AP: AFSCME Union Withdraws Support for Dean

[FeelinGarfunkelly]

By RON FOURNIER, AP Political Writer

RICHMOND, Va. - Howard Dean (news - web sites) lost the support of the 1.5 million-member American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees on Saturday, yet another blow for a candidacy depleted by defeat.

Democratic officials said Gerald McEntee, head of the union, delivered the news to the former Democratic front-runner in a meeting in Burlington, Vt.


The heads of two other unions supporting Dean also attended the session, added these officials, speaking on condition of anonymity.

More at:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040208/ap_on_el_pr/dean&cid=694&ncid=716

Doesn't sound too good Deaniacs..

[lcordero]

1. It wasn't their right to give him the endorsement in the

first place.

[Edge]

2. It doesn't suprise me....

he's been tanking everywhere. It's just a matter of time before others withdrawl their endorsements.

[buckeye1]

3. Old news.

Dean is losing big time. This is expected.

[Tim_in_HK]

4. I think this is total BS

on the part of AFSCME.

First, they chose Dean because he looks like he's got the best chance to grab the nomination early and they want to finish the deal ASAP, then, when Dean starts to fall on hard times, they leave him.

I mean, I know politics is politics, but when they chose Dean, shouldn't it have been b/c Dean was (is?) the best candidate for the union members, and so how is he not now?

This McEntee (or whatever his name is) is a real jerk. Talk about fair weather friends.

edit-spelling

[Edge]

5. Welcome to politics.

It happens all the time, even though it's low and it sucks.

[Tim_in_HK]

6. Totally agree, it's politics

I've read a couple of profiles of McEntee (can't remember where), and according to these, McEntee evidently fancies himself a king-maker (he was one of the first unions to come out for Clinton in '92, so I guess that makes him a sage forever).

I just wonder if Gephardt was still in the race, if his big union endorsements would have deserted him. Somehow I doubt it, even if they knew he was not gonna get the nomination. There's just something about the lack of loyalty and faith in this that stinks.

[JohnKleeb]

7. I hear that the rank and file didnt like this endorsement to begin with

Sorry about the deendorsement, and I agree McAffee does sound jerky.

[aquart]

9. I've never actually heard of this happening.

Does anyone know the history of union endorsements? Do they simply come and go?

[buckeye1]

11. A lesson learned.

Never endorse hype. Wait for performance. There are no contracts in politics but Dean failed to deliver on his end. The suckered unions probably wasted many resources on a fraud.

[Michael Harrington]

8. I find this completely revolting.

I would even if I was supporting another candidate. Be sure you want someone before you endorse them. This kind of going with the prevailing winds is NOT what being in a union is about. Not at all.

If they try to endorse Kerry, he should tell them to go dangle. What's to keep them from withdrawing their endorsement if he's behind in the polls in October?

Garbage, simply garbage.

[aquart]

10. Yup. It's their own value they've lessened.

[Name removed]

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