A friend brought this to my attention late last week...I've been checking it out and still can't believe it's true.
No specific date is listed...but there it is, in black and white, documentation that UNITE HERE -- a union representing workers in the apparel, retail, laundry, hotels & other sectors -- donated $10,000 to Republican Richard Pombo last quarter, but precisely zero to Jerry McNerney.
This
really, really, really pisses me off. I've been scratching and saving, and just gave another hundred
bucks to Jerry last week. Many of my friends are doing the same. I've supported UNITE HERE in the past, most notably with their latest strike and boycott of the Multi-Employer Group (MEG) hotels here in San Francisco (which recently concluded sucessfully with a contract). I thought UNITE HERE was also on our side -- but I guess not. Seems like they took regular workers' money -- and, by giving that $$$ to a republican, neutralized the contributions of me and 99 other people who've given a C-note to Jerry.
So, UNITE HERE, next time you want support for your striking workers, go ask your good buddy Dick Pombo if HE will walk with you. Because I sure as hell won't. If you're going to give $10K to one of our -- Democrats' and environmentalists' -- worst enemies, there's NO WAY I'm going to support you.
There's ONE way, in my book, that UNITE HERE can make good on this huge mistake -- and that's to give $5K to McNerney right away. It's looking more and more likely that Democrats will win back control of the House -- so that's definitely in their self interest.
So, if you have a moment, why not drop a note to Tom Snyder, their contact for political affairs, and ask him to donate $5,000 to McNerney (the maximum allowable) to even things out? (Tom Snyder's email address is posted publicly here.)
And please -- let me know what YOUR experiences have been with UNITE HERE. Is this aberrant behavior? Have they donated to Republicans in your area? Have they ever asked for your help? Do you have any contacts there (in locals and/or national) that you could politely inquire as to WTF they are doing giving $10K to a rethuglican, and nothing at all to a pro-union candidate like Jerry McNerney? Anyone out there from UNITE HERE want to defend this contribution?