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Check Out Candidates’ Video Statements Before Watching AFL-CIO Presidential Forum |
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Get a head start on tonight’s AFL-CIO Presidential Candidates Forum and take a look at video clips the seven participating candidates have submitted to MSNBC in advance of tonight’s big event. One thing they all agree on: the importance of America’s workers and their unions.
Standing before the U.S. Capitol, Sen. Joe Biden accuses the Bush administration of fighting a “reckless war on labor.” He promises to stand with unions, which he calls “the house that built the middle class, the house that built our neighborhoods.” He talks about the connection between union membership and an economy that benefits workers.
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton explores the lessons the union movement has taught America over the decades—the need to “stand up…and stand together.” She says the bargain with workers has been broken by the Bush administration, and she’s the leader who can fix it.
Meanwhile, Sen. Chris Dodd enumerates the issues unions fight for:
safe workplaces, fair wages, secure retirements, economic security, for the values of a strong, vibrant, and expanding middle class.
He touts his 26 years of fighting for the same things in the Senate and says he always has stood, and always will stand, with unions.
The format of former Sen. John Edwards’ video stands out. Rather than feature Edwards speaking directly to the camera, the video highlights footage of union workers on the job interspersed with footage of him speaking about working family issues. He lays out specific policy changes he’d support as president, including his new trade agenda.
As he has done throughout this election, Rep. Dennis Kucinich draws the toughest contrast with other candidates. He says Democrats in general haven’t done enough to fight for working family interests, and he’s the only one who will, through policies like single-payer health care and the cancellation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
Playing up his hometown ties to Chicago, Sen. Barack Obama talks about his background as a community organizer. Obama says his experience as an organizer building coalitions and dealing with the decline of steel mills, makes him the right person to lead the country. He casts himself as a candidate who can unite people and make real changes.
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson describes how unions built the middle class and asks for your help to fix what’s broken in health care, energy, trade and Iraq. He promises to appoint a union member as secretary of labor.
Next step: Tonight’s debate, where the candidates must answer the questions foremost on the minds of working families.
The AFL-CIO Presidential Candidates Forum airs tonight on MSNBC and XM Radio. The broadcast, with “Countdown” host Keith Olbermann as moderator, begins at 7 p.m. EDT (6 p.m. CDT).
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