Jimmy Hoffa’s son, James Hoffa, has taken his father’s position as president of the Teamsters union. Jimmy Hoffa, you all likely remember, was a notorious union thug convicted of jury tampering, conspiracy, and mail and wire fraud. He also had strong connections to the world of organized crime, working closely with the Mafia, and ultimately, it was those ties that likely brought about his murder. And while there’s no telling if James Hoffa shares his father’s passion for crime, he certainly seems to. Consider, for example, the fact that he’s threatening Blue Dog Democrats for not cooperating on health care reform. The threat is unnamed, but this is a union thug making threats — can’t take it too lightly.

Centrist Blue Dog Democrats are “making a big mistake” by not backing President Obama’s healthcare reforms, Teamsters President James P. Hoffa threatened Wednesday.

“They’re a whole new phenomenon,” Hoffa said of the centrist Democrats who have been reluctant to back a healthcare bill containing certain taxes and a public (or “government-run”) option for consumers.

“A lot of these people we supported, and I think they’re making a big mistake by not supporting the president,” Hoffa added during an appearance on the liberal Bill Press radio show.

Hoffa’s words come after the likely incoming president of the AFL-CIO, Richard Trumka, told the Huffington Post that his union may sit out campaigns in which lawmakers broke from the organization.

Hoffa said that the Blue Dogs certainly weren’t aiding Obama’s efforts to pass health reform.

“The president needs every Democratic vote, whether it’s in the House or the Senate,” he said. “The fact that they’re basically chopping up the bill certainly doesn’t help him.”

This is just over government run health care — imagine how the union thugs will react if any Blue Dogs come out against card check.

Hat Tip: Moonbattery