Potential McCain VP Pick Fred Smith: Bad For America, Bad For Workers

[Algorem]

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/potential-mccain-vp-pick-fred/story.aspx?guid=%7B60C874CA-1860-40C8-84EA-5E0A35412016%7D&dist=hppr

Last update: 6:58 p.m. EDT July 30, 2008
WASHINGTON, July 30, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- The following is a statement from Change to Win Chair Anna Burger regarding recent speculation that union-busting FedEx CEO Fred Smith is on presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain's short list for vice-presidential picks:
"Recent reports that FedEx CEO Fred Smith is being considered by John McCain as a potential vice-presidential pick are beyond disturbing. As a well-known lifelong union buster, Smith has a disgraceful record of stripping workers of their most basic rights to organize and fight for a living wage. It is disheartening, although not surprising, that John McCain would consider picking such a notorious enemy of hard working men and women to be his running mate.
"In the 35 years that Fred Smith has been the CEO of FedEx, he has repeatedly fought against workers joining together to have a voice on the job, openly stating that he 'doesn't intend to recognize any unions at Federal Express.' Less than 2% of the 200,000 American workers at FedEx are in a union. In contrast, UPS unionized workers make nearly 30 percent more than they non-union counterparts at FedEx. Despite organizing efforts, FedEx has filed appeal after appeal to deny their workers the right to bargain collectively, and has sought national legislation to thwart union organizing.
"Americans have already suffered through seven years of a White House that places corporate interests before the interests of America's working families and we've seen the results - millions of homeowners facing foreclosure, gas prices at record levels, and skyrocketing health care costs. Workers cannot afford another lobbyist-dominated administration. A vice-president Fred Smith would be bad for America, and bad for workers. Working families need leadership in the White House that will help them reclaim the American Dream, not a third Bush term."
About Change to Win
Seven unions and six million workers united in Change to Win to build a new movement of working people equipped to meet the challenges of the global economy and restore the American Dream in the 21st century: a paycheck that can support a family, affordable health care, a secure retirement and dignity on the job. The seven partner unions are: International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Laborers' International Union of North America, Service Employees International Union, UNITE HERE, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, United Farm Workers of America, and United Food and Commercial Workers International Union.
SOURCE Change to Win

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http://www.usnews.com/blogs/washington-whispers/2008/7/7/fiorina-talks-up-vp-hope.html

Fiorina Talks Up VP Hope
July 07, 2008 01:04 PM ET | Paul Bedard | Permanent Link

There's been lots of buzz that Sen. John McCain is considering business leaders for his vice presidential pick: FedEx's Frederick Smith, former eBay boss Meg Whitman, or former Hewlett-Packard head Carly Fiorina. Well now one sounds like she wants the post. Fiorina, now head of the Republican National Committee's Victory Committee, said she wouldn't mind being in his cabinet either. "There are many, many people who would be honored to serve in McCain's cabinet, and depending on the opportunity, I would be as well," she says. "One of the great things about my life right now is I have lots of options and lots of opportunities, and I have learned that if you're open to options and opportunities, the future tends to take care of itself. So I'm not really worried about what's next."...





http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/ip_20080712_8276.php

Congressional Insiders Poll

by Richard E. Cohen and Peter Bell

Sat. Jul 12, 2008


...Outsider

"Senator McCain would be wise to select a nontraditional, unexpected nominee. A woman, minority, or someone from outside government like Tennessee's Fred Smith, chairman of FedEx. McCain will go outside the box for this one."

"Someone with fiscal experience who can relate to the average guy on the street."

"The last thing McCain needs is some inside-the-Beltway type or a has-been candidate. He needs to think outside the box."...

[Ian David]

1. McCain should pick Chuck Norris.

Or rather, Chuck Norris should pick McCain.

[Virginia Dare]

2. Anybody McShame picks will be bad for America in one way or another..n/t