Commentary: Sarah Palin, explain yourself, or stop using the USW as a prop

[Earth Bound Misfit]

Source: Workday Minnesota http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?article_1_202

By Leo Gerard, USW president
14 September 2008 PITTSBURGH - When presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain introduced Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his intended vice presidential running mate, those of us in the lower 48 learned that her husband, Todd Palin, not only was a champion snowmobiler and commercial fisherman but also a Steelworker.

At the press conference, Palin trotted him out, stressing his Steelworker credentials.

Here's a good union man, she emphasized.

But his United Steelworker card doesn't include an automatic auxiliary membership for her. Or her running mate at the top of the Republican ticket, McCain, whose record on labor issues would require some serious penance before he could ever earn a union card.


USW President Leo Gerard

John McCain opposes the Employee Free Choice Act, which would enable workers to collectively bargain and secure contracts with corporations more easily, like the employment contracts CEOs demand to have with corporations. McCain has jeopardized retirement by championing Bush's privatization scheme for social security. McCain has voted for every American-job-killing free trade deal, without regard to human rights or environmental standards. And he has proposed, instead of providing health insurance for all Americans, a plan to tax the insurance of those lucky enough to still have employer-provided coveraage.

Soul mate
McCain has characterized Palin, 44, as his political soul mate. How he determined that is unclear since he met her only twice before selecting her, and her resume for VP is paltry, at best. She served two terms on Wasilla City Council and two terms as Wasilla Mayor.

--snip--

Plucking Palin
Even the New York Times in an editorial Wednesday questioned McCain's judgment in plucking Palin from a state with a population (670,053) roughly the same as the twin cities' where the Republicans are meeting: "If John McCain wants voters to conclude, as he argues, that he has more independence and experience and better judgment than Barack Obama, he made a bad start by choosing Gov Sarah Palin of Alaska."

The workers of America cannot afford bad judgment after eight years of economy-crushing, debt-creating, Bush-Cheney. Unemployment, the national debt, inflation, home foreclosures and gas prices are all rising at demoralizing rates, while Bush and McCain continue to proclaim the economy is basically strong and any recession is all in workers' heads, just some sort of psychological problem. Maybe that's true — if you're a multimillionaire like Bush and McCain. Or if you've got seven homes in which to hide from the reality of everyday American life like McCain.

Ms. Palin needs to stop trotting out her husband as an exhibit until she explains her positions on worker'’ issues. Just exactly where does she stand on the Employee Free Choice Act?

Her family has benefited from her husband's ability to be part of a labor union. Workers in labor organizations earn higher wages and are more likely to have pensions and health insurance. Because he works for BP and is a member of the USW, which collectively bargained a good contract for workers at BP, Todd Palin earns a good wage and has good health insurance.

--snip--

Are you with McCain – and against workers – on these issues? If so, you need to stop using your husband's membership in the USW as a prop, because then his union card cannot possibly cover up your or John McCain's worker-savaging positions.

Reprinted from http://blog.usw.org

[Arctic Dave]

1. Repeat. Todd Palin IS NOT a steelworker,

he is a facility operator for British Petroleum.

[Earth Bound Misfit]

4. Anne Kilkenny wrote about "Dude's" job w/BP in her famous e-mail

"Her husband works a union job on the North Slope for BP and is a champion snowmobile racer. Todd Palin’s kind of job is highly sought-after because of the schedule and high pay. He arranges his work schedule so he can fish for salmon in Bristol Bay for a month or so in summer, but by no stretch of the imagination is fishing their major source of income..."

Does anyone know how long "Dude" has held this "highly sought-after" job?

[Arctic Dave]

5. I have been up here 15 years and as far as I know

he has been here at least that long.

[Earth Bound Misfit]

6. Thank You AD

:hi:

[spindrifter]

2. As a third generation union member I totally resent Palin

and McCain trying to bootstrap their way to any union member's support through Mr. Palin's membership in a labor organization.

[Raschel]

3. First "dude" enjoys the benefits of a union

To Todd: Dude! Yer lucky your job wasn't sent overseas by McCain in favor of monies from the company. Dude - that would be harsh. Totally.