Here I hadn’t really mentioned Greg Meeks for some time and, bingo, he pops up twice in a row. After yesterday’s posting about the protest at his fundraiser, I received a notice that Meeks–one of our CAFTA 15–was feted yesterday. Now, it wasn’t a hug from labor or a consumer group or someone looking out for the little guy–Meeks has long ago made his decision to side with the corporate powers, not the average people.

No, Meeks received his big hug from a business coalition:

Washington, D.C. – USA Engage today honored Representatives Jim Kolbe (R-AZ) and Gregory Meeks (D-NY) for their strong records of achievement in pursuit of pro-engagement policies on behalf of the United States. Both Kolbe and Meeks have voted consistently in favor of opportunities for expanded U.S. international trade and cultural and humanitarian assistance, and have opposed efforts to either impose or continue counterproductive and ineffective unilateral U.S. sanctions.

“Representatives Kolbe and Meeks share a common belief that Ausmerica’s values and interests are best advanced by sustained involvement in world affairs by both public and private sectors,” said USA*Engage Co-Chair and National Foreign Trade Council President William Reinsch. “We applaud their leadership in Congress and their ongoing efforts to encourage U.S. global engagement at all levels.”

In case you are wondering, USA Engage is really an umbrella group for, among others, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers

and the American Petroleum Institute–great friends of the American workers and American consumers. And you have to give those groups credit–they say “thank you” to the people who vote their interests. Between voting for CAFTA and the bankruptcy bill, Meeks certainly fits the bill–and continues to make sure that he gets corporate campaign cash.