(That’s one approach. Or we could play even harder… and try to get Speaker DeLeo indicted for his role in the crony Probation Department hiring scandal. – promoted by eli_beckerman)

Softball advocacy for GMO labeling is the kind of boneheaded strategy that several of us were invited to play this morning.  

We must play hardball, instead.  We are up against food manufacturers who are oppose GMO labeling and who provide lavish funding to Democratic Party political leaders like House Speaker Robert DeLeo, who then block the legislation despite its popularity.  DeLeo and the lobbyist donors fully understand the game of political hardball.  DeLeo wants the industry lobby money and he knows securing the money is conditioned on doing just the sort of blocking he’s doing.  Votes that bestow power on his office, though, are taken for granted.

Against this backdrop is a ludicrous game of softball being espoused by MoveOn.

MoveOn this morning actually asked supporters of the GMO labeling bill to call Speaker DeLeo’s office and ‘politely’ read off the following script:

“Dear Speaker DeLeo:  I know you are not my representative but as the Speaker of the House I hope you will make sure the GMO bill comes up for a vote before you break for the session. We’re all counting on you.”

Sigh.

I suggest instead an alternate script more befitting of a political opposition.  We must hit at the source of Speaker DeLeo’s derives his power, which is the discipline within the ranks of the Democratic Party legislators who unanimously confirm him in the House Speaker position and who are afraid to challenge him.

My script:

“Dear Speaker DeLeo: You are not my representative, but my representative, Smitty Pignatelli, voted to confirm you as the Speaker of the House. I want you to allow the GMO bill to come up for a vote before the session breaks. You have blocked a number of good pieces of progressive legislation like the GMO bill (for example, bottle bill, municipal energy bill, single payer health care bill, progressive taxation bill, budget for all bill). Supporters of GMO labeling must hold their representative accountable for his/her votes to confirm you until these undemocratic practices are stopped.  cc:  Smitty Pignatelli”

If our legislators are really interested in advancing progressive legislation, which is what they will routinely tell their progressive constituents, why is it that they confirm a speaker whose record over the years is one of thwarting.

Your legislator will know that you take GMO and other progressive legislation seriously when you affiliate with the Green-Rainbow Party.  It’s step one for progressive political hardball and for the growth of real political opposition.