Two Large Unions Set to Push for Dean (SEIU *and* AFSCME)

[tinnypriv]

Two Large Unions Set to Push for Dean
One of the Nation's Largest Unions Endorses Dean; Second One Poised to Do the Same
Associated Press, 6 November 2003

WASHINGTON Nov. 6 — In a huge campaign coup, Democratic presidential hopeful Howard Dean won the support of one of the nation's largest unions on Thursday and was poised to capture the endorsement of a second labor powerhouse.

Backing from both the Service Employees International Union, with 1.6 million members, and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, with 1.5 million, would help transform Dean from surprise insurgent to solid front-runner in the Democratic presidential race.

SEIU endorsed Dean on Thursday, but delayed a formal announcement until next week at the request of AFSCME, which is prepared to follow on Wednesday, several Democratic and labor officials said.

...

"Obviously I'm not going to say too much since we're not going to announce anything," Dean joked.

...

Stern and AFSCME President Gerald McEntee intend to make a joint endorsement announcement after AFSCME's 30-member executive board meeting Wednesday, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

...

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Politics/ap20031106_1866.html

[Darranar]

1. This is good news for Dean and bad news for Gephardt...

the latter's campaign needs a strong base in labor to make progress.

[La_Serpiente]

2. I thought Dean would've got the SEIU endorsement

but not the AFSCME one.

[Gman]

6. AFSCME and SEIU are joined at the hip

because of the Sweeney/Chavez-Thompson connection.

[JNelson6563]

9. *buzzzzzzzz* Wrong!!

From the current TNR (rag that it is):

"...McEntee and Stern are fierce rivals, in part because many of Stern's new government worker members come at AFSCME's expense. The rivalry is so intense that union officials and campaign operatives speculate that McEntee may pull the plug on a potential Dean nod if SEIU embraces the candidate first. 'I don't think if Jesus came down and ran for president AFSCME and SEIU would agree on an endorsement,' says an aide to one candidate."

Obviously, with this issue now coming out it was written before today's news of the endorsements. In light of this rivalry, which I have known of before this article, I'd say both endorsements coming to Dean is all the more meaningful.

Julie

[tsipple]

3. Cautiously But VERY Optimistic

We'll need to wait a little longer, until next Wednesday, to find out what's going on for sure, but this news is very hopeful and exciting.

Fellow DUers: be sure to "hug" your nearest SEIU and AFSCME members -- and do that regardless of who you support for the nomination. SEIU organizes all the people who desperately need a voice, from hotel maids to janitors to restaurant workers to every type of service employee. AFSCME represents the underpaid local government workers who actually get things done all around the country. They work in child welfare, national resources and parks, safety inspections -- all the things we depend on state and local government to do.

So leave an extra couple bucks for your hotel maid (among other things). These are great people.

[Cha]

4. Thank you for this, tinnypriv!

Those two jokers in your sig line got Wrong! :)

[Gman]

5. Any union endorsing any candidate right now is reprehensible

This is bullshit. In late 1983 (or maybe like January 1984), the AFL-CIO endorsed Mondale. There were many of us that were already organizing for Gary Hart. The AFL-CIO's actions completely cut our legs out as well as pissing off most of the membership that knew Mondale was a loser like McGovern and later Dukakis and now Dean.

When Mondale went down in a horrible burst of flames, the AFL-CIO (Lane Kirkland, president) said that they would "NEVER" again endorse anyone until after the party had a nominee from the convention.

Now granted, this year each union is free to endorse whoever they want because the AFL-CIO has decided at this time not to endorse. But where is the wisdom in each individual union from learning from past mistakes?

Of course now, Sweeney (SEIU), Trumka (Mine Workers) and Chavez-Thompson (AFSCME), in their own infinite and unquestionable "wisdom" (extreme sarcasm) have decided who they want to endorse without giving a flying shit about what the rest of the membership wants. I can guarantee you one thing based on their past histories, if the rest of the AFL-CIO wanted to endorse another candidate that Sweeney and Chavez-Thompson did not want to endorse, they would both be screaming to high heaven and waking the dead about how absolutely unfair it is to endorse someone right now. And, to make matters much worse, Sweeney and Chavez-Thompson were both very much around and very active in 1984 so they can't say "Oh, we didn't know."

The head lemmings are about to take the lead in the scramble over the cliff.

Talk about deja vu all over again. This is absolutely insane.

Does anyone know what the cost of living is in somewhere like Belize or Costa Rica? Are they good places for Americans to move to?

[chimpymustgo]

7. These "endorsements" are reprehensible and insane.

WTF is wrong with us? The big union guys do have a knack for picking weak horses.

I'm moving to Canada.

[JNelson6563]

11. yeah, like Clinton

what a weak horse he was. :eyes:

Julie

[JNelson6563]

10. You are very wrong

you seem to be quite ill-informed of the relationships here.

Ignorance is suppose to bliss, not the hell you seem to be in.

Julie

[Gman]

12. Nope... go back and check out what happened in 1984

and you'll see why there hasn't been an AFL-CIO endorsement before the party convention since.

Don't know if you were around in 1984 or not. I doubt you know anything at all about Sweeney or Chavez-Thompson either. If you did, you'd see the problem here.

[goforit]

8. Now all he needs is the "military" for the real muscle!!!!

Don't stop for one second Dean!!!