SEARCH
Machinists Endorse Clinton, Huckabee in Primaries |
|
The Machinists (IAM) union has made endorsements in both the Democratic and Republican primaries for the 2008 presidential race.
The union, which represents more than 700,000 active and retired workers, is backing Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) in the race for the Democratic nomination and former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-Ark.) for the Republican spot on the ticket.
Clinton and Huckabee were among the contenders who spoke to IAM members this week at the union’s national staff conference.
IAM President Thomas Buffenbarger praised Clinton’s stances on issues that matter most to IAM members:
Hillary Clinton earned the IAM’s endorsement by focusing on jobs, health care, education and trade—the bread and butter issues of the American middle class. She is the only candidate of either party to come forward with a comprehensive manufacturing policy and the only candidate to connect with millions of Americans who feel invisible to the current administration.
Buffenbarger said Huckabee, the only Republican candidate who agreed to speak at the IAM conference, “is entitled to serious consideration from our members voting in the upcoming Republican primaries.” Added Buffenburger:
Mike Huckabee was the only Republican candidate with the guts to meet with our members and the only one willing to figure out where and how we might work together.
Earlier this month, the AFL-CIO Executive Council said it would not yet make an endorsement for a 2008 candidate, leaving AFL-CIO unions free to endorse candidates in caucuses and primaries.
Clinton also has won the endorsement of the United Transportation Workers (UTU), while the Fire Fighters have endorsed Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.). More endorsements are expected in coming days.
Over the coming months, the AFL-CIO Working Families Vote 2008 campaign will mobilize union members across the nation to ensure a worker-friendly Congress and president. At the AFL-CIO Battleground States Conference earlier this month, AFSCME President and AFL-CIO Political Education Committee Chairman Gerald McEntee told labor leaders and activists:
We are ready for the fight of our lives—and we are going to win.
9 Comments
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
She addressing manufacturing position IAM???
What is that? Exporting jobs to Mexico and China???
Hillary finally found a Union who believes the Clinton position of exporting manufacturing jobs and creating hamburger flipping jobs is the right position.
Well if she wins they will get more of what they have been getting since NAFTA if that is what they want more power to them — I just hope the steel worker, auto workers and other industrial Unions are smarter than to believe someone who buys stock in companies who outsource their jobs is going to do something which adversely effects themselves.
The choice of the Machinists surprised me with the selection of Clinton. The Steelworkers Union has endorsed John Edwards, and that makes sense to me! The Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners have also endorsed Edwards. Edwards seems to have more fire about pushing the issues of labor ahead faster. Clinton has some plans with long term goals, but people need help right now. I hope more unions will stand up with Edwards and say people have waited long enough. Let’s push through Labor’s issues NOW.
Any of the Democrats would be better than any of the Republicans.
At least Huckabee seems to genuinely care about people, though I would like him better if he believed in evolution.
Clinton is probably the least worker friendly of the Democratic candidates. She even supported the Oman Trade Deal (which supports slavery).
Why would any union support ANY Republican candidate? Just because he should up is a good enough reason to support a candidate? You’ve got to be kidding! The Republicans are classists who are anti-worker. Plain and simple.
As an old buddy of mine used to say, “Some of these cats (as in labor fakers) would be comfortable sleeping on a clothesline. Whichever way the wind blew them is the way they’d fall”.
The question posed in the old labor song “Which Side Are You On?” is one that should be asked of IAM leadership. Make no mistake about it…the membership had little if any say in the endorsemet.
Clinton and Huckabee? What’s next? Frick and Flack?
The Machinists have really surprised me because evidence that Hillary Clinton is favored by big business because of her stance on globalization can be found as recently as last year when she voted to pass this:
TRADE/OMAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT�S. 3569�The Oman Free Trade Agreement expands the failed model of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).� Like NAFTA and CAFTA, the Oman agreement does not contain adequate environmental protections or enforceable protections for such core worker rights as the freedom of association.� Oman is not a democracy, and its workers are unable to form independent unions or to bargain collectively.� At the same time, the agreement allows any company incorporated in Oman to sue the U.S. government, undermining the ability of state and local governments to protect public health, strong communities and the environment.� The bill passed June 29 on a 60-34 vote.� Y=W; N=R (R:48-5; D:11-29; I:1-0).
Sure, she’s been with Labor; 93% of the time as of year ending 2006. Obama voted with Clinton in favor of OMAN FREE TRADE. He’s been with Labor on everything else, though. But with only 28 votes lifetime recorded as of 2006, he is at 96% favorable. Edwards was with us 97% of the time, opposing us only twice, both times way back in 2000. The difference is Edwards has seen the light with regard to outsourcing since his vote favoring PNTR for China. He campaigns everywhere stumping against outsourcing. Kucinich, also 97% favorable as of 2006, has voted against Labor only 3 times as of year ending 2006. The latest, in 2006, being:
MINE SAFETY�S. 2803�More coal miners were killed on the job in the first five months of 2006 than in any full year since 2001.� Coal mine safety advocates said the Bush administration and the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration had failed to strengthen safety regulations and failed to strongly enforce the regulations on the books. In May, the Senate passed the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response (MINER) Act (S. 2803).� The House considered S. 2803 under procedural rules that did not allow for amendments.� Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) objected to this suspension of the rules, which prevented him from offering amendments to improve the bill.� S. 2803 requires coal operators to develop and implement accident-response plans that mandate additional oxygen, improved communication and tracking and enhanced training.� The bill also calls for these standards to be upgraded as new technology becomes available, requires ready availability of mine-rescue teams, establishes stronger standards for sealing abandoned mine areas, calls for research and recommendations on belt flammability and puts more teeth in mine safety enforcement by enhancing penalties for flagrant violations and setting mandatory minimum penalties for the most serious violations.� The House passed S. 2803 on June 7 by a 381-37 count.� Y=R; N=W (R:219-4; D:161-33; I:1-0)
Which, right now, is rather untimely for Dennis and 380 other Congressmen.
Upon further reflection and deeper research, I believe, when you consider all the facts before us, Edwards has best earned the right to be Labor’s candidate for President. I’ll challenge any other Local or International Candidate Screening Committee to weigh all the evidence and I bet they’ll reach the same conclusion.
Edwards is a southern democrat, to boot. He can win the general election in traditionally Red states where as a northern democrat will simply be viewed an outsider. Having him at the top of the general election ticket in Red territory will help pro-labor Democrats further down on the state’s ballots in regions that Labor is weakest. Who better to talk pro-labor to southerners than a southerner? The stronger Labor makes its weak regions; the more it can shore up the northeast and pacific strong-holds. If Labor looses any seated pro-labor Democrat like Clinton, Obama, or Kucinich; how much additional expense will be required to fill their vacancy in terms of financial and human resources? Do we even have viable replacements or resources prepared? Edwards has the means to deliver a knock-out to Republicans that is more brutal and sustainable than anyone else. Plus, we don’t lose anything legislatively or subject ourselves to additional expenditures. I just don’t understand why the Executive Council has decided to take a pass. The choice doesn’t seem any clearer or opportunity any better than this!
Sources:
http://www.aflcio.org/cgi-bin/member.pl?state=OH&pg=2&id=312&year=06&congress=h
http://www.aflcio.org/cgi-bin/member.pl?state=NC&pg=2&id=103&year=04&congress=s
http://www.aflcio.org/cgi-bin/member.pl?state=NC&pg=2&id=65&year=00&congress=s
http://www.aflcio.org/cgi-bin/member.pl?state=NY&pg=2&id=63&year=06&congress=s
http://www.aflcio.org/cgi-bin/member.pl?state=IL&pg=2&id=26&year=06&congress=s
http://www.aflcio.org/issues/legislativealert/votes/index.cfm
Congratulations IAM! You’ve just endorsed candidates who will work against your best interests! ARE you mad! Remember NAFTA and the WTO. Sure it was her husband who forced thart through and screweed many of us out of work that was senjt oberseas (with tax breakes for the wealthy corporations to boot!). What the heck is going on? This is pure madness. Once again we are being sold a bill of goods. I GUARANTEE that nothing will change with regards to job and wage increases. You have dug you own grave, once again. Here’s hoping the AFL-CIO changes their stance and suppotrts an actual Union member in Dennis Kucinich (the ONLY candidate, and perhaps the only Presidentiua; candidate to currently be a memebr while running for office. Shame on you IAM. SHAME ON YOU. And don’t even get me started on Huckabee. UNVBELIEVABLE!
Here’s an article about the IAM’s newly endorsed candidate and her willingness to “compromise” for change:
http://www.michaelmoore.com/sicko/news/article.php?id=10198&action=print
So let’s get this straight: Dennis Kucinich would ELIMINATE NAFTA and the WTO; Clinton would “compromise” on NAFTA and the WTO.
In other words…Kucinich would bring back and create new jobs for the American working class; Clinton would “compromise” on bringing back and creating new jobs for the American working class.
Nice work IAM. The “huge sucking sound” just got a little louder.
Let’s never forget that Hillary and Bill sabotaged our chance to get universal health care back in the mid 1990’s. They snuggled up with the insurance companies, devised a lousy plan, and divided the left, which might have otherwise had a chance to get real health care reform.
Let’s also remember that Daddy Bush tried hard to get NAFTA passed, but couldn’t do it. Clinton did. The Clintons have sold out big time. Rupert Murdoch even had a fundraiser for Hillary–nuff said!