Last night’s Seahawks-Packers game enraged many football fans and led to widespread criticism of scab replacement referees brought in thanks to a lockout of the NFL’s unionized referees.
One group that has surprisingly come to the side of the unionized referees is prominent Republicans. Here’s four prominent Republicans who have suddenly realized the virtues of union workers thanks to the NFL lockout:
- The Republican National Committee’s Communications Director: The RNC’s Sean Spicer said that the NFL should give the unionized referees “what they want” because the replacement referees are “horrible.” [9/23]
- Senate Candidate Pete Hoekstra: Hoekstra just released an ad poking fun at his Democratic opponent by bashing “replacement refs.” [9/25]
- Union-Busting Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker: Walker tweeted that we need to “returntherealrefs.” [9/25]
- Republican Vice Presidential Candidate Paul Ryan: Ryan Ai??said it’s “time to get the real refs” during a campaign stop. [9/25]
It’s great that all these Republicans are backing the NFL referees, who are simply asking for a more fair agreement from their employers. But one has to wonder if they realize there’s a huge disconnect between backing these unionized employees in their labor fight while simultaneously throwing teachers, firefighters, cops, and other union workers under the bus.
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How ironic and how sad is it that Republicans only value unions when they produce good football games for them to enjoy.
Untrue. it is possible for a person, even a politician to acknowlege that there are employees out there being treated unfairly. These same people can respect how and why unions came about, and understand an ongoing need for unions as they were originally formed and used.
I would submit that a union formed to enhance the life of its members is the purpose and benifit of a union. However when a union becomes so powerful that it protects its under or non performing members from the repercussions of those actions, it has effectively overstood its purpose. There is a difference in the use and benifits of unions.
Have we become so much like the old Romans that our politicians think in terns of bread and continuing spectacles to keep the masses from thinking about what the politicians are really up to? A tempest of no real consequence seems to have garnered the attention of the highest ranks of our government. It is truly a sad thing!