First Sanders, now Trumka--are there any capitalists left in on the left? On the most recent Meet the Press, Bernie Sanders made news when Chuck Todd asked him if he is a capitalist. "No," shot back Sanders, "I'm a democratic socialist." Mark Halperin was obviously taken enough by the question as to pose it on today' With All Due Respect to Richard Trumka, President of the AFL-CIO.
"No, I'm a trade unionist, quite frankly," retorted Trumka. When Halperin tried to pursue the issue, Trumka laughed it off, calling it a "silly question." Silly? The head of the biggest union organization in America opposes the economic system that made this country great and which creates the jobs his members fill? Employers have to bargain with unions that reject the very premise upon which their businesses rest? Silly? You're killing us, Richard. Or shall we say "Mr. President," which was the obsequious style by which Halperin and co-host John Halperin addressed Trumka.