Mark Schauer (MI-Gov) and Nancy Skinner (MI-11) -- both proud advocates of the "Blue Green Alliance."
This Diary first appeared in Michigan Liberal.
After losing his U.S. House seat in 2010, Mark Schauer became a leader in the national Blue Green Alliance in 2011, building its reputation and stature in Michigan and serving as Co-Chair of the BGA's "Jobs21!" campaign in 2011-2012.
Mark understood that one reason Democrats got hammered in 2010 was that two of its pillars -- Unions and Environmentalists, "Blue" and "Green" -- had spent too much time fighting each other and not enough on the common enemy, the now Tea Party-radicalized Republicans.
Sadly, today in MI-11 the old splits setting "Blue" vs. "Green" have reemerged; thanks to misrepresentations and backroom deals, many area unions (mainly SE Michigan-based locals) have settled on rookie candidate and Blue Dog (sorry, "independent thinker"), Bobby McKenzie, despite the extreme uphill battle he'd face trying to defeat Foreclosure King and Trial Lawyer David Trott in November.
But with time running out and McKenzie still badly trailing free-spending urologist (and fellow rookie candidate) Dr. Anil Kumar, it's high time Michigan's Unions started to have Second Thoughts.
It would if they REALLY knew Nancy Skinner -- not the caricature that some have spread. You see, Nancy IS the Blue Green Alliance, personified. Yes, she is a champion on Climate Change and the only Progressive in the MI-11 race. But she ALSO has a STRONG pro-Labor and pro-Worker background, developed through two decades of Democratic Party activism and support...as you'll see below the fold:
BLUE | Nancy's Pro-Union Record:
- 17 years as a Card-carrying, Dues-paying Union member with SAG-AFTRA -- no other candidate in the Dem primary has ever been a Union member;
- Stood up for Michigan's auto industry and its many thousands of UAW jobs -- when Republicans called for liquidation, she defending government intervention and voiced her pro-Labor, pro-Worker values repeatedly on cable news, all without being paid;
- Fought to save thousands of Union jobs (Teamsters, IATSE, etc.) created in Michigan under the Granholm Film Tax Incentives, after Rick Snyder and Lansing Republicans voted to gut them -- if you recall the big rally at Laurel Manor in 2011 featuring Jeff Daniels, Mitch Albom, and a Hall full of Union members...Nancy Skinner organized that event!
- For YEARS, she gave Labor leaders and Union members a voice on her Progressive talk radio shows in Michigan and Illinois;
- Endorsed by every major Union during her 2006 race against Rep. Joe Knollenberg;
- Nancy's father, Chuck Skinner, is retired MEA (and member of the Michigan HS Coaches Hall of Fame for his tenure as football coach at Birmingham Seaholm HS).
GREEN | The Short List of Nancy's Environmental Achievements:
- 21 years as an activist in Climate Change, Renewable Energy and protecting the Environment;
- Co-created the first private-sector cap-and-trade marketplace for greenhouse gas emissions, which included Ford Motor Company;
- Supported Green start-ups in the fast-growing renewable energy and sustainable growth industries;
- Won a presidential award from the Clinton Administration (presented to her by Al Gore!) for her work to rebuild two Mississippi River towns following a sustainable development blueprint, emphasizing resilience and energy efficiency.
So if you're in a Union, are retired from a Union, or know a Union brother or sister in SE Michigan, you might want to take these facts into consideration, and compare Nancy's PROVEN RECORD of support for Labor and Workers' rights against the WORDS of her opponents -- first-time candidates who weren't even Democrats 13 months ago -- on Tuesday in Michigan's 11th District (#MI11) Primary.