Some in SEIU see tilt to Edwards in endorsement process

[Reno.Muse]

Source: Las Vegas Sun

As the Service Employees International Union Nevada prepares to make a presidential endorsement this month, there are concerns about whether the process has been fair to the top three Democratic contenders.

Some SEIU members — including backers of former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, who has drawn strong support from other unions — say the process has been steered toward Edwards, putting New York Sen. Hillary Clinton and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama at a disadvantage. Although the national union decided to leave the endorsement process to individual state SEIUs, it has not been sitting on the sidelines in Nevada.

Anna Burger, the SEIU’s international secretary-treasurer, called Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s office in October to complain about his son, Clark County Commission Chairman Rory Reid, who is Clinton’s Nevada campaign chairman, according to a source close to Harry Reid’s office.

She alleged Rory Reid was using undue influence in the caucus process and said he needed to “back off,” the source said.

Read more: http://politics.lasvegassun.com/2007/12/some-in-seiu-se.html

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For those of you who are interested, Clark County Commissioner Rory Reid was sitting in the front row, right in the middle, almost facing Hillary Clinton when the recent caucus in Las Vegas was held.

[deacon]

1. Write them, support John Edwards. '08

[Omaha Steve]

2. A lot of members are mad at their union over endorsements, that is ages old

Edit for sp

As long as there have been unions, there have been cat fights over who would best represent the individual union. Nothing new there. Legislation that one union wants, may not be good for another. Add that about 20-30% of members are Republican.

I'm not happy with my international AFSCME over endorsing Clinton. When the international came calling last year for $ for the 08 election, I kicked in. But they didn't ask my opinion on who I supported. Calls and emails asking AFSCME to stay neutral through the primaries got no response. I will support the parties nominee, regardless of who that might be. I'll kick in $ to the AFSCME fund again when the time comes.


I'm proud the AFSCME members of the great state of Illinois stuck to their guns and endorsed Obama. The decision belongs to the rank and file, not the tired ages old smoke filled back room of lets make a deal.

[Reno.Muse]

3. Wrong, this is a big deal in Nevada with the Culinaru Union stalling and Reid's kid getting involved

First time it's been in print that he is putting pressure on them.