Local 1199 SEIU gives its endorsement to "Conservative/Republican" Golden over Democrat in race for "targeted" NYS Senate seat in Brooklyn
Today State Senator Martin Golden received support in his hotly contested re-election bid from one of the most left-leaning unions in the State of New York, S.E.I.U., Local 1199. That fact alone should give anybody who has conservative Republican or what lately have been called “Tea Party” sensibilities real pause to wonder what is going on with a State Senator that holds himself out as a conservative and a Republican. In that regard, Martin Golden’s response to the news of that endorsement is even more troubling.
According to YNN’s Capital Tonight Golden made the following statement after the SEIU Local 1199's endorsement:
“I am proud to have 1199 SEIU’s endorsement. Their mission is to improve and expand quality patient care and to protect and improve the lives of those suffering from illnesses and infirmities. I have fought tirelessly for legislation to promote and aid the membership of 1199 SEIU in providing a higher level of health care support for all New Yorkers, and will continue to work to make our communities a better place to live, work, and raise a family.” ( ...://capitaltonightny.ynn.com/2012/09/golden-nets-1199-seiu-endorsement/...)
The SEIU announcement is the latest of several union endorsements for the so-called “conservative Republican” state senator. Prior to the SEIU, the most notable endorsement for Golden had been the Hotel Trades Council. Golden has also been endorsed by collection of trades groups, uniformed services unions in NYS and other small chapters/locals of larger of public and private sector labor organizations.
In the 2010 election cycle, independent Republicans had charged that State Senator Golden (R,C) was a R.I.N.O. (Republican in name only), who had a pro-union voting record quite similar to local Democrats like Assemblyman Peter Abbate and State Senator Diane Savino (both of whom openly trumpeted their pro-unionist advocacy in Albany). Apparently, nothing has changed since then, except that State Senator Golden has had to work harder to keep the unions on his side.
In light of the fact that for the first time in a very long time Golden’s opponent, Andrew Gounardes, has garnered substantial union support of his own, Conservatives and Republicans have to ask what specific commitments State Senator Golden had to make in order to secure this particular SEIU endorsement, as well as all the support that he'd gotten already from the other unions.
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