Joel Connelly: "The big dog of organized labor has a bone to pick with some Democrats"

Joel Connelly (Seattle PI):

As leader of a progressive, growing union with 2 million members, half employed in health care, Andy Stern has a stern message for Democratic politicians who seek support from the Service Employees International Union.

"We will walk with you but hold your feet to the fire," Sally O'Neill, a nurse at the Swedish Hospital child care center in Ballard said Wednesday, as the president of her union nodded with approval.

Stern, whose union was a big backer of Gov. Chris Gregoire in 2004 and 2008, pointedly criticized Washington politicians for a "lack of courage" to deal with a tax structure that delivers low revenue at times of highest social need.

Underscoring his point, Stern and local SEIU activists -- known as the "purple wave" for shirts worn at political rallies -- met for a sit-down at an Elderhealth Northwest center. The daycare program for the elderly and disabled was deeply cut by the Washington Legislature last spring.

"We had a lot of disappointment with the recent legislative session," Stern said.The SEIU has set aside a $10 million "accountability" fund. Stern says he expects "a lot of that" money will be spent supporting primary opponents of Democrats "who have let us down."

As recently as five years ago, the liberal-progressive side of America's political spectrum was being out-thought, out-organized and outfought by forces on the political right.

The left has since made up lost ground. A new generation of "net roots" Internet activists helped deliver congressional victories in 2006. The Obama campaign ended the 2008 campaign with 3 million contributors plus 10 million names on its mailing and e-mailing lists. Unions have backed "farm teams" to train candidates and activists.

The gains have been at the grassroots. It's still nearly impossible to turn on your TV and see outspoken progressives on network news programs, except for MSNBC's "Countdown" which caters to liberal true believers.

Typically, on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" Thursday, old-style Democrats, consultant Bob Shrum and ex-Rep. Harold Ford, Jr., were urging President Barack Obama to offer up the so-called "public option" as a sacrifice to move health care reform through Congress.

But a new generation of progressive activists is challenging conservative and centrist Democrats. They masterminded the 2006 Democratic primary defeat of Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, an outspoken supporter of the Iraq war.

But Lieberman went on to get reelected as an independent. The SEIU rolled in a huge purple van, filled with phone lines, to support a 2004 primary challenge to Democratic State Rep. Helen Sommers. Sommers won. A labor-backed group called Progressive Majority failed in a bid to oust Democratic state Sen. Tim Shelton, who usually votes with Republicans.

The political right has an enforcement arm. The Club for Growth (aka "Club for Greed"), fueled by Wall Street free market supporters, has targeted those it called RINOs for Republicans in Name Only.

The Club helped primary opponents oust moderate Republican congressmen in Michigan and Maryland. But Democrats captured both House seats. It helped elect ultraconservative Idaho Rep. Bill Sali, only to see Sali lose his seat in a solidly Republican state.

With its take-no-prisoners ads, however, the Club for Growth is telling Republican lawmakers to take a hard, obstructionist line in the current health care debate.

"If there wasn't this pressure, they (Republican senators) would try to find a solution," Stern said.

The SEIU is, for the moment, working shoulder-to-shoulder with Democrats. It has turned out members -- labeled "SEIU Goons" by bloggers on the right -- to counter protests aimed at blocking health care reform.

Stern isn't impressed at those who have disrupted lawmakers' town meetings. "A lot of these people have been screaming at the moon for a long time," he said. The SEIU feels the status quo in health care is so bad -- and insurance so expensive -- that

Americans will reject fear and embrace change.

But ...

What if the Obama administration finds that dumping the public option is the price of achieving other goals, such as no longer letting insurers deny coverage because of pre-existing health conditions, or making insurance affordable to the working poor?

"Is it important enough to take care of nearly 50 million people without health care?" asked Stern. "We'll have to make that decision."

Even when you're holding people's feet to the fire, sometimes there comes a time to chill.