Posted by Eugene Volokh:
Supporting Our Military Vs. Expressing Hostility to President Bush:
When the United Auto Workers had to make this choice, which did they
choose? Why, [1]expressing hostility to President Bush:
[T]he UAW International will no longer allow members of the 1st
Battalion 24th Marines to park at Solidarity House if they are
driving foreign cars or displaying pro-President Bush bumper
stickers.
"While reservists certainly have the right to drive nonunion made
vehicles and display bumper stickers touting the most anti-worker,
anti-union president since the 1920s, that doesn't mean they have
the right to park in a lot owned by the members of the UAW," the
union said in a statement released Friday. . . .
The UAW was surely within its legal rights -- the parking lot was its
property, and as best I can tell the UAW was doing the marines a favor
by letting them park there. (Even if it was charging them, it's free
to exclude them, unless some contract says otherwise.)
But it strikes me as a petty and intolerant decision, as well as a
politically foolish one. One of the great features of American
political life is that by and large Republicans and Democrats tolerate
each other; they don't refuse to be friends with people of the other
party, don't refuse to hire them, and don't retaliate against polite
expressions of the other side's political views.
More importantly, these were marine reservists, people who are helping
protect our country. The UAW had to decide which was more important to
it: Sticking by its political policy -- a policy whose only purpose
and effect is expressing political hostility -- or expressing support
for our nation's defenders. The effect of either step would be mostly
symbolic. You can see the symbolism the UAW decided to send.
Fortunately, [2]the UAW quickly relented:
Statement by UAW President Gettelfinger on Marine reservists
parking at UAW headquarters
�I have reconsidered and reversed my decision not to allow Marine
reservists to park non-union made vehicles or vehicles displaying
Bush stickers at Solidarity House on weekends.
�Some people may have thought my orginal decision reflected a lack
of support for the Marine Corps and the service of Marine
reservists.
�That certainly was not my intention. Having served in the Marine
Corps Reserves myself, I fully appreciate the sacrifices and
contributions made by America�s reservists, National Guard members
and active duty military personnel and their families.
�That said, I made the wrong call on the parking issue, and I have
notified the Marine Corps that all reservists are welcome to park
at Solidarity House as they have for the past 10 years.
�I regret that the controversy over this decision has overshadowed
the many good things the UAW and our members are doing to support
and express our appreciation to America�s service men and women and
veterans.�
It's to President Gettelfinger's credit that he corrected his error --
but he did so after, and I would guess because of, a considerable
amount of local media coverage, which was likely highly negative. It
would have been far more to his credit if he hadn't made the error in
the first place.
References
1. http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0503/13/C01-115531.htm
2. http://uaw.com/news/newsarticle.cfm?ArtId=315
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