Hah!  Bet you thought this would be a Clinton v Obama post, but it's not. The headline is valid for that battle, too, but this is about something altogether different: the bitterness with which we battle our ideological allies.

It's natural. I know I feel much more anger toward Senator Wyden when he disappoints me than I do about Senator Smith's generally abysmal record on everything. But then I don't expect much from Sen, Smith and I know Wyden knows better and should do better.

But you know what, we agree on more than we disagree on and our hopes and dreams for the long-term are more similar than dissimilar. That's what makes his failures more upsetting, but rationally, I know that I can accomplish more with him than with Smith.

So that's what really angers me about the CNA's attack on SEIU. With declining union membership nation-wide, why the hell is a union using such unscrupulous tactics? They're even attacking card check.  Good grief, we already have the right wing vilifying unions, we don't need that coming from our own - and from a union no less.

I have a vision of a just and equal society. I know it won't happen tomorrow. It may not happen in my lifetime, but I think about what that means and and what it will take and then endeavor to do my best to support reforms that will get us there and oppose impediments to my goal. I try not to use strategies and messages that will impede my goal.

For example, activists love to make their policies sound better by saying "working people deserve..." when really they mean all people deserve...and just lack the courage to say it. If we are true progressive liberals, we believe that all people deserve quality health care they can afford...we can say that and the earth won't fall in and we will not reinforce the idea that some people don't deserve health care.

So, those of us who have access or know someone, take a minute and tell CNA that their tactics hurt more than SEIU, they hurt the entire union movment - including CNA. And let's tell both SEIU and CNA that they need to sit down and come to a grown-up mature and responsible agreement on how to disagree.

http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/3655/demolition_crew_butts_in_where_deft_organizers_need_to_tread