Dan Frisa
Friday, Jan. 5, 2001

This latest attempt by McCain to hog the media spotlight by shepherding the Left's favorite piece of legislation, does not include provisions supported by President-elect Bush and Republicans to require that workers be informed of their right to withhold that portion of their paychecks spent by unions on political contributions, virtually all of which goes to Democrats to defeat Republicans.

The Times calls insistence on such language a "dodge" to stall real reform, they contend.

Hah!

Who are they kidding?

Such a concession would surrender near complete control of news and commentary content to themselves and their Leftist comrades, who annually dedicate billions of dollars worth of free promotion of the Democrats' leftist agenda while at the same time working assiduously to destroy Republicans and their philosophy.

So, in other words, only what the Left deems campaign reform is valid. It’s a take-it-or-leave-it approach.

On that basis, we should leave it!

What in the world would be the purpose of allowing the New York Times and their ilk even more influence than their current declining status already provides?

None.

Times favorite Bill Clinton prevented union workers from receiving notice of their right to withhold a portion of their dues, as one of his first acts in office, in a direct contradiction of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Beck decision handed down in 1988.

Here is some important factual background, first published in this space on Labor Day, Sept. 4, 2000, which gives context and perspective to the Times' endorsement of abandoning the constitutional rights of working men and women:

Unions pay for their activities by automatically withholding union dues from their members’ paychecks. In this highly efficient manner, unions fund all of their operations, from union officials’ salaries to political contributions.

In the early 1980s Harry Beck sued the Communication Workers of America, to prevent the use of his union dues in political campaigns not of his choosing. In 1988 the Supreme Court ruled in his favor, providing two important safeguards to union workers: first, that unions must provide an accounting to their members detailing all spending, and second, that workers have the right to withhold that portion of their dues spent on political action and must be so informed.

President Bush issued an executive order to carry out the Beck decision, requiring the posting of notices in workplaces informing union workers of their rights. This was an important action to preserve worker rights, given that virtually all workers were – and still are – unaware of these rights concerning the use of their own money.

Within weeks of assuming office, Bill Clinton issued a new order rescinding this worker-friendly requirement, opting instead to keep employees in the dark and ensure that union dues continued to flow into Democratic campaign coffers.

This self-proclaimed guardian of the middle class demonstrated his actual contempt for working people by allowing the illegal confiscation of money from workers’ paychecks.

Because some 80 percent of all union dues go to political campaigns, and virtually all of that goes to Democrats, this rigged, unfair system also creates an uneven playing field.

No other group but unions can automatically take money from unwilling and unwitting contributors; others must appeal for contributions by making a persuasive case. Then a person who wishes to contribute must actually sit down and write out a check.

When Democrats and the Left talk about campaign finance reform, they refuse to discuss paycheck protection.

Now we know why.

And we also know that the Times is in bed with the Democrats on this issue because it serves their common left-wing agenda.

John McCain’s latest betrayal should be noted for being just that. He can play to the New York Times and their anti-worker philosophy all he likes; he’d still get trounced in a Republican primary, as well he should.

Meanwhile, the Times prattles on about "dodges" while sending a message loud and clear to millions of American workers:

"DROP DEAD, and to heck with the Constitution!"

E-mail Dan: danfrisa@newsmax.com.

Dan Frisa represented New York in the United States Congress and served four terms in the New York State Assembly.

On the Air: Dan Frisa will appear on these programs, all times Eastern. Check local listings. Listen while visiting NewsMax.com!

• Jan. 5, 6:00 p.m. - KSLR radio in San Antonio, Texas, "Take A Stand" with Adam McManus

• Jan. 5, 8:00 p.m. – Radio America, Washington, D.C., "The Gary Nolan Show" with Benny Simbole

• Jan.11, 6:05 p.m. – Liberty Works, Washington, D.C., "The News Hour" with Steve Myers

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