Date: 2024-07-17 Page is: DBtxt003.php txt00025902
US POLITICS
AN UNCIVIL REPUBLICAN SENATOR
'You’re a US senator — sit down': Bernie Sanders breaks up fight between Republican and union boss
AN UNCIVIL REPUBLICAN SENATOR
'You’re a US senator — sit down': Bernie Sanders breaks up fight between Republican and union boss
Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Images via Screengrab.
Original article:
Peter Burgess COMMENTARY
Peter Burgess
Carl Gibson
November 14, 2023
During a Tuesday meeting of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma) and International Brotherhood of Teamsters president Sean O'Brien almost came to blows before committee chairman Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) intervened.
Sen. Mullin appeared to instigate the confrontation while reading aloud a quote from O'Brien, in which he tweeted about the Oklahoma senator writing, 'Greedy CEO who pretends like he’s self made. In reality, just a clown & fraud. Always has been, always will be. Quit the tough guy act in these senate hearings. You know where to find me. Anyplace, Anytime cowboy.'
'Sir, this is a time, this is a place. You want to run your mouth, we can be two consenting adults. We can finish it here,' Mullin said to O'Brien.
'OK, that's fine. Perfect,' O'Brien responded.
'You want to do it right now?' Mullin asked.
'I'd love to do it right now,' O'Brien said.
'Well, stand your butt up then,' Mullin said from his desk.
'You stand your butt up,' O'Brien countered.
'Oh, oh, no, stop it,' Sen. Sanders said as Mullin suddenly rose from his seat. 'You're a United States senator. Sit down.'
Sanders announced O'Brien's testimony in a press release last week, as part of a meeting about the growing resurgence of organized labor across multiple industries. In addition to testimony from O'Brien, Sanders also invited United Auto Workers president Shawn Fain and Association of Flight Attendants-Communications Workers of America international president Sara Nelson.
“The fight that the trade union movement is waging against corporate greed has everything to do with rebuilding a struggling middle class that was once the envy of the world,” Sanders stated. “Historic union victories won by the UAW, Teamsters, and many others are not only improving the lives of union workers, they are beginning to improve the lives of working families all over America. What the trade union movement is demonstrating is that when workers stand together and exercise their constitutional right to form a union and collectively bargain for better wages, benefits, and working conditions they can achieve what was once thought impossible.”
To see a full video of the altercation, watch the clip below or click this link.
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