AFT Endorses Barack Obama for President

[ProSense]

[msongs]

1. so Randi, how is the race to the top anti teacher union policy working for ya? nt

[ProSense]

3. You should

watch the entire clip. It's very good.

[Gman]

2. This OP is going to get flamed here

great endorsement. AFT needs to endorse Obama. But people are going to trash it. Lots of anti-union people here that are too vocal for our good.

[Renew Deal]

4. .

[MineralMan]

5. Of course they do. They're union members,

and they support Obama. We'll see all the major unions lining up to endorse soon. Why would anyone be surprised? What union would endorse a Republican. Now, there may be some individual teachers who don't approve, but so what? Union leadership is elected by the rank and file. That demonstrates that the rank and file support Obama. No surprise there.

[SunsetDreams]

6. K&R here is the Press Release

American Federation of Teachers Endorses President Obama
For Re-election
Obama Is Only Candidate Who Will Fight to Preserve and Expand the Middle Class,
Fight for Economic Opportunity for All Americans

Los Angeles—Declaring that President Obama is the only candidate who will fight to preserve and expand the middle class, close the inequality gap and ensure everyone has a "fair shot" at success, the 1.5 million strong American Federation of Teachers announced today its endorsement of President Obama and Vice President Biden for re-election.

Biden spoke to the AFT Executive Council by telephone following the unanimous endorsement vote. While speaking to the Council, Biden reaffirmed the Obama administration's commitment to building a strong economy and a strong public school system.

"This election is a choice, not a referendum," said AFT President Randi Weingarten. "It's a choice between very different economic visions for our country, and at stake is the simple yet powerful notion that everyone deserves a fair chance to achieve the American dream."

Today's announcement kicks off an aggressive grass-roots effort by AFT members to engage their fellow members and their families in broad-based efforts aimed at re-electing Obama. AFT President Weingarten will travel to Colorado on February 9 to meet with members and kick off the AFT's election efforts in the state.

"AFT members work hard every single day to make a difference in our communities and in the lives of the people and children we serve," said Weingarten. "While we have not agreed with every decision President Obama has made, he shares our deep commitment to rebuilding the middle class and ensuring everyone has an opportunity to achieve the American dream."

Kathleen Hofmann, a music teacher in Cincinnati, is one of thousands of members committed to getting her family and co-workers engaged in this election. "I know how much elections matter to our ability to provide a quality education to our students and rebuild the middle class," said Hofmann. "I'm supporting President Obama because he is the only candidate willing to stand up for the rest of us and fight for economic fairness in our country."

The endorsement was voted on by the AFT's Executive Council following months of surveys, meetings, online forums and conversations with thousands of AFT members who made it clear that they support the re-election of Obama.

http://www.aft.org/newspubs/press/2012/020712.cfm

[YvonneCa]

7. Thanks for posting this, Prosense. As a teacher who...

...went door to door for Kerry in 2004 and Obama in 2008 because of their vision for our country's future, foreign policy and economic policy, I will vote again for President Obama for the same reasons.

However, while I do agree with many of President Obama's goals for improving education, I have significant issues with his administration's implementation of education policy and its ignorance of the impact of such policies on public schools. I will continue to hope President Obama will actually HEAR the many teachers and educators, at all levels, who are speaking out loudly in an effort to guide the implementation of a successful education policy that will strengthen ALL our public schools...from preschool through college and beyond.


I think he deserves another four years to do that.

[Tarheel_Dem]

8. K & R

[Number23]

9. Nice!

[SomethingFishy]

10. Today of all days we are going to discuss Obama's support for unions?

Seriously?

Obama and a shitload of Dems supported the ANTI-UNION FAA bill that passed today.

But hey as long as it doesn't affect you what difference does it make.