This year, the AFL-CIO endorsement actually matters...so what should they ask for?

[Ken Burch]

For the first time in years, the AFL-CIO did the right thing and didn't just anoint somebody before the primaries with nothing gained for the anointing.

What do you think they should ask for in exchange for the endorsement?

[classykaren]

1. The employee free choice act n/t

[Omaha Steve]

2. Agreed

Number one on the play list. Two: somebody that is at least labor neutral on the NLRB!

[Ken Burch]

3. Definitely.

I'd also call for legislating lifting the ban on common-site picketing and for repealing the section of Taft-Hartley that bans secondary picketing.

[Gman]

4. The National AFL-CIO has not endorsed someone before the convention since 1984

24 years ago. What are you referring to? What are you talking about "asking for"?

The national AFL-CIO will not endorse Hillary nor Obama before the convention no matter what. They will endorse the Democratic nominee after the convention or before if there's a clearcut winner going into the convention. So there's really nothing to ask for.

[Ken Burch]

5. Wrong. They endorsed Gore in early spring 2000.

I think they did the same with Kerry. Both times, they asked nothing of their endorsee.

[Gman]

6. Gore already had the nomination wrapped up when he was endorsed

and no they did not endorse Kerry until either just before or right after the convention. There's nothing to ask from the candidate anyway. What's the fed going to do? Endorse McCain? Don't think so.

[Ken Burch]

7. Nothing to ask? BULLSHIT!

We have every right to ask the candidate that gets AFL-CIO backing to be explicitly pro-labor and to support as many pieces of legislation or regulatory change as possible to help unions make a comeback.

We are NOT obligated just to ratify the nominee. If so, the ghost of George Meany owes George McGovern an apology for withholding the '72 AFL-CIO nomination when McGovern had done nothing to deserve labor's betrayal.

[Omaha Steve]

8. Smoke filled room

You can bet the AFL-CIO makes it clear what it wants BEFORE the endorsement is made public.