"The Teamsters endorsed Obama. I'm a Teamster."

[Coexist]

Out of the corner of my eye I see an older man in a UPS uniform -- your typical working class older white male (to listen to the pollsters, everything Obama voters are not). His name was Tony Munoz, a 43-year Teamster. I asked him if he had made up is mind about the election and he gave me a "c'mon now" disapproving look like I should already know the answer. "The Teamsters endorsed Obama. I'm a Teamster."

I really enjoy TeamsterPower's Diaries on the Teamster's Convy for Change.

This latest one in Indiana was a particular favorite of mine. It included results from this interesting poll:

Teamsters Thoughts on a Gas Tax Holiday?

The viewer poll this morning on CNN was the Gas Tax Holiday proposals: Which plan would you prefer - McCain's (summer break); Hillary's (pay for it with windfall profits) or Obama's (no holiday). After the first half-hour of the straw poll, the responses were 84% for Obama's no plan, which tells me that after eight years of George Bush's consumer-centric feel-good "solutions," Americans are wising up. To test my theory, I asked some Teamsters:

"I think that's nothing more than fluff. It's not a long-term solution to the problem. It may win a few votes, but that's about it." - Janet Josway, Teamster steward and member for ten years

"I don't see where it's going to do any good. We need to come up with a long-term solution. I think the costs are going to be more than the benefits. That money goes to fix the roads. I drive a truck I know what the roads are like and we can't afford not to fix them." - Matt Tchoukaleff, Pepsi driver, Teamster for 10 years.

"It won't make a difference. It's just a band aid." - Tom Michalski, Teamster retiree.

Keep Truckin' for Change, Teamsters!

[Cha]

1. Cool! "I'm a Teamster"!

Obama's gonna win!

[Frustratedlady]

2. I'm retired, but I'll give you a high 5 for the endorsement. WTG!

Now that gas is so high, I hope people who are off the road will get out and vote for Obama. We need to clean out the WH and start fresh.

[Coexist]

5. You can follow their convoy's progress on this cool Google map:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=106169563409360749331.00044c0cd944bfe7dc707&z=7

[flpoljunkie]

3. Teamster understand pandering when they see it--on BOTH sides of the aisle!

[Bluebear]

4. I was a Teamster when they endorsed Bush. I did not vote for Bush.

Just sayin'.

[Petrushka]

6. Good on ya!

Received my piddlin' Teamster pension check today and (**ahem**) some of it'll be going to support Senator Clinton.

[Carni]

9. I remember that fabulous endorsement by them

What a debacle THAT turned out to be!

[olkaz]

7. God I love unions. Keep it up, Teamsters!

I really hope Obama pushes for card check in his first term.

[redqueen]

8. Those are encouraging responses.

Let's hope enough viewers have caught on to the pandering and the BS to not be swayed by it this time around.

:)

[Psst_Im_Not_Here]

10. $28.00

Was listening to Obama speak this morning while getting ready for work. He put reall numbers to Clinton and McCains plans. It would save .30 a day or about $28.00. Then in the long run it will cost us tons more of that to pay for it.

Using real numbers gives people perspective and to most, $28.00 isn't worth it and isn't going to help at all. $28.00?! That's it? Woohoo, can go on that vacation now!

[Coexist]

11. thats about how much I'll save, too

pretty sad.

[Psst_Im_Not_Here]

12. And it needs to be repeated

Anyone who gives that objection to the Obama's rejection of that proposal...Answer $28.00.

[Coexist]

13. kicking up the good news.

[Joe the Revelator]

14. When did the teamsters endorse?

[Coexist]

15. February 20, 2008

http://www.teamster.org/08news/nr_080220_6.asp

“Senator Obama understands the challenges working people face every day,” Hoffa said. “He is the candidate in the best position to lead our movement to restore the American dream for working people in this country. Senator Obama will fight for better wages, real health care reform, stronger retirement security, fair trade and an end to the outsourcing of good jobs. He understands the importance of giving workers a voice at work and will fight for strong unions to help rebuild America’s middle class.”

The endorsement decision follows a meeting in Austin, Texas, between Hoffa and Obama, and completes a months-long process that included scientific polling of Teamster members, surveys of local union and joint council leaders and deliberations by the union’s democratically elected General Executive Board.

“We have been fortunate to have candidates throughout the Democratic primary who are friends of working families and the Teamsters Union,” Hoffa said. “We are pleased that all of the Democratic candidates have focused on issues of importance to working people, including wages, health care, retirement security, fair trade and outsourcing.”

The union’s endorsement immediately activates the union’s 50-state election program, with special emphasis on swing states.

[IrishBloodEngHeart]

16. my dad is a teamster

and i got a small teamster scholarship to help with college.

[ruby slippers]

17. will someone please explain this ad I see about unions and that

there is some bill that will allow them to know how you vote or something like that. It has to do with a card you sign or something. How do you feel that they will know how you vote?

Also, what can any "candidate" do about a gas holiday? It would be Christmas before anything could happen anyway? Why all the talk like it is something in the summer? They can't do anything, right?