Which candidate has the best economic platform for workers?

[lancemurdoch]

I haven't been able to do a research project on each candidate, but I have a fair idea of where they are economically...except for ones behind in the polls like Graham, Edwards and so forth, yous can fill in here on where they stand if you are a booster for them.

Anyhow, my criteria for best candidate is the one who is anti-DLC and who is pro-worker, pro-organized labor and so forth, not one of the "new" Democrats who is in the DLC and is for big business, NAFTA and so forth. So here is where I have been gauging so far. If anyone sees anything that looks out of place, or wants to say where Edwards or Graham might go, be my guest:

The candidates from worst to best in terms of being pro-workers:

Lieberman (worst, ran DLC)
Kerry
Dean (at least he'd repeal Bush's tax cut for the rich)
Gephardt (110% pro-labor for decades, I really like him)
Kucinich (liberal, but not to the point of electability)
Sharpton (he knows he won't win so he can say what he wants)

To me there is a big gap between Dean and Gephardt - Lieberman, Kerry and Dean are on the right wing of the Democrats fiscally, although Dean is towards the moderate of that scale. Then I'd say there is a large gap between Dean's fiscal conservatism to Gephardt's 110% pro-unionism, anti-NAFTA attitude and so forth. And Kucinich and Sharton are to the left of him.

These topics don't get many replies...I always look at these races as revolving around money, yet people seem to talk about the war, social issues and so forth. Maybe I'm old-fashioned to see these races as revolving around money, and even war revolving around money.

[GOPFighter]

1. Gephardt

Too bad I just don't like him very much asw a politician.

Someday American workers are going to realize just how badly we've been screwed by the corporatists.

[blm]

2. Kerry has a 91% prolabor record over 18 years.

I think you may have bad information you are basing your assumptions.

Try reading Kerry's speeches and reading his policy papers.
www.johnkerry.com

[lancemurdoch]

3. Yes

Yes, someone else told me Kerry might be more pro-labor and the like then Dean as well. I suppose they should switch places on my list.

I think Edwards would probably be on the right side of the Democrats from what I read as well, which I'd figure, him coming from the state with the lowest percentage of union workers in the country.

[Bombtrack]

4. check out Edwards worker's shareholders bill of rights

as well as his plans for middle-class tax relief and corporate loophole regulation

he is truely the most passionate and experienced at taking on big insurance and big pharmaceuticals in particualar

[iwalktheline]

5. Kucinich

by far the strongest pro-labor positions.

Anti-NAFTA, anti-Taft-Hartley, his healthcare reform plan . . .

Add it up and Dennis is the worker's champion.

[David Zephyr]

6. Kucinich. No One Else Comes Close.

Gephardt would be second, but Dennis Kucinich wins this easily.

[TheYellowDog]

7. Whatever

Gephardt's record is so much better than Dennis's on labor issues. Gephardt has been in the House for 25 years, Dennis has only been there for like 7. So Gephardt's record is better.

[David Zephyr]

8. The Question Was on Platform Not on Longevity.

I am a Dean supporter. Notice that I ranked Gephardt and Kucinich above my candidate on this issue? I don't dispute with you one moment on Gephardt's long record on behalf of labor and for this reason I rated him second. Still, check out what Kucinich has promised to do if President and see if you can match that with Gephardt's promises.

Also, if you read any of my postings on Gephardt here for well over 2 years, you will see that I've been very complimentary to him on labor issues (others, not so).

[TheYellowDog]

12. It's easy to promise the world

when you have no shot at getting the nomination :). Gephardt is being practical

[lancemurdoch]

9. I agree

I agree, Gephardt has been down in the trenches fighting for labor for decades. His father was active in the labor movement as well. I definitely think Gephardt would have more ability to push through labor stuff if he was president than Kucinich would. Although I concede that Kucinich has roughly Gephardt's economic positions, and Kucinich possibly even has a few to the left of Gephardt economically. But Gephardt I think has a very strong, solid pro-worker, pro-labor record.

[newyawker99]

10. Hi iwalktheline!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[bearfan454]

11. Welcome to DU

Now you can get the real news.