Huffington Times: Illinois Labor Leader, Women's Advocate Backs Obama

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elaine-hopkins/illinois-labor-leader-wo_b_91765.html


Bio: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elaine-hopkins/#blogger_bio

This is also published on the author's blog, Peoria Story.

PEORIA - Illinois Democratic superdelegate Margaret Blackshere fought for the Equal Rights Amendment, is known as an advocate for women and was herself a pioneer female labor leader.

But like other Illinois superdelegates, Blackshere, 67, now living in the Chicago suburb of Niles, supports Sen. Barack Obama over Sen. Hillary Clinton as the Democratic presidential nominee.

I interviewed Blackshere by phone early on March 14 as part of the Huffington Post's Off the Bus project to profile all Democratic superdelegates.

(For a look at two other Illinois superdelegates, click on 'national politics' and scroll down to Feb. 26 post.)

Blackshere is a member of the Democratic National Committee and recently retired as president of the Illinois AFL-CIO. A former kindergarten teacher, Blackshere organized teachers in her native Madison County Illinois, rose to become head of the teacher's union then got involved in the million member state AFL-CIO.

"I've met Clinton, watched her, admired her, not always thought she did the wisest thing," Blackshere said. "If she had stayed in Park Ridge she'd be the senator from Illinois now. That would change everything."

Instead Blackshere has worked with and is backing Obama. "Obama gave me 30 minutes of his time as teachers union president. He truly listens, he never excludes hearing your point of view. That's admirable."

FULL story at link.