ability. However, by helping Obama to correct the devastating slide into depression, where we're headed, which now seems to be their intentions, he will again appeal to the voters, as a stand-tall president, and be reelected to the presidential office.
They have pinned all their hopes on the planned, thousand-year reign of the olighargy
regieme, on herding the citizens into some kool-aid type inhibiting comatose state, and aking over the Power, by defeating Obama, using snide inuendos propaganda and lies
Ad becoming majority in Senate and Congress. They already have the Supreme Court. I think they have backed themselves into a corner

[Charlene Estes]

10:13 AM on 11/09/2011

If anyone doubted that republcians are in trouble next year, and they shouldn't have because the signs are all there and have been for months now, yesterday's election results should remove any doubts.

Repuublicans are in a heap of trouble for next year elections. They have no ideas on the economy (or anything else) that are acceptable. (Cutting entitlements ARE NOT). Their main presendential contender is a poster boy for corporate America, which is really unpopular with working class America, They are being led by the Koch brothers and the Baggers, both of which are not even disguising their efforts to undo decades of progressive advances, which is not popular with working class America.

On all the big important issues like economy, healthcare, immigration, education, they are completely out of touch. As a result, they have lost the Latino vote, lost the youth vote, lost the working class vote.

Anyone who thinks the republicans are going to sweep into majorities next year are simply not paying attention to what the American people are saying. They have been saying through polls and elections that they are unhappy with the gridlock, unhappy with the bickering and mostly unhappy that republicans are preventing progress on jobs and the economy.

[Inkosi]

10:18 AM on 11/09/2011

I heard Romney this morning talking about how he knows how to create jobs and has done so - however, no one asked and he never specified in what country those jobs were created and how many American workers were laid off.

[l78lancer]

04:29 PM on 11/09/2011

The only way the rights knows how to "create" jobs is to tear down prosperity and recreate third world condidions where there are plenty of jobs, but jst none that pay a living wage.

[l78lancer]

04:26 PM on 11/09/2011

Narcissism will keep you out of touch with reality, until you wake up and realize you've lost everything.

Great comment.

[hardworkisntfree]

09:53 AM on 11/09/2011

Yes...and congratulations to Virginia too...right BO? Awesome. Keep SB5...we'll take all of Virginia...hahahahhaha.

[Inkosi]

10:19 AM on 11/09/2011

HAHAHA - Keep Viriginia! You have Eric Cancer!

[angelinthevi]

11:11 AM on 11/09/2011

Well now that you all of VA you can do what's right and make it the poster state of GOP ideas and policies. You now have no excuse to blame Democrats for anything that happens in VA. It's success or failure will be all on the GOP. Sure you can handle the responsibility?!

This is going to be fascinating! We love it when a plan comes together! The GOP took the bait, now we (Democrats) wait. You do know what they say about he who laughs last, right? Enjoy!!

[myakkakat]

09:29 AM on 11/09/2011

You know, it really burns my biscuit that Unions in our country have been so darn demonized after all the great work they have done that benefits every worker in this country!

[SunnyDaySam]

09:45 AM on 11/09/2011

Exactly! Anybody who studies history at all knows that.

[beachinstead]

10:12 AM on 11/09/2011

if you want unions to survive get rid of OSHA AND THE ALL LABOR LAWS. you do not need them both i say get rid of overpaid union members and there bosses. people getting paid not doing there jobs. like the ones at the auto plants smoking dope and drinking on the job and teachers in
DC that are failures can not fire and other teachers around the country saw the show on MSNBC! sorry donkey party your channel aired it!!

[hardworkisntfree]

09:54 AM on 11/09/2011

They've served their purpose...please tell me what purpose they serve now? I already know the answer...

[myakkakat]

09:57 AM on 11/09/2011

They WORK for their money and benefits. It's a shame people in this country want to punish other for getting what EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE!

[sharin]

10:13 AM on 11/09/2011

so what is the "answer"?

[TexasTreader]

09:18 AM on 11/09/2011

Obie, if you think this is over and union funds can get back to flowing into your campaign, you're wrong.

[PlinytheYounger]

09:46 AM on 11/09/2011

Bagger please! Your kingmaker DeMint doesn't want anything to do with you.

Tea Party politicians are bailing on the Tea Party activists now that they have their seat in office.

[flabrija63]

10:38 AM on 11/09/2011

and if YOU can't see the problem with union money being so heavily involved in politics, you're part of the problem. And before you go bashing me as a bagger, corporate money in politics is every bit as bad.............