Andy Stern, Howard Dean.....and so it begins. SEIU to ally with DFA.

[madfloridian]

SNIP...."I’m excited to move forward this year, using our new organization Democracy for America (www.democracyforamerica.com) and partnering with SEIU and others to ensure that we are victorious in November, and that we elect a president and Democrats at all levels who all understood that America’s greatest strength is its workers."
Howard Dean

SNIP...."Dr. Dean has a solid grasp of what he did and should have done in the campaign and some great idea about where to go. At SEIU, we want to be his partner in changing America, in sending President Bush to Crawford, Texas, in holding politicians and corporations accountable, and in bringing into the political process a new generation that will ultimately change this country forever.

Right on, Dr.! It's not "thanks for the memories." It's "Watch out, America. The Doctor is in the house!"
Andrew L. Stern
http://www.blogforamerica.com/archives/004096.html

[LynzM]

1. Cool :)

Dean rocks, I'm so glad to see that he's continuing to lead and motivate!!

[WI_DEM]

2. it is a great alliance

I have great respect for SIEU and Andy Stern who unlike AFCME stayed with Dean to the end--no fair weather friends.

[mzmolly]

3. Great!!!

:toast:

[madfloridian]

4. Just a note: SEIU has endorsed and will work to elect Kerry.

Just to be sure people realize that SEIU voted to endorse Kerry and send workers to campaign for him. This was posted on the 23rd at the SEIU blog by Andrew Stern.

http://www.fightforthefuture.org/blog/
March 23, 2004
Boston and Beyond

"I was an invited guest at Harvard University yesterday, so I put on my John Kerry pin and headed north to ground zero of academic scholarship.

Hard to believe Harvard professors wanted to hear from a union of janitors, health care and public workers about success. But our members and leaders have a lot to teach -- about change, democracy, winning, unity, and thinking big to win big. It was a great opportunity for me to learn and remind myself of two things: how smart our members are and how real life experiences matter as much as intellectual ability. Thank you, SEIU.

The Kerry button started conversations on airplanes, fast food places, and on the street. The "Beat Bush" fervor is high.

I may not have mentioned that the SEIU Executive Board did vote to endorse John Kerry. We will be meeting with him soon. We are enthusiastic about beating Bush, and the first 400 SEIU members head to the battleground states on April 1.

They are part of the largest member mobilization of any union in history, 2004 members in 2004 -- leaving their homes to register and educate union members and communities. They are our heroes, and we will win! Interested? If you're an SEIU member, we're still looking for applicants...."END SNIP


Posted by Andy Stern at 07:06 AM EST | Link | Comments (12)

[hippiechick]

5. Well of course they're gonna endorse him ....

DEAN has said that he supports Kerry's nomination (now).

The important thing is that SEIU is also going to partner with DFA to work federally, locally and onward after the election to continue to build grassroots activists and help reclaim the Democratic party from the Corporate Suits.



:hippie:

[madfloridian]

6. Yep, Dean and his "purple friends" will do that.

AFSCME is supposed to get on board, too. They have patched up differences supposedly. Dean is good about doing that and moving on.

[Debi]

7. Question...

Will AFSCME bail on Kerry if he hits rough waters? Sure, I'd welcome their support, but then I'd keep a REAL close eye on them. To say Howard Dean let AFSCME down...geez, do you think AFSCME let Howard Dean down?

[madfloridian]

8. I know what you mean about them.

They really did bail out, and ugly words were said. It is in the pragmatic nature of Dean to say to them that he needs them for the new group, let bygones be bygones. He met with McEntee personally lately, and that must have been hard.

Trouble is, if they bail on Kerry there is only Bush left. I doubt they will.

[JNelson6563]

9. The movement goes forward

while many are slugging it out over the VP spot and then all the Party players will be doing everything to get their boy in the WH, we'll be quietly plugging laong, achieving change and amassing power.

Next tiem they look at us we'll be so much further up the hill they will wet themselves. hee hee

Julie

[madfloridian]

10. First they laugh at you........

How does that go?
:hi:

[JNelson6563]

12. When they are busy laughing

you achieve your goal.

Something like that....:toast:

Julie

[madfloridian]

13. First they ignore you....I had that wrong.

"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win."

Gandhi

[rumguy]

11. that is awesome