Clinton winning support from union leaders — but many rank-and-file members drawn to Sanders

[IDemo]

California nurse Katy Roemer remembers how at the height of the Ebola crisis last year, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders marched arm-in-arm with union workers as they fought for hazmat suits and other protections to treat patients with infectious diseases.

Roemer’s gratitude is why she keeps a large stash of “Bernie” stickers and posters in her car and is urging people she knows to back his White House bid. She jokes that she will be telling friends and family members: “You’re not coming to dinner if you didn’t vote.”

If Hillary Clinton wins the Democratic nomination, Roemer said she would vote for her in the November 2016 general election but she will not volunteer for her campaign.

Roemer’s comments crystallize a risk Clinton faces as she courts organized labor — a potential enthusiasm gap. Clinton, the Democratic front-runner, has racked up a string of formal endorsements, but many rank-and-file union members remain drawn to Sanders.

http://www.rawstory.com/2015/11/clinton-winning-support-from-union-leaders-but-many-rank-and-file-members-drawn-to-sanders/comments/#disqus

[Android3.14]

1. Who can be enthusiastic about the Tapioca Queen for the next year?

Her inability to motivate means no real change, no lift for other candidates, and possibly the loss of the whole kit-and-kaboodle.

[Cal33]

13. Yes, and all of the Republican presidential candidates are lulus, not fit to run for dog-catcher -

especially their two present-day front runners. The Republicans are becoming crazier and
crazier. I used to think the Neo-Cons were the craziest, but the Tea Partiers have got them
beat, and by far. There is no end to their insanity!! Well, we are living in crazy times!

[Smarmie Doofus]

2. AFT Members for Sanders

https://www.facebook.com/groups/AFTMembersFeelTheBern/

[DhhD]

10. It is my belief that the Clinton's are promising the AFT president some kind of appointment.

The AFT-American Federation of Teachers members are very much against the privatization of public education. Seems like this past summer the AFT President changed over to being for privatization of public education in the same way as New Democrats and third wayers HRC and President Obama. The teachers are still Progressive Democrats.

Third way is the New Democratic Coalition, IMO.

[Pauldg47]

18. You got it....

....or strip to Hawaiian Islands.

[Tommymac]

3. I'll agree -anecdotal experience

At this year's Labor Day Parade in Pittsburgh (one of the largest in the country) we walked the route for Bernie with our signs, giving out buttons and information. 75% of the Union members marching were very supportive - very enthusiastic as they marched past us. They scooped up buttons and bumper stickers. Hive fives, thumbs up, honks from the trucks and buses in the parade and smiles all around. THEY knew who Bernie was, in fact they knew he had walked the line with them.

Out of the many dozens of line members we spoke and interacted with over those 4 hours, only ONE member of the Laborers Union said he was going to vote the endorsement without question- the rest said they would be voting Bernie in the primary no matter what their bosses told them, and generally were very unenthusiastic about another Clinton in the WH.

The union leaders and bigwigs in the lead cars or holding the banners were different - they were aloof, generally ignoring us and our 'Feel the Bern' signs. The ONLY Hillary t-shirt (and visible supporter for that matter) we saw the entire day was on one Union Prez riding in a convertible with some pols. The lack of any Hillary ground game was telling at that point (August). You could tell she was letting $$$ do her work - a dangerous path to follow for the general IF she wins the nomination, she is going to need lots of enthusiasm and feet on the ground...

[Hiraeth]

5. Thank you for posting. Talking about ... boots on the ground ... !! eom

[jwirr]

11. One question I have: In the past Bernie has gotten the

economic support of Unions. Do those leaders who are endorsing Hillary holding members funds that she gets if they endorse her?

That would really piss me off it they used my money for the candidate that I did not support.

Also several months ago all the Unions joined together to encourage everyone to fight the TPP. How are they justifying supporting her when she has used some very iffy language regarding the TPP and flip flopped again.

[That Guy 888]

26. Hillary had/has the biggest war chest.

Inside the beltway thinking is that cash is king, the candidate with the most money wins. I guess that the Union leaders wanted to (and were probably encouraged to) endorse early.

I think HRC campaign strategy is similar to jeb?'s: gather an impossible to counter mountain of campaigning cash and squeeze out any other contenders. It failed for jeb? but other than Bernie Sanders and Martin O'Malley it seems to be working for Hillary. And by design, that's without a single vote cast. I really hope this isn't the new way primaries will be run in the future.

[jwirr]

27. Me to.

[Tommymac]

29. I have a relative who is a Union BigWig in DC

This is EXACTLY his thinking. Money and influence are the means and the end. Money Wins. And Hillary has showered the Union with money.

Of coarse his Union also supported Arlan Specter, even before he was a 'dem'. And they support established teabagger reps too - the Union Bigwigs get empty promises of Big Government contracts, and invites to lots of Inside the Beltway Perks (read parties etc.). He claims they have to back these rethugs to keep their foot in the door, or they will lose access; I tell him bullshit - he is on the take and not representing their members at all. He is a Union Man, and a dem, but a Corporate Third Way Dem poitically through and through.

He came up through the ranks, and hate to say it, his intellect is not the best - but he is street savvy; he is a CNN junkie and believes everything he sees on TV, does not read at all and thinks internet blogs are the haven of hippies and reds and those who oppose the NRA and the second amendment. He is also Catholic so hates pro-choice candidates. Thanksgiving is not so pleasant some years.

He HATES Bernie - as a communist socialist hippie. He does not understand the history of Labor as he does not read; - all he understands is getting and keeping influence and power.

[EndElectoral]

4. The endorsement disconnect...is particularly evident in the rank and file vs management in unions

[Dustlawyer]

6. Wonder what Quid Pro Quo she promised union leadership?

The problem with union leadership is that many are old and corrupt, having been in power for decades. The problem with union membership is that they have been divided due to threats on their guns, abortion etc. Many don't know Labors history in fighting for the benefits they do have such as weekends, overtime pay etc. They take these things for granted.

I work with unions frequently and believe in their ability to improve lives and protect workers. They need to get united again to be able to counter industry/business which has had a big advantage for a long time.

[jwirr]

14. And end up with Trump or one of the other clowns? No thanks.

[Fawke Em]

20. Roemer is in Califorinia - a solidly blue state.

If she wants to write-in Bernie, it won't harm the final outcome.

I live in a red state and am taking that same calculated risk. I can go Green or write-in Bernie because my state is guaranteed to go red if HRC is the Dem nominee. I just can't bring myself to vote for her or any of the Republicans.

[jwirr]

21. Now there is a voter that is free. I live in MN and we are

often erratic - Jesse Ventura - so we basically have to vote to make sure we don't get beat like that again.

[jwirr]

25. Yeah I have heard that before. I have also lived through all

the Rs since Eisenhower. Clinton did us a lot of damage in the 90s but not anywhere near to what the Rs have always done.

Sorry. I have a disabled daughter who needs to be protected from the likes of trump. I will no forget her.

[ornotna]

17. No, I don't think so

I'm for Bernie all the way but there is too much at stake to do that.

[MisterP]

22. not of course that it'd matter: what'll lose Clinton the GE won't be nonvoting Bernistas

but millions turned off by politics as usual--which has carried the day yet again

those millions don't show up too often on DU's radar, and we keep forgetting that it's not Clinton vs. Sanders but Clinton vs. Sanders vs. non-party line voters; it's important not to stew in one's juices

[ornotna]

23. We've been beaten down for so long

I think you're probably correct.

[jalan48]

8. Even if Hillary wins, the undertow of change will be happening.

How many months will it be before the "Madam President" line wears thin and American's realize there is no real change to the economic system that keeps them in poverty while Wall Street and its friends give us updated versions of their trickle down society?

[raindaddy]

19. Exactly jalan..

Hillary Clinton isn't going to get the same slack voters cut for Obama...The game of campaigning as a populist then continuing the economic class war being waged on the poor and middle class has been overplayed.

The revolution Bernie started doesn't end with the election... If Hillary becomes president it all begins with her appointing Wall Street and global corporate hacks to key positions in her administration and goes downhill from there..

[DhhD]

9. IMO, the problem is a promised push, through the revolving door, to something being promised

in a campaign, like an appointment later on. CWA-Communication Workers of America Union are not falling for it, as the Clinton's have worked against the poor and working families since 1993 legislation. NAFTA was and is so bad in Texas. Union members are generally Progressive Democrats that will vote for a Progressive-Bernie Sanders. Apparently some in union leadership, have move to the Right, third way.



TEXAS FORUM TO CALL ON CONGRESS TO STOP TPP’S ATTACK ON TEXAN JOBS AND COMMUNITIES

http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/texas_forum_to_call_on_congress_to_stop_tpps_attack_on_texan_jobs/#.VlhwKtJBRtp
snip
Ten of the 12 Democratic members of the Texas delegation are on record opposing fast track and the TPP. The two holdouts – Reps. Joaquin Castro (D-San Antonio) and Henry Cuellar (D-Laredo) – haven't yet joined their colleagues in condemning the secrecy that has surrounded the TPP negotiations and the one-sided benefits for multinational corporations at the expense of U.S. workers' jobs and our country's ability to determine and carry out our own laws.

Read more at: http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/texas_forum_to_call_on_congress_to_stop_tpps_attack_on_texan_jobs/

IMO, New Democrats Reps. Joaquin Castro and Henry Cuellar, waited for third way Hillary Clinton to Flip-Flop on TPP. The TPP and NAFTA are very hated in Texas.

New Democratic Coalition Membership (2014):
http://newdemocratcoalition-kind.house.gov/membership

Third Way:
http://thirdway.org/


What is going to happen in Texas, when it becomes better known that HRC help create and support TPP?

[SoapBox]

12. Unfortunately...

Leadership is a part of this tired, same-old-same-old, Entrentched Establishment and they are very comfortable/cushy in their office positions...she would just keep the status quo and the Tired Crowd would like that.

They even pander to the membership...but...time for some serious change.

A Revolution all around in America is needed.

[DhhD]

15. Hope the CWA Union leadership does not turn over to the Clinton's in 2015-16.

See my CWA story up thread.

December 4, Castro and Cuellar are having a private dinner with the Clinton's at Cuellar's home in Laredo, Texas.

[DrBulldog]

16. Many American women need to wake up.

Many of them still believe today it is more important to elect the "first woman President" than it is to actually do anything good for the poor and the middle class in this country. Does any informed person really believe that Wall Street Hillary can win back both Houses of Congress when most of the 75,000,000 millennials in this country will definitely NOT vote for her? Think about it, ladies. 75,000,000 B.S.-avoidant millennials who ready RIGHT NOW to go on a coast-to-coast rampage for Bernie ... imagine what they could create in Washington, D.C., in 2017 with their votes.

[rhett o rick]

28. Union leaders are often part of the "Establishment". They don't dare go against the candidate

choice of the 1%.