AFL-CIO looking to endorse in MARCH 2007??

[Debi]

http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2007/02/endorsement_wat_1.html#comments

According to AFL-CIO spokesperson Steve Smith, they are "working out details right now" for their WH '08 endorsement and are likely to announce their decision in early March, following their first Executive Council Meeting since the Nov. '06 elections in Las Vegas, NV, March 6th - 8th.

Each of the 54 national and international labor unions within the AFL-CIO has their own respective endorsement processes and must be considered in forming the general AFL-CIO endorsement. The AFL-CIO endorsed Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) in Feb. '04, but Smith noted they "do not usually" make their endorsement decision as early as they plan to this cycle.

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Will all of the candidates announced by March? :shrug:

[Bluzmann57]

1. More proof that it starts too early

We have a lot of other things to worry about right now besides who the AFL-CIO is going to endorse. Like what are we gonna do tomorrow when it snows and is real windy? Just sit and post on DU I suppose.

[Debi]

2. Hey Bluzmann, how's the weather down there?

We got a little snow Sunday night and that's it. Looks like the eastern boarder got a lot more. :hi:

[Bluzmann57]

3. Around 30 and cloudy

Sounds like we may be in for a big snow storm tomorrow, although nothing at all like upstate NY. Sigh, Wednesday pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training. Wish I was there. Ok, enough of our chit chat. Someone respond to this thread.

[AtheistInBabylon]

4. No good

That´s really awful news. Certain forces are trying to wrap this up before it gets started (and as I don´t know who the AFL-CIO endorsement will be, I can´t presume that it´s a certain candidate. What seems certain is that several factions across the political spectrum see it in their interest to forcefully determine the shape of the race to spare some of the candidates from doing any hard work. It will be truly upsetting if it turns out this way).

[Debi]

5. Money

I'd look at the candidates with the most money and who have close relations with the leaders of the unions that make up the AFL-CIO. :eyes:

[oasis]

6. Working families will be able to get an early start in absorbing information

and spreading the word among their contacts.

Good move.

[Debi]

8. With only a portion of the candidates even announcing by the date of the endorsement?

How can working men and women know who to support in the endorsement process when they don't even know who's running yet?

And what happens if a more labor-friendly candidate announces AFTER the endorsement occurs?

[oasis]

12. Example: The NALC (National Assoc.of Letter Carriers) endorsed John Kerry only after a vote of

members at its convention in August of 2004. This left the membership only a short time to syncronize a campaign strategy with the Democratic Party.

Btw, the NALC is an affiliate of the AFL-CIO.

[LiberalFighter]

13. At least they did it the year OF the election and not year BEFORE

[oasis]

15. The endorsee can more easily schedule appearances to various union functions since he/she

will have sufficient advance notice.

In addition, union members will have an expanded period to learn what the candidate is all about, display bumpers stickers and distribute literature.

[AdHocSolver]

17. This will work well if ONLY union members vote for President in Nov., 2008.

However, what about the rest of the country? Last I heard, union members were a relatively small percentage of the electorate. Placing your bets before you even know who is the most viable entry in the race is not very smart.

In 2004, the Democratic party leadership sewed up the nomination for Kerry early on and made him a sitting duck target for Republicans and swiftboaters. They also lost a lot of opportunity for "free" publicity for Democratic talking points. The media would have covered the primary contest as "news" and kept the public's attention on the issues for a longer time without the party having to pay for airtime. So is the party going to wind up again paying the right wing, pro-Republican media tens of millions of dollars to get its message out?

[oasis]

19. "What about the rest of the country?". Families and friends of union members make up a large

percentage of the electorate. Members will be asked to influence friends, family, neighbors, bowling and softball team buddies etc..

[Debi]

18. That was in the General Election, we're talking about a primary here

I don't even know why the unions endorse in a primary. Why not wait to see who the nominee is and then get busy?

[oasis]

21. Dick Gephardt was far and away the choice of the unions before the 2004 primaries.

His early exit left the unions without a strong labor candidate. Since there are no Gephardts in this field, why delay the consolidation of a powerful voter demographic?

[Debi]

22. Doesn't matter anyway

It was a miss print. See down-thread. d.

[blm]

7. I don't think this is good for democracy. It is way too early and NONE of the candidates will

be tested until well into fall.

[Omaha Steve]

9. A good move for a couple of reasons

All the labor families and friends will know who to work for right away. It stops funds from being split up early to several candidates. Obama, Edwards, and Gore score high on the current labor friendly lists! Hillary is behind on the labor issue, but is trying hard to make points and may catch up.

[LiberalFighter]

14. They should wait until 2008 begins before even considering endorsing

We have over 10 months before the election cycle begins for President.

[FrenchieCat]

10. None of the Candidates' health programs have been detailed...

this looks solely like the Unions want to weight in as a counterforce to the out of control media.

In effect, the Unions along with the media and the large states attempting to move up their primaries are taking our democracy away from us.

I can see why the unions would want to do this....

However, I have a problem in the people being the last to have a say....after being inudated with the refrain from influencial power, i.e., money, media and unions.

This is getting rushed and scary. Feels about as bad as the rush to war back in 2002-2003.

[venable]

16. agree it's rushed, but at least one candidate's health care program

has been detailed. Krugman's piece last week on Edwards' health care proposals was convincing.

But yes, this is very soon, and I don't understand why they would do it so far in advance.

More candidates to come, many rivers to cross, just doesn't make sense.

[Catchawave]

11. Endorsement or Endorsement process

are they working on the details right now? Otherwise, I think it's way too early too, especially not all will have announced by next month?

[Debi]

20. Update from Hotline...thank goodness!

http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2007/02/endorsement_wat_1.html#comments


EDS: please disregard previous versions of this post. The AFL-CIO's spokesman did not suggest that the labor federation would announce its endorsement post March -- only its endorsement process. It is also not clear that the AFL-CIO will endorse any candidate before the caucuses and primaries begin

<snip>

[snowbear]

23. Thanks for the update.. March would be a little early.. LOL!

[goodhue]

24. It will be Edwards

They will do it this early to give him needed boost vis a vis Clinton and Obama.