Labor Board attacks jobs creator in Charleston where voters supported Obama

South Carolina’s Holy City, Charleston, is one of my favorite places. You can’t help loving the sight of graceful old homes facing the waves lapping against the Battery. The architecture alone is worth a trip—the 186 foot steeple of St. Michael’s is a symbol of history and grace, and near the base of the pulpit, a mark is still visible from  a shell fired by Union troops during the War Between the States.

Carolinians know Charleston has a leftwing bent, fitting in a city replete with arts festivals and cultural events. In the 2008 General Election, then Sen. Barack Obama definitively beat Sen. John McCain in that county by a comfy margin (82,698 for the Democrat; 69,822 for the Republican). Obama has a peculiar way of thanking those who voted for him, however.

The Post and Courier, Charleston’s daily newspaper, ran a warm and fuzzy story about Obama on November 6, 2008 with a tagline: “Obama is fond of our ‘beautiful, restful’ city.”

The Obamas had spent time at a fundraiser in what tony folks in Carolina call the “chic-chic” section of the Holy City, down on King Street at the home of a Northern transplant, a venture capitalist from Boston.  The apparently smitten reporter quoted the future president: "’This is our moment,’ Obama said. ‘This is our time - to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity…’”

That statement was in 2008. As former Speaker of the US House Nancy Pelosi (D) has pointed out (I’m paraphrasing), what a candidate says on the campaign trail and what he does are often different.

Obama’s National Labor Relations Board counsel has filed a complaint against Boeing in hopes of blocking the company from opening a second production facility in Charleston to produce the new 787 Dreamliner.

Real Clear Politics said, “Acting NLRB General Counsel Lafe Solomon fully embraced with the union's novel legal theory, and stated in his Wednesday order that he will seek an order requiring Boeing to build the second 787 Dreamliner assembly line in Washington.”

South Carolina is a right to work state—as yet not under the heavy fist of union bosses.

One thing you’ll notice about Charleston if you drift away from the elegant historic center is the poverty that encircles the concentration of wealth. The jobs Boeing would bring to the area would be a definite asset.

Charlestonians bought into the idea of hope and change pumped by political candidates since the beginning of politics. Now the area that showed strong support for the president is being harmed by his policy. Obama will attempt to deflect blame. Don’t be fooled twice. The Labor Relations Board and counsel are appointed by the president.

The big buck stops at The White House.

Obama’s policy evokes a passage in Atlas Shrugged, as the country is failing because of the heavy hand of socialist policies on job creators. Industrialist Henry Rearden is talking to parasitic socialist bureaucrats about his steel company.

Rearden said, “Have you anything left to loot? If you didn’t see the nature of your policy before—it’s not possible that you don’t see it now. Look around you. All those damned People’s States all over the earth have been existing only on the handouts which you squeezed for them out of this country. But you—you have no place left to sponge on or mooch from. No country on the face of the globe. This was the greatest and last. You’ve drained it. You’ve milked it dry.” (pg. 985)

All I can say to the people of a city in the state that I will always love is this is what you chose for yourselves in your ‘beautiful, restful’ city. Enjoy your "moment."

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(Commentary by Kay B. Day/April 22, 2011)

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