Is Clark as Pro-Union as he is Pro-Choice?

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

Clark's recent statement on reproductive rights were about as radically pro-choice as you can possibly get. He has a huge gender gap problem, with very little support from women, so perhaps he thought staking out the most pro-choice position possible would get the attention of female Democratic primary voters?

I wonder if Clark will come out with some radical Pro-Union statements that blunt as well? I would think that if not for Gephardt, your typical traditional union member could get behind Clark, as an individual, as opposed to institutional, choice, and perhaps even government/service union members too.

As organizations, the unions don't pick candidates for personal reasons, they choose strategically. Electability and influence are primary concerns - just like when business institutions choose candidates. I doubt the unions have any problems with Clark's electability, but I don't see how they can effectively influence Clark either (while of course Dean and Gephardt can't do much without them.)

Of course, it's typical of the "moderate, centrist" type to shy away from the unions, even though they are a core Democratic consituency, to try to get support and money from the business class.

Has Clark taken the lead on any labor issues specifically?

[veganwitch]

1. how is clark radically pro-choice?

unless he has recently changed his tune. i listened to him talk to voters probably back in november and he said he fully supported the choice of a woman in the first trimester. That's standard. Nothing radical there. He said nothing about late/r term abortions.

[HFishbine]

2. He said something to the effect yesterday

of life begins when a mother decides it does.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

7. yes

nt

[SahaleArm]

9. "I don’t think you should get the law involved in abortion"

“It’s between a woman, her doctor, her faith and her family and her conscience. You don’t put the law in there.”

More context:
http://www.theunionleader.com/articles_showa.html?article=31260

Not exactly radical unless you read the Union-Leader's right-wing interpretation.

[JVS]

10. He has a gender gap to close

He might have been pandering

[rucky]

3. The Jobs to India gaffe...

will sit in many union people's minds

There aren't a whole lot of big union endorsements still up for grabs, but that won't help his chances much for the ones that are.

I'm not saying that Clark is not for labor rights... he's a fair-minded individual. Just that there's other candidates that have come out stronger. But what do I know... I thought Kucinich & Gephardt would have most of the union endorsements in the bag.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

4. he won't get any official endorsments probably

but I wonder if even regular union members would ever trust him - not just his India gaffe, but his whole pro-Nafta, pro-"free trade" stance is going to go over like a lead zeppelin.

I heard he "clarified" some remarks recently, but if the DLC is really behind him, and DLC-ers like Al From (anti-union in the extreme) is on his side, it will be a disaster of biblical proportions.

[rucky]

5. Compared to *'s war on labor, I wouldn't worry too much:

Apparently, Dean's NAFTA w/ reforms policy was good enough for the SEIU, and Clark IS stressing fair trade. If he gets the nomination, I don't see disaster. The unions' hatred of * majorly outweighs anything else....

Clark could minimize the damage by coming out with a strong jobs and/or healthcare plan. He also has a golden opportunity right now to come out against Bush's overtime pay elimination.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

6. SEIU and AFSCME can't get offshored

That's why Dean is "good enough" for them I presume. I worry about a strong Democratic president that doesn't owe the unions anything though...

[SahaleArm]

8. The unions get behind the nominee and help in the general election...

I'm not sure that's an overriding concern as much as figuring out why only 18% of workers are in unions.