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UAW Backs Obama for President |
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The UAW has endorsed Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) for president.
The UAW, which has more than 1 million members, announced today the union is endorsing Obama after a unanimous vote of its International Executive Board.
UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said Obama was an inspiring leader who would fight for working families.
From the streets of Chicago to the state Legislature in Springfield, Ill., to the halls of the U.S. Senate, Barack Obama has been a voice for dignity and justice for working people. He has a strong program for a safe and secure America, which will protect our citizens and help our country prosper in a new century.
On every issue that counts, we can count on Barack Obama to stand with our members, our families and our communities.
Sen. Obama supports free choice in the workplace; he will fight to deliver quality, affordable health care to every American; and he understands the need to change our trade policies so that U.S. workers and U.S. companies can compete fairly in the global economy.
Obama outlined his economic policy in a speech in Raleigh, N.C., yesterday.
Obama also has been endorsed by AFGE, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), the Boilermakers (IBB), International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), Plumbers and Pipe Fitters (UA), Postal Workers (APWU) and the Utility Workers (UWUA).
Three unions that initially endorsed former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.)—the Mine Workers (UMWA), Transport Workers (TWU) and United Steelworkers (USW)—also have given their endorsements to Obama.
Thirteen unions endorsed Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton: AFSCME, AFT, Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), Bricklayers (BAC), Letter Carriers (NALC), Machinists (IAM), Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU), Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), Plasterers and Cement Masons (OP&CMIA), Sheet Metal Workers (SMWIA), TCU/IAM, Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) and the United Transportation Union (UTU). The IAM and IUPAT endorsements of Clinton in the Democratic primaries were accompanied by endorsements of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee in the Republican primaries.
The Fire Fighters (IAFF) union, which endorsed Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), has not announced a new endorsement.
In August 2007, the AFL-CIO Executive Council said it would not make an endorsement at that time for a 2008 presidential candidate, freeing AFL-CIO unions to endorse candidates for the caucuses and primaries. The AFL-CIO will continue the Working Families Vote 2008 campaign to help elect a worker-friendly Congress and president.
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I received the following on June 5th from Howard Dean:
I wanted to drop you a quick note about a major policy change here at the Democratic Party.
As we move toward the general election, the Democratic Party has to be the Party of ordinary Americans, not Washington lobbyists and special interests. So, as of this morning, if you’re a federal lobbyist, or if you control political action committee donations, we won’t be accepting your contribution.
This is an unprecedented move for a political party to make — one that has sent shockwaves through Washington and has turned the debate on clean campaigns upside down. We’ve unilaterally agreed to shut lobbyists out of the process, and we’re relying on people just like you.
Just imagine what hundreds of thousands of Americans donating $20, $30, or $50 at a time can accomplish together. Imagine the signal that it sends to anyone who looks at John McCain’s political machine and the special interest money it needs to fuel every move it makes.
We have a chance to change the way business is done in this country, and we’re taking the lead. Will you join us and make a contribution right now to help us elect Barack Obama?
http://www.democrats.org/nonlobbyists
I’ve written before about guys like Charlie Black and Rick Davis, lobbyists who are at the highest levels of McCain’s campaign. But they’re just the start — John McCain and the RNC suck up lobbyist money millions of dollars at a time.
In May, McCain had his best fundraising month of the campaign, and it was directly because he refuses to shut special interests out.
But we did, and we need your help. This is an example of the kind of White House Barack Obama would run. Make a contribution to help elect him:
http://www.democrats.org/nonlobbyists
I’ll be in touch later about our plans for the general election, but I wanted to let you know about our policy change right away.
Thanks,
Howard Dean
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Now, do you remember where the Democratic debate on the subject of special interest contributions was almost a year ago? Allow me to refresh your memory with what began as a quite straightforward question:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LY0AqYXZC4
Shortly thereafter; Obama brought the crowd to their feet as he championed the cause with this follow-up:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQK84pmCfBY&feature=related
This subject was brought up at every subsequent gathering, thereafter, and was debated with great enthusiasm:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xaWahAwiiU&feature=related
(Just for the record; Labor PACs were outspent by Corporate PACs $18 to $1, as stated by Edwards, in the previous election cycle. They are currently outspending Labor almost $30 to $1. There is just no way Labor can compete for equal access, let alone influence, with our government’s Representatives so long as the playing field heavily favors Corporate special interests. It’s a fight that Labor is going to struggle against, unless something changes.)
Now, after a long Primary season; victoriously, here is where Democrats find themselves:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4122885930486275222&q=pac+money&ei=C5hLSJHOG4SSrgL9o_WbDA&hl=en
The new policy direction of the DNC has been made possible only because there were enough courageous people willing to stand together and defeat these powerful forces, but just barely. Collectively, they have united and accomplished what couldn’t have been done individually for the common good of all Americans. Regardless of which candidate you may have previously supported, we have now empowered a candidate to bring about a CHANGE in policy that genuinely works for the betterment of the public interest. This is only the beginning of the kind of change in store for Washington and the United States, if you have the courage that is required to face down the fear mongering that lays ahead.
Democrats are going to stop feeding from the same corporate trough as the republicans fatten themselves. Obama has run out the special interests from the Democratic Party; and soon, the whole of our government. In time, the influence corporate special interests have over our government will diminish. Gradually, we will see even more ambitious policy shifts tilting power to the people and away from corporations; but we must be willing to persevere and muster the courage to continue fighting the good fight. It’s one that our children can not afford for us to lose.
For me, this announcement is almost on par with the magnitude of turning the tables of the money changers. It’s a start, at least. I am confident that things are now going to get worse, economically, before they get better as a direct result of this “shot across the bow.” Please join me and thousands of others, now, in making a small contribution in support our common good. Should you feel that you can’t afford to give, right now; I would argue that, especially right now, you can’t afford not to.