Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) unveiled a hard-hitting new radio ad yesterday in response to CEO-funded attacks on the middle class.
Ellison's radio ad stands up for the Employee Free Choice Act, a bill that would help rebuild the middle class by making it easier for people to form or join unions.
Ellison shows his true colors by standing up for this core progressive value. Here's how he closes the ad:
"Politicians who support the Employee Free Choice Act, like me, want to provide a fairer way for working men and women to rebuild America's middle class. I urge you to support candidates who support the Employee Free Choice Act and to reject the lies of those CEOs who want to continue lining their pockets while they keep picking yours."
Over the last several months, Minnesota's been ground zero in the fight for the Employee Free Choice Act. Outside groups funded by anti-middle class CEOs have spent literally millions of dollars against Al Franken, Elwyn Tinklenberg, and Ashwin Madia, trying to smear the Democratic candidates for supporting Employee Free Choice.
Corporations and front groups, such as the so-called "Coalition for a Democratic Workplace" and the "Employee Freedom Action Committee" are spending nearly $100 million to advertise against EFCA, according to reports by media and watchdog groups. Their TV commercials feature Mafia-style "union leaders" coercing workers and their postcard mailings showcase a "worker" with a black eye saying, "Without my union friends . . . I wouldn't know how to vote."
It's the largest, most direct attack on worker rights in memory, according to many union leaders.
Ellison's seat is safe, but instead of sitting on the sidelines, the first-term Congressman is standing up for Minnesota's working families against these unprecedented attacks.
So when Ellison saw the TV commercials, newspaper advertisements and election-related mailings attacking the Employee Free Choice Act, he decided they needed a strong response.
"There comes a time when enough is just enough!" Ellison said at a news conference Monday announcing a new campaign commercial running on Twin Cities radio stations taking on the opponents of EFCA.
Let's hear it for Ellison doing what's right. It must not be easy for a first-term Congressman to stick his neck out like this against such a well-funded opposition, but Ellison stood up for working people.
Here's the whole script of his ad:
You've probably seen those attack ads claiming some candidates want to take away your right to a secret ballot in union elections," Ellison states in the commercial. "Plain and simple, these are lies paid for by CEOs who negotiate lavish salaries for themselves but don't want you to be able to bargain for a better life for yourself and your family.
"In reality, the Employee Free Choice Act would strengthen your freedom to choose union representation. It protects the right to a secret ballot. It gives workers more ways to bargain together for health care benefits and fair wages. On average, workers who belong to unions earn 30 percent more and are much more likely to have health and pension benefits.
"Politicians who support the Employee Free Choice Act, like me, want to provide a fairer way for working men and women to rebuild America's middle class. I urge you to support candidates who support the Employee Free Choice Act and to reject the lies of those CEOs who want to continue lining their pockets while they keep picking yours."
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