Union Considers Withdrawing Dean Support

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=694&ncid=703&e=2&u=/ap/20040207/ap_on_el_pr/dean

Howard Dean (news - web sites), his campaign in peril, struggled Saturday to prevent the defection of a powerful union that gave him an early boost in the presidential race, Democratic officials said.


These officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Gerald McEntee, who heads the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, is considering withdrawing support from the former Vermont governor.


Dean, the one-time front-runner who has yet to win a primary, has decided to make a last stand in the Feb. 17 Wisconsin primary. But the loss of ASFCME would be devastating, giving his candidacy the appearance of further unraveling even as he struggled to save it.


The officials said McEntee is worried about the impact of Dean's ailing campaign on the union. McEntee voiced his concerns in a meeting during the day with Roy Neel, Dean's campaign manager, these sources added.

more

[frustrated_lefty]

1. Nah

The reason for him giving a deadline at Feb 17 is that's as far as they stick with him. Wisconsin is do or die.

[NashVegas]

2. Anonymous Officials

If those officials are within the union, they did themselves a huge disfavor in leaking that (if it's true). It reflects very, very poorly on the union.

Oh, wait:

two Democratic officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Looks like the Dems are trying to screw the union. I wonder if those are Howard's Dems who leaked, or someone else's?

[lurk_no_more]

3. dean is toast

ASFCME heads wanted dean for whatever reasons w/out a majority member approval, a lot of members raised a stink about supporting dean and those members vote their choice in the other primaries.

This doesn't surprise me, deans support was union heads only.


And then there were none!
” JAFO”

[stickdog]

4. Translation: "We're still afraid of Dean!"

[Julien Sorel]

7. LOL

Possibly the funniest post I've ever seen here. The corporations are terrified of Dean. The Republicans are terrified of Dean. The media are terrified of Dean. The 'Washington insiders' are terrified of Dean. The DLC is terrified of Dean. And now, the unions are terrified of Dean. No wonder he can't get any votes: everyone is terrified of the guy.

[1971]

8. Legislators "terrified" of Kerry?

In a strange way, I wonder if that's why so many legislators are piling on Kerry? Either they are "terrified" that they will never again get any congressional support from Kerry if they don't back him, or they are kow-towing to him now because if he does get elected President then they can expect to have congressional favors bestowed on them from the White House. It's either pander or plunder. Same O Same O Special Interests.

Wes Clark's not gonna do any pander or plunder politics.
He's gonna represent ALL Americans.

Vote Wes Clark for President!

[Straight Shooter]

13. If Dean had played as dirty as Kerry, they would be terrified

The GE is going to be a circus of moral midgets

[Indiana Democrat]

11. Yeah...I was afraid of Dean...

...I was afraid that he could somehow delay his eventual meltdown until AFTER he had won the primaries.

But fortunately for our party, he wasn't able to hold his wad long enough. But I am curious...Who are these people who are still afraid of him??

[cbua34]

5. This is a done deal....

according to AP reports just hitting the wire

[TheDonkey]

6. It was confirmed on FOX news

I'm so sad I have to watch this channel but CNN is ignoring the caucuses.

[NashVegas]

9. Well That Didn't Take Long

to remove the word "considers" out of the report.

Still, I'd love to know where the leak came from.

[stickdog]

10. First they got one "anonymous Democratic Party official" to

confirm this unofficial rumor, then they got another "anonymous Democratic Party official" to confirm it.

Gee, why didn't they just call Kerry's campaign HQ instead?

[Straight Shooter]

12. Sunshine patriots and back-stabbing friends

Haven't we all had a taste of that bitter medicine?

[NV1962]

14. I said it before, I'll say it again

This is a bucket of cold, ice-cold water over ASFCME's credibility.

What message do they expect to send to prospective members of their union?

Howard Dean, you deserve better than their yellow-bellied, battleshy DINO support.

This stuff only adds to my misgivings about many unions here in the US.