Democrats to focus on labor at forum

[babylonsister]

http://www.onelocalnews.com/pioneertimesjournal/stories/index.php?action=fullnews&id=143817

Democrats to focus on labor at forum
Staff and agencies
07 August, 2007


By JESSE J. HOLLAND, AP Labor Writer 1 minute ago

CHICAGO - Democratic presidential candidates focused on labor issues in hopes of impressing union members at a rare outdoor forum Tuesday and securing an early endorsement from the AFL-CIO.

In the run-up to the forum, Democratic candidate John Edwards on Monday complained that corporate insiders helped write the 1993 North American Free Trade Agreement that sacrificed U.S. jobs.

Televised on MSNBC and hosted by Keith Olbermann, the candidates will take questions directly from some of the 12,000 union families invited to Soldier Field as well as questions e-mailed to the AFL-CIO‘s Web site.

The AFL-CIO‘s executive council will meet Wednesday to decide whether to begin the labor federation‘s endorsement process immediately or wait.

The last two AFL-CIO primary endorsements went to former Vice President Al Gore in 2000 and Walter Mondale in 1984.

Those endorsements are prized by presidential candidates for both the money and the foot soldiers labor can provide.

In the 2004 elections, organized labor also gave $53.6 million to Democratic candidates and party committees, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. That number increased to $66 million for the 2006 elections and is expected to increase again for 2008.

[sueh]

1. I'm attending. I'm so excited...

I'll try and post later tonight.

[DaveJ]

2. This is tonight? I'm confused.

At first the article sounds like the event 'did' happen, and then it goes on to sound like it 'will' happen, tonight. This is near where I'm at right now so I'm kind of curious to know Edwards is stopping by. I guess only invitees can attend? :-(

[babylonsister]

5. Yes, tonight in Soldiers Field, I think, but will be aired starting at 7pmET

on MSNBC.

[Omaha Steve]

9. Applications for tickets were online

My wife wouldn't let me make the trip. Questions were voted on at the working family site.

[goodgd_yall]

8. Lucky you! n/t

[Bluzmann57]

3. It's going to be outdoors in Chicago?

It's real hot in Chicago and likely will rain at some point. Hope they have a fallback plan, or at least some kind of shelter.

[babylonsister]

4. Yes, I think so, if Soldiers Field is outside. KO talked about the heat

last night.

[Popol Vuh]

6. Longshoreman

As a member of the ILWU local 13 I am not impressed. Actions speak louder than words and I see no action from any of them except maybe Edwards in his past.

So what are their actions with respect to NAFTA, and other globalized so-called free trade?

What are their track records with respect to unions who've had to go on strike (i.e. when the President dropped the Taft Hartley on my union for example)?

Are they willing to quash Taft Hartley and other anti-labor bills?

What are their opinions with respect to President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Bill Of Rights?

What are their opinions with respect to President Franklin D. Roosevelt's economic reforms/regulations such as was with the OPA?

Would any one of them move to outlaw all corporate lobbying - hard or so-called soft money?

I am sorry but I have to say that so far all I've seen from them is nothing more than either hot air or pathetically inadequate actions.

Who do you think their masters are? Workers? Or their corporate sponsors?

Despite what they all might say, I remain unimpressed with their actions.

[babylonsister]

10. The union families will be asking the questions; could make a difference. nt

[goodgd_yall]

7. Looking forward to tuning in tonight

It will be great to hear from union members.