WP: Democratic Candidates Praise Value of Organized Labor

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/27/AR2007032701383.html

Democratic Candidates Praise Value of Organized Labor

By Zachary A. Goldfarb
Special to The Washington Post
Tuesday, March 27, 2007; 4:58 PM

As they addressed the Communication Workers of America this morning, the three leading contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination praised the value of organized labor, called for greater college affordability and cheered the importance of universal health care.

But as Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.), former senator John Edwards (N.C.) and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) appealed for the union's support at the Hyatt on Capitol Hill, they also put on full display their differing styles of oratory while trying to mix personal narratives with policy prescriptions.

Obama referenced the story of a specific man in Illinois who couldn't afford to pay for his son's liver transplant. Edwards spoke of theoretical Americans who can't afford healthcare or lose loved ones in Iraq. Clinton related the efforts of communication workers after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Each received multiple standing ovations.

The most notable difference among the candidates was that Obama and Edwards directly tackled the war -- and demanded that the United States withdraw in a timely fashion -- while Clinton avoided the topic altogether.

Judging from the reaction Obama and Edwards received, this was a strongly anti-war crowd, and her decision to skip over the subject was unsurprising since she has been reluctant to engage critics of her vote to authorize the conflict. Obama has stressed that he opposed the war from the start, and Edwards has apologized for his vote to authorize it. Several protesters from the anti-war group Code Pink were asked to leave just before Clinton spoke.

Obama kicked off the speeches just before 8:30. He recalled a moment when he was running for Senate in 2004 and visited a group of workers at a Maytag Plant in Galesburg, Ill., near the Mississippi river. The company had announced that the plant's work was going to be sent overseas.

FULL story at link.

[blondie58]

1. just a question of curiosity, Omaha Steve!

I am guessing that you are a Union member, as you seem to post quite frequently about them.

I myself, am a proud member of Branch #47 of NALC- National Association of Letter Carriers.

[Omaha Steve]

2. AFSCME Local 251

I was fired on Feb. 22 this year. My union is fighting it. I'll tell everything after we get the decision from the arbitrator.

[blondie58]

4. that's too bad

I feel confident that your union can help. Good luck and yeah, keep us posted.

I had never been a super big union supporter before, but I know that the Postal Service would walk all over us without it. One may not agree with every decision the union makes, but the big picture is good.

[MannyGoldstein]

3. How To Reconcile With Love of 'Free' Trade

e.g., Clinton's and Edwards' job-obliterating votes to give China permanent 'normal' trade status? And now they claim they're for the little guy and gal?

Wow!

I guess they like organized labor - in other countries.