By the numbers, Clinton wins the labor battle

[William769]

Among Democratic presidential contenders, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) has garnered the most support of labor union members, with another union endorsement this week pushing her total up to about 6 million members.

After winning the backing of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, Clinton can now claim that she has significantly more labor support than her chief rivals, Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) and former Sen. John Edwards (N.C.).

Clinton has endorsements from 13 national unions with about 6 million members, compared to Edwards, who has endorsements from four national unions with a total of more than 3 million members.

Obama has not won the backing of any national unions, but he does have the support of several locals with membership of around 280,000.

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/by-the-numbers-clinton-wins-the-labor-battle-2007-12-20.html

[Cameron27]

1. Impressive,

I know Edwards was hoping that union endorsement would boost his candidacy. Good news for Hill.

[ccpup]

2. wow!

I didn't know her Union support was that strong and that Obama's was that weak! Now all we gotta do is sit back and let the "Unions don't speak for me" crowd start piping up trying to diminish her impressive support.

:eyes:

[Tom Rinaldo]

3. Yes but everyone knows that Unions strongly oppose the interests of working Americans

Endorsements from Unions for Clinton just expose how much of an enemy of the people that she actually is. If it weren't for Unions we could enjoy routine 12 hour work days.

[William769]

5. Funny how all tha candidates seek them though.

[still_one]

4. As of late, labor has not always voted in its own best interest /nt

[Tom Rinaldo]

6. And the substantial African American support that Clinton enjoys

even with a serious Black candidate in the race, is just further evidence of societally oppressed people not voting in their own interests, right?

What do union members and minorities know anyway, they only get to live their real lives.

[still_one]

8. I was making a general statement that many time people vote against their own interests

[Tom Rinaldo]

9. I won't argue against that, but which times count as that and who decides? n/t

[still_one]

11. A perfect example was labor voting for reagan in his first term

It wasn't until after they realized that their unions were being destroyed as part of the republican strategy, and they were losing their jobs, that they voted against reagan in his second term.

Todays republican strategy has been very obvious:

Divide on the basis of race, "southern strategy"
Destroy the unions
Load the judicial system with federalist society judges

The republicans since nixon, never hid those goals.

2008 will be an extremely interesting election, because the Supreme Court IS AT STAKE. If people fail to vote, or vote republican, and believe that their lives will not be affected, they will be in for an awakening

[Tom Rinaldo]

13. Some, yes. Most, no.

But of course the Right is constantly attempting to pull the wool over people's eyes. I just hold that by and large those who have longest fought against oppression; and that includes Unions and minorities, are least likely to fall for it - and I think voting records by and large back that statement up.

Racism is the closest thing to an exception to that rule - because it is a disease with strong roots going back at least centuries. Economic voo doo, not nearly as much. And populist movements contnually have erupted in American history to give the lie to racism as a way of dividing people also - though that is a constant struggle for us all to fight.

[still_one]

14. Good points /nt

[oasis]

15. Union members know that backing a "winner" will work in their best interests. Hill has

convinced them that she's the winner they've been seeking.

[Snotcicles]

19. Like Hoffa backing Bush in 2000? give me a break. nt

[Tom Rinaldo]

21. Pointing out exceptions to the rule does not disprove the rule

Do you want to argue that organized labor has been a regressive force in this nation, standing in the way of the true interests of workers? If so plese, be my guest. You will have a hard time finding a Democratic candidate running for President who would be willing to sign on to that argument however.

[oasis]

22. Most unions, including AFL-CIO backed Gore. So what are you talking about?

[rucky]

16. It's more self-preservation for them, nowadays

they want to back who they think will win, out of fear of being marginalized if they go with a longshit.

[Rock_Garden]

7. Good news.

[Alamom]

10. kick

[Snotcicles]

12. Union leaders are known for voicing support that benefit their own political

ambitions and not always in the best interest of their membership or reflect their true support.

[oasis]

17. Backing a winning candidate "benefits" everyone concerned.(eom)

[HughBeaumont]

18. Uh .. . which "labor" would that be?

Ours or India's?

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/GC01Df03.html
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/538674.cms
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/593175.cms

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhLBSLLIhUs
Hillary pushes for more h1-b visas and outsourcing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLNOSGM2jK4
Hillary Clinton's hypocrisy (part 1)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgdrh2Bc95M
Hillary Clinton's hypocrisy (part 2)

Union members or their leaders? Because I have a hard time believing any working stiff would cast their support for someone who's unapologetically pro-free trade/free market and believes there are positives to job offshoring. You know, unless they didn't KNOW any better, that is.

[William769]

20. Maybe if you read the article you would know which labor.

[HughBeaumont]

24. I read the article.

So . . . each and every one of those 6 million members is gonna lockstep and support "your girl"?

Don't think I'm believing that.

[Zueda]

23. One of the main components to Union Busting...

Is to have influential people cozy up to Union leaders...It's really not at all surprising that Hillary has some Union support from those unions that have been compromised.

Keep in mind that Mark Penn, Hillary's campaign manager, busts unions for a living and also consider Hillary's very strong Walmart ties as a corp defense lawyer and later a chair person.

Heres a good read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_busting

[LostinVA]

25. Clinton has no strong Wal-Mart ties