A Bloomberg Ally, Union Boss Michael Forde, Gets Hammered: Handcuffs for a carpenters' union chief

Village Voice reports:

Mike Bloomberg will never suffer one of those embarrassing political stories in which a big campaign donor is revealed as a big crook. Such episodes are the bane of most candidates who must scramble for funds. One of the many advantages of being New York's wealthiest man and being able to write your own ticket is that these problems do not apply.

But if the mayor doesn't need fat checks to help him win a third term, he does need big endorsements. And sometimes, these can be just as embarrassing.

Bloomberg had one of those moments of political candidate's remorse last week when one of his biggest union supporters was arrested on federal racketeering charges, charged with sharing $1 million in payoffs to look the other way as contractors cheated his own members. Just six weeks earlier, carpenters' union chief Michael Forde had wrapped Bloomberg in a warm bear hug as he gave him his union's endorsement.

Great moments in the union movement.