| Submit your comments on this article |
| Home Front: Politix |
| UAW Bans Marines Who Support Bush |
| 2005-03-11 |
| Some U.S. Marines say they were surprised by the decision made by Detroit auto workers about parking. It all started with the cars some Marines drove, and what was on them. The words that have some U.S. Marines in shock came from the man in charge of security at the UAW Solidarity House, on Jefferson in Detroit. For a number of years now, dozens of Marine reservists have been thankful to park in the UAW's lot for weekend training with no problem at all - until now. Marines at nearby Marine Corps Reserve Center say on Tuesday morning, the director of security at the UAW told them that while they support the troops, Marines driving foreign vehicles or sporting a President George Bush bumper sticker were no longer welcome to park there. U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Joe Rutledge told Action News, "We received a phone call from the UAW, who support us by letting us park down at their facility. They called and said they weren't going to allow or they would turn away some vehicles." A spokesman for the UAW released a statement to Action News which reads: "While reservists certainly have the right to drive non-union made vehicles and display bumper stickers touting the most anti-worker, anti-union president since the 1920s, that doesn't mean they have the right to park in a lot owned by members of the UAW." As U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Lee Cooper explained, "We're very appreciative, but on the other hand, it's kind of discriminating between, let's say a lance corporal going through college can only afford a 15-year-old vehicle and it happens to be a Nissan." It's a pity. The UAW used to be so patriotic. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #26 Myabe summaya don't remember (1974?) when the UAW crowed it would now (after the new contract) take 9,000 more workers to create the same number of cars. Wasn't that about the time the floodgates opened to "foreign" cars? And they STILL don't get it! |
| Posted by: Bobby 2005-03-11 11:14:09 PM |
| #25 Many moons ago, when my Dad worked for Pontiac, driving a non-GM car was an open invitation for the union guys to f**k with your parked vehicle. Imports were verboten from the lots entirely. Yep. Back in the early 80s, I worked as a clerical temp for a firm that was also a UAW shop. Was quietly advised by the office staff to park my Fiat in the dirt lot across the street, so it wouldn't get messed with. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2005-03-11 10:36:47 PM |
| #24 I always tried to buy American, wife and I both had new black jeeps (Wrangler/Grand Cherokee) the Cherokee was the worst build vehicle I have ever owned and I have owned over 40 cars. After a year of not being able to turn off the emission light, or being able to tell me why they could not turn off the light, or replacing the vehicle, or credit on a new one I said to hell with them. Now I own a new Land Rover (2004) and a Mercedes ML320 and will never buy that cheap assed, UAW crap again. I guess the sad thing is I am selling the Mercedes and was considering giving Detroit another try but after this childish, liberal rant I will never, ever, buy another UAW made car again…ever Looks like the Jag wins! |
| Posted by: Big Sarge 2005-03-11 10:36:21 PM |
| #23 Screw the UAW. |
| Posted by: naymouse 2005-03-11 8:07:03 PM |
| #22 It made the Wall Street Journal's Best of the Web blog. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2005-03-11 4:27:46 PM |
| #21 I just can't believe that they were stupid enough to articulate (better yet PUT IN WRITING)that the reasons for forbidding Marine vehicles as POLITICAL!!! This is the WORST possible message from an organization devoted to building AMERICAN cars!!!!???? What are they thinking??? How can we publicize this? |
| Posted by: mjh 2005-03-11 2:05:07 PM |
| #20 I have an Accord with a Marine Corps license plate holder. F*ck you, socialist scum. |
| Posted by: BH 2005-03-11 1:48:01 PM |
| #19 Unions are a 19th century solution to a 19th century problem. Pass some Right to Work laws and be done with it. |
| Posted by: Iblis 2005-03-11 12:59:24 PM |
| #18 Lovely thought, Matt. Always a bad idea to annoy people trained to think, and with the muscles to back it up. Those gentlemen are Marine Reservists. Wanna bet at least one of them is an accountant the rest of the time? Of course, technically the union is correct: it's a private parking lot, and they don't have to share. But I bet they back off pretty quickly as it becomes clear they've taken on Society, rather than what they were thinking of as just a few weekend warriors. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2005-03-11 12:48:14 PM |
| #17 I've already gone Toyota, and mine was made right here in the USA. I drove Fords for years until they forgot how to make reliable engines (twice) and a Chrysler until I realized that they gave me a transmission that needed serious adjustment every 16,000 miles. Detroit and France now get the same treatment from me. |
| Posted by: Tom 2005-03-11 11:38:35 AM |
| #16 Don't get mad, audit their pension fund. |
| Posted by: Matt 2005-03-11 11:26:00 AM |
| #15 In a fight between the UAW and the USMC, who do you think is gonna win?... |
| Posted by: mojo 2005-03-11 11:03:47 AM |
| #14 So I guess my pickup is going to be a Toyota. Great vehicles. Other than being a victim of the infamous 3.0 head gasket problem, my Toy truck has taken me everywhere I wanted to go, and done everything I've asked of it. |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2005-03-11 10:53:54 AM |
| #13 On the other hand, they said the cars weren't welcome anymore instead of torching them. Gotta give them credit for that -- it's a rare sign of restraint for a Detroit union. (I lived in Detroit during the newspaper strike about ten years ago. There were multiple reports of bombs in newspaper vending machines and caltrops spread in parking lots.) |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2005-03-11 10:36:10 AM |
| #12 I own an Chevy S-10, so I guess I will be looking for an Isuzu Pup as my next truck purchase. Kilo Mike Alpha, UAW. |
| Posted by: badanov 2005-03-11 10:35:17 AM |
| #11 Lol, Highlander - need a Buckeroo Banzai Wav to get you going? |
| Posted by: .com 2005-03-11 10:21:19 AM |
| #10 So I guess my pickup is going to be a Toyota. Banzai, Cowboy! |
| Posted by: Highlander 2005-03-11 10:16:05 AM |
| #9 ...the man in charge of security at the UAW Solidarity House Sounds like some brainwashed union hack who pulls a nice paycheck, hasn't seen the inside of an auto plant in 20 years and wants to keep it that way. Might anyone have his name? |
| Posted by: tu3031 2005-03-11 9:17:51 AM |
| #8 I emailed the story to several addresses at Fox. Anyone want to wager on whether or not this gets air-time in the next few days? Lol! The UAW had better figure out how they want to spin it - they'll be doing it soon. |
| Posted by: .com 2005-03-11 9:17:11 AM |
| #7 The unions have long sense lost their concern for their 'workers'. All they care about now is the 'union' - specifically the union leadership. Unfortunately many workers are *forced* to join the union (that or not work). Take for example the teachers unions (please!). We need a anti-union movement (not anti-labor, anti-union - there is a difference) to shut these asswipes down. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2005-03-11 9:15:18 AM |
| #6 Just one more reason not to buy crappy Detroit cars. a phone call was made to get a statement from the Japanese Automobile Workers Union, but they were too busy sending out press releases to make sure this good news got circulated in a timely manner. |
| Posted by: 2b 2005-03-11 9:11:14 AM |
| #5 Screw the Unions. They have lost all sense of patriotism. I will make sure I go out of my way to buy non union items when ever I can. From food to firearms, If I can buy non union I will. Stick that in your pipe and smoke it, you UAW bastards. You will never see me buy a Ford, Chevy or Chrysler If I can avoid it. I really feel like droping the F-bomb here. These stupid lamers need a ass kicking but it would be a waste since they wouldn't learn a damn thing from it. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom 2005-03-11 9:06:57 AM |
| #4 Next time Marines are sent to save some American tourists trapped in a hellhole they just ask "Anyone here is from UAW?". "Sorry, no passage for you" |
| Posted by: JFM 2005-03-11 9:01:10 AM |
| #3 I don't think this a UAW/Arab thing. Many moons ago, when my Dad worked for Pontiac, driving a non-GM car was an open invitation for the union guys to f**k with your parked vehicle. Imports were verboten from the lots entirely. This is certainly an irony-laden situation, given that institutions like the Marines are what protects our Constitutionally guaranteed right to act like jerks. Someone should explain to the UAW that irony is not a synonym for metallic. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2005-03-11 8:58:24 AM |
| #2 Gee - they don't really want to piss off 51% of America, do they? There won't be a job left to fight over if this takes off and gets coverage. The Blue Staters live in densely populated areas with lots of mass transit. The Red Staters all buy cars -- lots and lots of cars and trucks. Most of the cars and trucks, I'd wager. Some people are just too stupid to live. So be it. Japan will love this. |
| Posted by: .com 2005-03-11 8:57:41 AM |
| #1 Dearborn, MI has a 30% Arab population. Anybody know what portion of the UAW is now Arab or Arab-American? |
| Posted by: Tom 2005-03-11 8:50:17 AM |