Does Dave Ever Think Before He Writes?

I really have to wonder about that and here's why. In his post Outside Interests he takes on Craig Gernhardt's video and commentary about Service Employees International Union (SEIU) local 880 members campaigning for Moore. In the video posted by Craig, the campaign worker is from outside the ward.

Dave's response is consistent with his usual modus operandi of deflecting the issue. He begins by suggesting that the opposition to the outside workers is akin to:

that foolish theory that some have fallen in love with that goes something like "nothing is important if it isn’t between the boundary lines of the ward."

Well, no Dave, not really. I do recognize that Aldermen need to be involved in the workings of the city, as well as the ward, and I expect them to be. The issue with JoMo is that he has chosen to spend his time, and political capital, on issues that are outside the ward and the city. Foie Gras is not a city issue. The Iraq war is not a city issue and I don't see the point in a symbolic resolution when the real heavy lifting should be done by Ms. Schakowsky.

The Big Box/Living Wage ordinance is a city issue, but rather than look for a solution that would work for most of the wards, JoMo preferred to take a stand and single out the Big Box stores, as though they were the only guys NOT paying a living wage and the only guys who SHOULD pay a living wage. The consequence was that at least one south side ward lost out on having a store, and thus a tax revenue and jobs generator, within ward limits. I am sure that Alderman appreciates Joe's efforts on the behalf of wage earners throughout the city.

But the real gem in Dave's essay is this:

As to the objection to union folks I started this post with, there are thousands of union members in this ward. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of SEIU members that live in the ward and by the way, some of them work in the ward for various employers as well.

Really?! Well if that is the case, whay aren't those thousands of union members, or at least the hundreds of SEIU members, out knocking on doors for JoMo? Why is it necessary to import campaign workers from outside the ward if the union is so well represented here? Dave, you were the one bringing up numbers, so let's hear it.

Dave? We're waiting........