It's commonly known that if you aren't driving a union-made car (the previous designation of "American" being no longer sufficient), you'd better not try to park in the lot at the UAW's Solidarity House headquarters. An exception has long been made for Marine reservists reporting for duty at a nearby base. Somewhere along the line, however, the union had a change of heart, releasing a statement Friday that withdrew the welcome mat for non-union cars or supporters of the Commander-in-Chief. "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 Marines are, thankfully for the well-being of the United States, not the type to take a spanking quietly. Lt. Col. Joe Rutledge, the local commander, moved quickly: "I'm telling my Marines that they're no longer parking there."
One would think that the ensuing uproar would have been easily predictable, but its intensity took the union by surprise. An apparent man of quick decisions, UAW President Ron Gettelfinger lost no time in reversing the action on Monday. The Marines, however, were having none of it. "I've made my decision," said Lt. Col Rutledge. "Either you support the Marines or you don't."
Gettelfinger points out to little effect that he is a former Marine Corps reservist himself. Humph. Well, Semper Fi to you too, fella.
Addendum: James Taranto of the Wall Street Journal Online draws attention to the accompanying photo captioned thus: "Tony Camilleri of Dearborn Heights covered up the Chevrolet logo on his Silverado with a Toyota sign as a tribute to the Marines. The UAW has a longstanding policy prohibiting foreign makes from its parking lots."
With inimitable wit, Taranto quips, "Leave it to the UAW to turn foreign cars into a symbol of patriotism."
