OH-07: Austria (R) Plagiarizes Labor Day Column
State Sen. Steve Austria (R-Beavercreek) has touted his a 97% pro-business voting record and his heavily PAC-funded congressional campaign gets big support from business and nothing from labor. Overall he has a pretty poor voting record as far as labor is concerned, having voted against raising the minimum wage, against fair treatment for workers injured on the job, and for making it harder for state correctional workers to organize.
So what was he doing publishing a column in the Xenia Gazette yesterday praising the Labor Day holiday? Well, he wasn't doing a lot of labor, since much of the column was lifted directly from a publication by the federal government.
Googling critical phrases in Austria's column leads to this publication by the U.S. Department of Labor, titled "The History of Labor Day." Here are side-by-side comparisons of excerpts from Austria's column and the government document, with the directly plagiarized phrases emphasized:
Austria - Labor Day is a day in which we, as Americans, celebrate the labor movement and this movement's dedication to the social and economic achievements of American workers.
DOL - Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers.
Austria - This first Labor Day holiday was observed on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, and in 1884, the first Monday in September was selected as the day of observance for this holiday, which quickly spread and was observed in other cities.
DOL - The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883.
In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday ...
Austria - Because of increasing emphasis on Labor Day, the first governmental recognition finally came through municipal ordinances in 1885 and 1886. From these ordinances the movement to secure state legislation was born, and finally, in June of 1894, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday.
DOL - Through the years the nation gave increasing emphasis to Labor Day. The first governmental recognition came through municipal ordinances passed during 1885 and 1886. From them developed the movement to secure state legislation. . . . By 1894, 23 other states had adopted the holiday in honor of workers, and on June 28 of that year, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories.
Austria - These original observances and celebrations included parades and festivals for workers and their families. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civic significance of Labor Day. Even later, by resolution, the American Federation of Labor Convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday, dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.
DOL - This became the pattern for the celebrations of Labor Day. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civic significance of the holiday. Still later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.
Austria - The labor movement and America's past and present workers have brought the United States closer to the realization of our ideals of economic and political democracy.
DOL - The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy.
Of course Austria's column is not copied entirely from the DOL document. The parts that aren't copied are largely passages that dilute the pro-labor significance of the holiday: the last holiday prior to the end of summer vacation, family barbecues and picnics, the Jerry Lewis telethon, etc.
Austria is opposed for this open seat by a dedicated and tireless business attorney Sharen Neuhardt (D-Yellow Springs), a veteran of thirty years of practice in a top-flight law firm with ample community-development volunteer work on the side. By comparison, Austria seems like one of those politicians with good looks, a firm handshake, and not much substance. Indeed, he reminds me of that smiling kid everyone remembers from high school who skated through on Cliff Notes. Is that who the hard-working citizens of the 7th Ohio Congressional District want representing them in Congress?
A Who's Who of the GOP to speak at the RNC next week.
The 2008 Republican National Convention yesterday announced the preliminary lineup of speakers for the program of events that will run Sept. 1-4.
The list (at the risk of offending those with tender sensibilities) reads like my dream list of prison inmates.
Thelma Drake announced she will be speaking at the RNC, I believe on the first day as well, but even more interesting is that Eric Cantor isn't listed. Could it be....we will have an easy target for Veep?
SAINT PAUL, Minn. - The 2008 Republican National Convention today announced the preliminary lineup of speakers for the program of events that will run Sept. 1-4. The program of events is as follows:
Monday, Sept. 1
U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman (Conn.)
• Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (Calif.)
• Vice President Richard B. Cheney
• First Lady Laura Bush
• President George W. Bush
Tuesday, Sept. 2
Former New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani
• Former Gov. Mike Huckabee (Ark.)
• Former Gov. Tom Ridge (Pa.)
• Gov. Sarah Palin (Alaska)
• Gov. Jon Huntsman (Utah)
• Rosario Marin, California Secretary of the State and Consumer Services Agency and former Treasurer of the United States
• Former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson (Tenn.)
The program of the Republican National Convention
Please, please, put any drinks down on the table, stop munching on breakfast and keep the keyboard safe as you peruse the program of the Republican National Convention.
The press release just hit my inbox and it's a laugh-fest.
Tuesday Update
So much has happened that I'm not sure where to begin, and I don't have many pictures to upload at the moment. But let's start with the weather:
According to the Rocky Mountain News, it's currently 90 degrees outside - but it feels a lot hotter.
Probably has a lot to do with the body heat being generated by the tons of people who are packed in to tight spaces for this spectacle. Last night the floor of the convention was so packed, that people were shoulder-to-shoulder with no room to move. This normally happens at conventions - but on the final night, during the nominees speech. This does not normally happen on a Monday night. The streets are packed, looks more like New York City than Denver.
The good thing about the city is the most of it is walkable to some degree. So the traffic gridlock that is also taking place doesn't interrupt the flow of events that much.
The speeches last night were fun, though it seems to me that we might benefit from a rule that any speaker who takes the podium when it is not prime time should at least be funny. You know, warm up the crowd a little bit, keep it interesting...or something...anything!
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