Fifth labor group breaks with AFL-CIO to back Perez for Dem party chairman

[Jose Garcia]

Source: The Hill

A fifth AFL-CIO-affiliated group broke with the labor giant on Thursday to back former Labor Secretary Tom Perez over Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) in the race to be the next chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC).

The International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC), which counts 80,000 members nationwide, said that as Labor secretary, Perez fought to implement a rule to limit worker exposure to a chemical compound that was causing debilitating and deadly diseases among the union’s members.

“It was Tom Perez who stood up to special interests and did what was right for workers across the nation by seeing this critical rulemaking to fruition,” BAC President James Boland said in a statement. “Tom understands the importance of good jobs, fair wages, and workplace protections that keep our members safe and healthy. Tom has stood beside us for tough fights before and we know he'll continue to do so as DNC chair.”

BAC joins four other AFL-CIO-affiliated groups representing farm workers, food and commercial workers, plumbers and pipefitters, and firefighters in backing Perez.

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/317491-fifth-labor-group-breaks-with-afl-cio-to-back-perez-for-dem-party-chairman

[Uponthegears]

1. Interesting story

I wonder how many AFL-CIO affiliated unions are standing by the parent union.

Is it more than 5?

Tom's a good guy and even better when you get him away from status quo Democrats (which is why I would have no problem IF he eventually becomes DNC chair because the appeasers who have led our party to the lowest point in the last 100 years in terms of political power are going to be swept out at the precinct and state level).

But make no mistake about it, this scurrying about trying to rack up high profile endorsements for Perez is about one thing . . . making sure that a black, non-Christian, liberal does not become the face of the Democratic Party.

[KittyWampus]

5. Bullsh*t. Using your failed logic... trying to cram Ellison into the spot is about making sure

a Latino male doesn't become the face of the Democratic party.

Ellison has a job. And he's proven he'll say anything to win.

[Uponthegears]

9. Do you see anything "questionable" about this comment?

It's not a matter of "[my] logic." It's a matter of Ellison being OPENLY ATTACKED (mind you, not simply being opposed because, though he is a great candidate, another candidate is preferred) -- as evidenced by your ad hominem attacks on both his supporters (who are "trying to cram Ellison into the spot" not merely supporting another candidate) and Ellison himself ("And he's proven he will say anything to win.&quot -- because:

(1) He supported Bernie (disqualifying him immediately in the eyes of some);
(2) He is Muslim and having a Muslim speaking for us leaves the party open to the GOP attacking us as "the party of terrorists;" and,
(3) He is BOTH black AND has stood up for "non-mainstream" positions regarding racial divisions in this country, (e.g., calling blue on black violence for what it is, a war on people of color) and holding such views leaves us open to GOP attacking us as, "the party of criminals."

The fact that you would immediately resort to the accusation that I "played the race card" (termed by you "your logic&quot causes me, as a black man, and I would hope EVERY Democrat, serious concerns.

[KittyWampus]

11. Do you see anything asinine in the fact your #1 is "he supported Bernie".

Your #1 is totally irrelevant to Ellison's qualifications for the job.

[randome]

12. I think it is relevant since he supported someone he should have known had no chance of winning.

That's not smart politics.
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[RegexReader]

15. supporting Bernie

isn't necessarily a bad thing.

[videohead5]

2. This Job Needs Someone Full Time

I have no problem with Ellison but we need someone that can do the job full time like Perez.

[DinahMoeHum]

8. Agreed, and Ellison is far too valuable for us in Congress. . .

. . .to be replaced at this time.

[Gothmog]

3. I really like tom Perez

[mopinko]

7. me too.

from what i have seen, the man runs on steam power which occasionally vents out his ears.

[KittyWampus]

4. Good. Perez has experience working with large organizations with no drama.

[brooklynite]

6. I have an opportunity to meet with Ray Buckley next week.

I have no personal preference at this point, other than to expect with winner to have a serious plan to rebuild the Party, and not just representational of some ideology or constituency.

[The_Voice_of_Reason]

10. My vote is with Tom Perez...

Think Ellison is not a good fit for the party.

[OKNancy]

13. kick

[politicat]

14. DNC chair needs to be a full time job, and I'm not willing to sacrifice Keith.

We have spent too many years with the DNC chair also being an elected representative. It has served us BADLY. We cannot afford to have a representative's attention divided, nor for the party chair's attention to be divided. DNC chair is a more than full-time job. We need someone willing to go back to retail politics, grassroots, 50 state work (which Perez gets) and who can devote the time to it.

I love Keith Ellison. We need his fire and charisma and energy and brains in the House. When Keith leaves the House, it should be because he's stepping into a Senate seat, or the Governor's mansion, or to Attorney General, VP or the Presidency.