I shook the President's hand today

[louis c]

I was at the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, Greater Boston Labor Council Annual Labor Day Breakfast today.

I was seated at table 12 in the third row. There were nearly 100 rows, so I had a great seat. At the end, I was at the rope line as the President was leaving and I shook his hand and thanked him for coming to Boston.

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren spoke before the President arrived at the Park Plaza.

Senator Warren was by far the best speaker of the day.

Did you know that the top 25 hedge fund earners made more money last year than every kindergarten teacher in the United States, combined?

Did you know that from 1935 until 1980, the bottom 90% of wage earners gained 70% of all new income, but from 1980 until 2012 that same 90% received 0%? That's right, Senator Warren said. While for 45 years the top 10% got 30% of new income, in the next 32 years they got it all. 100%.

Amazing.

The President said that Brady should be happy he was in a union and also said that if he were starting out and wanted to get a job to raise his family, he would certainly join a union. That brought everyone to their feet.

Security wasn't too bad. I got there early (7:00 AM) and just got home (1:00 PM).

But, all in all, it was a Labor Day I will never forget.

Thank you for coming to Boston today, Mr. President.

[spanone]

1. K&R...

[Kath1]

2. Awesome!

An amazing President who has accomplished so much!

I'm envious!!

[Starry Messenger]

3. k&r

[PeaceNikki]

4. Very cool! I spent Labor Day 2008 with Obama. My dad got a fist bump.

[Cha]

51. Good times!

[ohheckyeah]

5. How nice

to do something like shaking the president's hand - something you will remember forever. We don't often get that kind of opportunity.

[katmondoo]

12. I shook JFK's hand in 1960

He was so handsome and Jackie so beautiful pregnant with John. At the time I think it was John. She had a miscarriage but I can't remember when Little John was born. Was it before or after he became President, I can't place the timing

[ohheckyeah]

13. I'm not sure

of the timing either. I was kind of young when JFK was president. I hate to admit that Bobby Kennedy's death was more upsetting to me but it was an age thing I think.

It's great you got to shake his hand.

[CTyankee]

18. IIRC, that was little Patrick that was too premature (altho saveable with today's medicine)

. I think John, Jr. was about 2 yrs. old.

[hedda_foil]

22. John Jr was born in late November of 1960, so that's the pregnancy you recall.

[Dems to Win]

6. How exciting for you!

If there was a 'green with envy' smilie, I'd post it here.

[Hortensis]

7. Wonderful. And thanks for a really good thread.

[tblue37]

8. KnR. nt

[graywarrior]

9. He has quite a handshake, doesn't he?

Congratulations, what an awesome experience!

[merrily]

10. Nice. Thank you for reporting back.

I did know what Senator Warren said about 0% of new income going to the 90% in recent years because Senator Sanders has been saying it for a long time.

[Generic Other]

11. And he was lucky to shake the hand of a staunch union man

Glad your labor on our behalf was recognized this day!

Solidarity!

[erronis]

15. I like that. They should be proud of us and do our biddings. Not us fearful of them.

And worried about the next treacherous law that they will pass to limit our freedoms.

[madokie]

24. +1

[catbyte]

14. How very cool! Those stats are shocking and shameful, though. I've said it before and I'll say it

again, everything bad that's happening in the country started with Ronald Reagan. I am old enough to have seen this country go to hell with my own eyes. It's no coincidence that Darth Cheney was a player in both of the worst presidential administrations in modern history.

[H2O Man]

16. Outstanding!

Recommended!

[Helen Borg]

17. I, on the other hand...

just held my cat's paw.

[awoke_in_2003]

40. That's almost as good

On edit: that isn't a dig at the president, but an acknowledgment to the greatness of cats.

[Helen Borg]

43. I love my kitty!

[DeeDeeNY]

19. Wow!

What a great experience. You are so fortunate!

[DFW]

20. Nice way to spend the day!

I've met him several times, and I'm always amazed that a lefthander has such a firm grip (though Bill Clinton does, too):
http://www.democraticunderground.com/125170848

It is always reassuring to know we have such a strong intellect sitting in the Oval Office.
McCain deserves exile for even risking Sarah Palin sitting there.

[maddiemom]

44. Hey, if the left hand is your dominant hand, you should have a strong grip.

[DFW]

45. I'm right-handed and would have a hard time shaking with my left

Of course, I haven't been a sitting president, either, so I have less practice trying

[maddiemom]

47. Sorry, I misunderstood. Lefthanders, of course, still shaking with their right hand

for courtesies' sake. Got you now.

[DFW]

49. No sweat. Both Clinton and Obama have a plenty firm grip!

And that's not speculation on my part!
[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

[DrBulldog]

21. Oh, and just what happened in 1980 that started screwing the middle class?

The American voters idiotically elected a senile homophobic corrupt federal-crimes-committing former actor to the White House while stupidly blaming all the world's problems on Jimmy Carter, who has probably been one of the greatest Americans of whom we could ever be most proud.

[maddiemom]

48. Yes! You're so right!

[madokie]

23. thanks

and thank you President Obama for being our President today. You are one hell of a good man

[malaise]

25. He was inside the Beast when they sped past us

earlier in the year - hahahahha - you are so lucky!!

[fadedrose]

26. Hey louis c

What did Warren have to say?

I take her appearance with the President at a labor function, and Biden's appearance at another labor function, as more than coincidence. Maybe these people are friends as well as colleagues and are working together....

I love the idea. But I love Bernie too. These people are making my head hurt with too much good but conflicting news...

Did she hint of anything?

[louis c]

31. Warren really panned the Trade Deal (TPP)

Obama was not in the room.

Mayor Walsh had spoken and left for the airport to greet the President.

Warren made the comments that I posted in the OP, but she really criticized the trade deal without calling out the President by name.

She did say that "this fight (the trade deal) is not over".

She is the darling of the Boston Union movement, as we came to her support even before the Primary in the Brown race.

We love her.

[fadedrose]

32. So Biden would have to part company with Obama

before there could be any endorsements... Bernie is already in agreement with her...

Thanks..

[smirkymonkey]

35. I love my senator!

She really is on our side. I wish I had been at the breakfast this morning. I was just watching coverage of it on the local Boston news and he sounded great! And seemed very charming. I guess he popped by The Union Oyster House on his way back to get some takeout clam chowder.

[bvf]

27. That's great!

I'm really envious.

What happened in 1980?

Oh, yeah...

[sheshe2]

28. Dayum, louis.

I am so jealous!

[trof]

29. Wow! You lucky, lucky guy.

What a great day.
Congrats!

[brer cat]

30. It's great that you got to shake his hand.

I'm sure you will always remember this Labor Day.

[L. Coyote]

33. I haven't done that in like 50 years. I had my chance with Obama, but

I kept my hands on my camera and took this shot as Obama was shaking my partner's hand.



I think I made the right decision!

[Amimnoch]

34. I think I'd be star-struck and speechless.

I whole heartedly do believe that history will remember him as one of the greatest presidents in our history. His record isn't perfect, but when he does leave office, he's leaving this country in a MUCH better place than the condition he took it in.

[Cha]

50. I'd be gushing and flabbergasted! President Obama is wonderful.. and, really whose record is

perfect? He and his team have accomplished so much.. I don't care what BS has to say about it.

[mountain grammy]

36. Thanks for the report. I must admit, I'm jealous.

Happy Labor Day!

[Omaha Steve]

37. Congrats

K&R!

[betsuni]

38. What did you eat?

What was on the menu? I'm a little embarrassed asking because nobody else has, but I want to know!

[CentralMass]

39. That must have been a great experience.

[awoke_in_2003]

41. I disagree with him on a few things

But to have 2 minutes to speak with him- well, I would love that.

[rsexaminer]

42. Lucky!

That's awesome. When Obama was campaigning in Florida in 2012, he came into my job to eat....an hour after I left.

[TumbleAndJumble]

46. Thanks for this great report, it is nice to hear the story from people

Last edited Wed Sep 9, 2015, 02:31 PM - Edit history (1)

and not only what the for pay and profit organizations provide





edit: heary/hear.