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 Sen.
John Breaux Sings Bush's Tune
'Go, Go, Johnny B. Good'
That’s the song President George Bush has been crooning lately,
and it’s hitting a sour note with many of us in the state of Louisiana
who call ourselves Democratic working men and women.
The “Down in Louisiana” boy who Bush is singing praises about
isn’t from the Chuck Berry ditty. Bush is talking about our own Democratic
senator, John Breaux.
The problem we Democratic labor folk have with our senior senator is
that the song he sang to get elected is different than the one he is singing
now. We feel that Breaux’s political philosophy is out of tune with
the ideals and values of the people he vowed to represent.
One example of his off-key political philosophy was his vote on the OSHA
ergonomics standard. Breaux led a chorus of six so-called moderate Democrats
who chimed in with the pro-business Republicans and defeated this much-needed
workplace safety standard. Breaux cited the high dollar cost to business.
We in labor wonder what price Breaux and his new pro-business back-up
singers place on the blood and bones of the good citizens of our state.
Another sour note struck with our state’s working people was “Johnny
B Good’s” vote for the president’s tax plan. Many of us
in the working class wondered how Breaux and his so-called moderate ensemble
could support a tax plan that stripped all dollars designated for education
from its workings, especially in a state that ranks at or near the bottom
in education spending.
Unfortunately, Breaux’s moderate repertoire doesn’t end with
his vote on Bush’s tax plan. Several weeks ago I spoke to the senator
at a Democratic fund raiser. He still knows the words to that song. At
this political gathering, I expressed to the senator our views on the
comp time legislation that is currently being debated in the Senate committee.
What I heard from Breaux was a tune that I am sure he learned from Bush.
Breaux’s lyrics on this anti-worker bill were that comp time legislation
was an economical way for many businesses to allow employees time off.
After hearing Breaux’s comments, I almost asked the senator how long
it took the president to teach him to pantomime.
In closing, many of us would agree that you would not have to be an accomplished
music critic to realize that George Bush has found a crooner from Louisiana
to sing harmony with. Our only hope is that this newly formed duet breaks
up, and the Louisiana senator returns to political lyrics that are more
pleasing to the ears of the Democratic working men and women of our state.
Robert E. Brown, president
Louisiana State UAW CAP Council
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