Union Awaits Clark's Decision on Run

[Khephra]

WASHINGTON -- One of the nation's politically powerful labor unions is willing to delay its endorsement process as it awaits word from Wesley Clark on whether he will seek the Democratic presidential nomination.

"I think we would owe it to our members and to the country really, to at least let him be in it for a time to see whether he gets some traction," Gerald McEntee, president of the 1.5 million-member American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, said Tuesday. "I don't see how our union would be prepared to do anything until he has some time."

Clark, a retired Army general, has promised to reveal his plans by the end of next week.

Some Democratic Party leaders, including McEntee, have been urging Clark, an Arkansas native, Rhodes scholar and NATO commander during the 1999 Kosovo campaign, to seek the nomination, figuring that his military credentials would counter President Bush's national security record.

more................

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-democrats-labor,0,316646.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

[LosinIt]

1. Is there a perception that Bush has a good National Security record?

"....figuring that his military credentials would counter President Bush's national security record."

WTF?? We were attacked, how does that make him have a good national security record? Am I missing something?

[dean4america]

2. hmm...

is good for Clark since AFSCME as leaning toward Kerry and/or Gephardt. Does not bode well for either of them if Clark can get the endorsement just by announcing.

Also, Dean still has the edge in getting the SEIU endorsement.

[VolcanoJen]

3. Didn't Dean wear a button supporting AFSCME at the debate?

I thought it was brave of him to do so, and I'm sure they're courting him as well...

[DoveTurnedHawk]

4. Brave?

The right thing to do, sure. But I don't exactly consider it an act of political bravery for any Democrat to support a labor union.

DTH

[VolcanoJen]

7. It was brave in the sense that he wore it at the debate, yes.

While it's more than common for Democratic candidates to be pro-union, it's not a common thing for a Dem candidate to openly advocate unions through the wearing of a button during a nationally televised event. I'm pro-union, and found it brave of Dean to do so, in such a public, and unashamed, way.

In other words, I liked it, it rubbed me the right way, and seeing as how I come from an AFSCME family (both grandparents), it appealed to me, personally.

Gephardt is the so-called union guy, and I didn't see him sportin' any buttons, is all.

:-)
Jennifer

[DoveTurnedHawk]

8. Hmm

I still don't really see it. I guess it's brave to the extent he ran the risk that people would view it as pandering, or that it hasn't really been done before...but I still think it's kinda "US Lands Man on Moon" or something. :-)

Again, I think it was the right thing to do, and I love Dean.

DTH

[DoveTurnedHawk]

5. Excellent.

In my best Monty Burns voice.

The Clark conspiracy is winning. All your base are belong to us.

DTH

[Forkboy]

6. I think thats ok

Clark sounds like he'll announce his intentions soon,and the AFSCME waiting another week or two wont hurt.