Eleanor Clift suggests Dean might win AFL-CIO endorsement

[CMT]

Her column in Newsweek is full of interesting things. Here is a rundown:

1) When Howard Dean asks his supporters on the Internet for money he gets an almost 50% response--"a phenomenal return rate."

2) She suggests that the Democratic race for president is "on ice" until after the California recall which is "sucking oxygen" out of the presidential race since the national political focus is on the recall.

3) While "labors heart belongs to Gephardt many are not convinced he can win." She suggests that if Dean continues to outpace his rivals in fund raising in the quarter ending September 30th and keeps his forward momentum that the AFL-CIO may endorse Dean.

http://www.msnbc.com/news/953145.asp?0cl=c1

[goobergunch]

1. I don't think the AFL-CIO will endorse any candidate in the primaries...

because Gephardt probably has enough unions already to block anybody else getting the AFL-CIO endorsement.

[NewJerseyDem]

2. I doubt it

Dean really doesn't seem like the candidate that the AFL-CIO would want to endorse. I think that his opinion on free trade is sort of unclear and he is kind of a fiscal moderate like Clinton. They probably won't endorse anyone since I don't think they would want to endorse Gephardt because he isn't the clear favorite like Gore and Mondale were. I think that ideologically Kucinich would be the best candidate to endorse but he won't win anyway so that is also unlikely.

[gully]

3. Dean has won an award from the AFL-CIO so I say, they may?

" I was proud when I was recently awarded the first Paul Wellstone Award by the AFL-CIO for my commitment to the rights of workers."

Here is Deans position on Labor;

http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/PageServer?pagename=policy_statement_labor

[tedoll78]

4. That's what I was thinking

That award, and maybe their perception of his ability to get elected, could be what clinches the endorsement.

But I'm still skeptical of them endorsing anyone so early in the race.

[CMT]

8. that is the whole point--you're right

organized labor has endorsed a candidate early twice--Mondale and Gore. Gore won obviously, but not convincingly--since we have Bush as president--they are hesitating to go with Gep becuz they have doubts that he can win. They look at Dean who is still strong enough on labor issues despite NAFTA as someone they can work with and who is willing to take the fight to Bush.

[w4rma]

9. In Iowa, Dean is in the lead among labor housholds

Dean’s solid support from labor: Dean is the first choice of 29 percent of likely caucus participants from house holds with a union member.
http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/PageServer?pagename=Iowa&JServSessionIdr010=6wx2r28ikh.app13b

[CMT]

10. good point

I was surprised when I saw that too.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

5. Where'd she get these statistics?

Where'd she get these statistics? There is no possible way for her to know what the most-visited site on the web is, or the 100th most-visited, or the 3000th most-visited - anyone who understands how the internet works realizes that those rankings can't be anything but meaningless unless she has analyzed the logs of all the webservers on the internet - which is obviously impossible. So did she just make them up or what?

[molly]

6. Well, I think he may have a problem with the reitrement

age thing. It's one thing to sit at a desk and retire later than to do physical labor and retire later.

[w4rma]

11. Dean does not support raising the retirement age.

…
As President, I will be committed to preserving the integrity and long-term stability of the Social Security Trust Fund. I will oppose privatizing the Social Security System. And I will pursue a responsible economic agenda, and under my plan we will never have to consider raising the retirement age.

The long-term future of Social Security and financial security for all of us in our retirement years depends on ensuring a healthy rate of economic growth over the next several decades. Even a modest increase in long-term growth rates will ease the burden on the Social Security Trust Fund. If we do need to bring more money into Social Security, then I'm prepared to look at reasonable options for expanding the ceiling on payroll taxes.

The best guarantee for our Social Security, therefore, is an economic plan with three basic principles:

First, we must create economic growth and jobs new jobs, more jobs, and better jobs for Americans;

Second, we must return to fiscal sanity, for the sake of future generations, yes but also for the sake of our very national security. We cannot be a world-class country if we are the world's largest debtor;

Finally, we must reform our tax system. When I am President, I will work to repeal the top heavy Bush tax cuts, and replace them with a system that is fairer, and simpler, and places less of a burden on working Americans who live off their paychecks.
…
http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=7343

[DrFunkenstein]

7. The Kid With The Good Grades

2002 On the votes that the AFL-CIO considered to be the most important in 2002, Senator Kerry voted their preferred position 92 percent of the time.

2001 On the votes that the AFL-CIO considered to be the most important in 2001, Senator Kerry voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time.

[genius]

12. He's anti-labor and they know it. Is he planning hypnosis or

perhaps he can prescribe something to gain control over their minds.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

13. Anti-labor. No doubt about it.

It doesn't take a genius to know that.

[CMT]

15. I don't think any of our candidates are anti-labor

and in fact I understand that with some of the unions which endorsed Gep that Dean was second choice-such as with the Steelworkers. Also, to get the first Annual Paul Wellstone award from the AFL-CIO must suggest he is not anti-union.

[gully]

14. Funny 'they' gave him an award then...if he's anti labor and all.

:donut:

[Rose Siding]

16. “Dropouts for Dean,”

Every few days I run across something in Dean's campaign that gives me such hope. It just floors me. Optimism when we need it most. The perfect storm.

There was another article today about students for Dean. I haven't seen this kind of passion in a campaign since Bobby went to California.