I bet Labor Unions forced Clinton's hand on TPP

[Prism]

The reversal seems baffling, but maybe not when considered under the light of the recent votes like the unanimous decision of the Teamsters to withhold their endorsement.

This is supposed to be an Establishment primary. All the major players were lined up well in advance to back Clinton. Some union leaders have endorsed her at a preposterously early stage.

And yet . . . .

The TPP is vigorously opposed by labor, and Clinton's past support and advancement of it may have been their bridge too far. It may be likely that Clinton's campaign was told the TPP would be too much, that labor union members would not stand for it.

Don't forget, unions not only provide plenty of money to our party, but they also provide the ground troops for campaigns. If Clinton finds herself in a close primary or contested general, a lack of enthusiasm and manpower from Labor could cripple her campaign.

That's the scenario that makes the most sense to me right now for this whiplash.

[artislife]

1. You may be on to something here. nt

[Prism]

3. I thought the unanimous teamster vote was interesting

And I couldn't entirely understand what message was being sent by it.

But this makes a lot of sense.

[oasis]

2. There was much to consider before making her decision. Hillary has

said as much. With that in mind, it's quite likely her concern for the overall welfare of union workers had some influence in moving her to oppose the TPP.

[artislife]

4. But now, not a month ago...

Can you see the difference? --that sounds harsh, but I am saying it with a soft voice.

This is the real issue many people who are wary of Hillary have. She wasn't clear before as if to straddle the fence to appeal to many voters. Something was impacting her campaign, it seems, for her to finally set a foot down in one camp. Not both feet, if you read her words carefully, but still enough to give the impression she is fully against it.

This type of behavior is one that we believe we keep seeing from her and that makes us distrustful of what she actually stands for and will do if she does get elected to be president. She is an enigma.

[oasis]

7. Hillary has always be measured in her speech and her actions. Lincoln didn't

sign the Imancipation Proclamation on his first day in office.

It's just her way.

[artislife]

10. And some of us are not comfortable with it

It is going to be a long primary season!


Be well.

[kenn3d]

5. Anybody got links to any rank and file union member forums online?

It would be very interesting to visit union member forums to see what if any reactions workers are having to the Democratic campaigns (eg: Union leadership endorsements, differing, delayed, and changing positions on KXL, TPP, etc).
We see many headlines saying what the union leadership decides or pronounces on such questions, but I'd really like to know what union workers are saying to and amongst themselves about all this.

[in_cog_ni_to]

9. Omaha Steve probably does.

But he's on DU vaca so you'll have to PM him.

[MoveIt]

6. Nothing says democracy like smoky back rooms!

[in_cog_ni_to]

8. I think it's because of the debate next week. I just hope the Unions

don't fall for this. She is saying one thing now, said another thing for years prior and should she end up in the WH, will say something else. I'd bet money on it.

She'll get their endorsement to win, then screw them once elected - like someone else we know.

Bernie owns a Lot of comfortable pairs of shoes because he walks the talk. He always has. He's walked many picket lines. Unlike other people we know.

If they trust her on this, it's at their own peril. I hope they don't.

[Prism]

11. Her famously cagey language

Yep. It's there. Although it was an interesting political calculation. She's really taking some shots at Obama lately, and the more ardent members of his coalition won't like that one bit.

So she had to have a reason to really hit the President like this, and a good one. Union support is one of the few things I can think of that would draw her out like this.

[in_cog_ni_to]

12. Even if Union leaders told her flat-out

we are not endorsing you unless you come out against the TPP, how could they possibly trust she means what she says? I know I wouldn't and don't! She has spent, literally, years touting the TPP and woke up one day and decided she really doesn't like it? Nope.

I'm not buying what she's selling and I TRULY HOPE Unions don't either because it will be their death knell. Literally.

[Ernesto]

13. Unions YES!

I'm a (retired) UNION Sheet Metal Worker and my wife is a UNION nurse..... You better believe we heard plenty about TPP from our organizations! We even dumped our Dem congressman because his support for the agreement.