AFL-CIO president urges unions to step up for Dems

[ProSense]

AFL-CIO president urges unions to step up for Dems

By SAM HANANEL, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON – The head of the nation's largest labor federation on Tuesday urged union leaders to step up support for Democrats in the November elections, despite some frustration with the pace of gains on labor's agenda.

AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka said he wants unions to recapture the sense of enthusiasm that helped propel President Barack Obama into office two years ago.

"We know you're angry," Trumka said in a speech to the federation's leaders and political staff. "We know you're frustrated. We know we haven't achieved everything that we worked for. But we've made progress and we have to keep it going."

The AFL-CIO plans to spend more than $50 million over the next 90 days to help Democrats in congressional and gubernatorial races in 20-23 states. Its top target states are California, Illinois, Nevada, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

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[BrklynLiberal]

1. That might take a lot of convincing.

Trumka was right up there for Obama durng the campaign..

[howaboutme]

2. Democrats need to step up for unions

especially industrial private sector unions that were once the base that made America great.

The Democratic Party has replaced union power with Wall Street money.

[Sherman A1]

3. Precisely

You hit the nail on the head..... :toast:

[ProSense]

4. And how will they do that if Republicans win?

This is an election argument, and your point is precisely what Trumka is countering.

There has been progress, and we need to keep the momentum going.

[w8liftinglady]

5. For the record...great union presence in Ellis County,Tx for Bill White.

There were reps from UAW,AFL-CIO and Teamsters...from other counties,of course.That took balls.I am grateful to every one of them.

[Barack2theFuture]

6. In a related story,

New York Yankees trade Derek Jeter to Pittsburgh.

[ProSense]

7. That's the spirit

It's always interesting that "Obama = Bush" or "Dems are no different from Repubs" claims are considered brilliant insight, but the AFL-CIO President makes an attempt to encourage Democratic voters and it's met with cynicism.

[Barack2theFuture]

9. Cynicism did not arise from this announcement.

Neither would this announcement defeat cynicism.

"We know you're angry," Trumka said in a speech to the federation's leaders and political staff. "We know you're frustrated. We know we haven't achieved everything that we worked for. But we've made progress and we have to keep it going."

The AFL-CIO plans to spend more than $50 million over the next 90 days to help Democrats in congressional and gubernatorial races in 20-23 states. Its top target states are California, Illinois, Nevada, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Maybe Trumka doesn't know *how* angry.

It is a good sign for the DNC that they haven't quite killed the union vote-laying goose yet, but it is a telling sign that it requires such an appeal to remind union members which party to support.

[SocialistLez]

8. Step up for the knife in their stomach?

Unions need to start directing money toward the Green Party.