The Tolbert Report

This has been a full week of reporting by the Arkanas media on Lincoln’s position on the Card Check Bill.  Every time I would start to write a post updating the developments, the story would completely change.  But in the end, we pretty much ended right back where we started.

It began with David Sander’s column on Wednesday where he pointed out “there are subtle hints that Sen. Blanche Lincoln may be preparing to vote no.”  Sanders points out that Lincoln’s campaign has been busy calling her big donors for her upcoming fundraiser on March 14 with Vice President Biden.  When these individuals voice their concerns on her card check vote, they are being told not to worry about it.  So it looks like she is voting against it -YAH!

But the ink had hardly dried on Sander’s news when the labor unions began to sing a different tune.  The AFL CIO told the Hill that they had the votes for passing card check with their worst case having to wait on Al Franken to be seated as the Senator from Minnesota for their 60^th vote.  Not only that but President Obama himself declared that they would pass the card check bill this year.  Sen. Lincoln is in the bag, they say. So I guess now she is voting for it – BOO!

With all this confusion in the air, Sen. Lincoln’s office was kind enough to issue a statement on Thursday to clear everything up.  As reported by Paul Barton from the Arkansas Times, Lincoln’s office told the press, “‘Senator Lincoln is more concerned today about strengthening our economy; she’ll worry later about collective bargaining rules when the issue comes to a vote in the Senate.”  So, there you have it, Sen. Lincoln is firmly planted in the undecided Waffle House camp on this issue and has no plans to change this lack of position – WHAT?

If you are not confused enough yet, John Brummett, as only Brummett can, takes one look at the whole thing and says that she is “smart.“  Why?  Well, by continuing this carefully orchestrated tease, Lincoln can keep the money pouring in from the business community trying to buy her influence.  Her fundraiser next week already has a host committee of over 600 names donating $1,000 each made up largely of  ” the most prominent and stridently conservative business and farm leaders of the state.”  And Brummett predicts that she may be able to rake in up to a million dollars total in a single day. I am sure these leaders hope that their contributions will buy them the access and influence to move the undecided Lincoln to vote with them.  However, something tells me if she does decide to march lock step with President Obama and the Democratic leadership and vote in favor of card check, she will still keep the checks.

To make it even more confusing, Sen. Lincoln’s difficulty this year all revolves around a piece of legislation she cosponsored in 2005.  So why is she now so confused about a measure that less than four years ago she approved of so much she put her name on it.  I am getting a headache.  Perhaps it is best to just let her try to explain it in her own words.(from an interview on AETN.)