Bettie Reina Responds to the Union

The Press article (Feb. 14) states that the AFL-CIO reception for Frank LoBiondo at Angelo's was warm and cozy. Cozy is a good word for their relationship with Rep. LoBiondo. Comments by the union leadership in that room show that their group is as exclusive and arrogant as our leadership in Washington. They presume to tell the people of South Jersey that no one can win without their money or support. I know how angry my father, involved in the United Auto Workers from the late thirties, would be with the union's support of a man who has helped Congress do so much damage to working people.Our group, made up of Democrats, Greens, Independents, and even disillusioned Republicans, standing out in that cold, are not disheartened, in fact just the opposite. Mr. Wowkanech, Pres. of the New Jersey AFL-CIO, has thrown down the gauntlet. He said we were outside and that we were going to stay "Outside". Obviously, to him, those with differing opinions are to be excluded. Although, many people contacted him after the article announcing this event to say how appalled they were with his decision, none that we know of received any response.Mr. LoBiondo throws a few crumbs to local unions, smiles for photo ops, and they think they've received a whole cake. Then he goes back to Washington and votes against the interests of their families, the elderly, the youngest and the neediest of this country. Until the unions take a good look at the whole voting record of the man they will continue to be his unwitting lapdogs. Thankfully, not everyone is taken in by his tactics. I have faith in the average American worker and know that when they have the facts they will make up their own minds and not allow some entrenched union bureaucrats to tell them how to use their constitutional right to vote.

BETTIE J. REINA

Milmay