National Nurses Convention Delegates UNANIMOUSLY Re-Affirm Endorsement of Bernie Sanders for Preside

[Segami]

WASHINGTON - Meeting in a national convention Saturday, more than 150 National Nurses United delegates from across the U.S. voted unanimously to re-affirm the union’s endorsement of Sen. Bernie Sanders for President. The vote, by the nation’s largest organization of nurses, followed a video greeting to the RNs by Sen. Sanders in which he praised NNU as “one of our nation’s great unions,” and said he has been “proud to work with National Nurses United fighting to expand Medicare” and collective bargaining rights for nurses. The entire video message may be viewed at

vimeo.com/143471247

“There is no job in this country that is more demanding, more important and more fulfilling than being a nurse,” said Sanders. “You take care of our young children when they get sick, you take care of our patients in their time of need, you take care of our veterans, when they come home from war with no legs, no arms, and no eyesight.”

NNU Executive Director RoseAnn DeMoro noted how the Sanders campaign has been embraced by nurses across the country who have held more than 70 house parties for the campaign, attended and spoke at mass rallies for Sanders from coast to coast, and marched for Sanders at the first Democratic candidate debate in Las Vegas.

“He truly amplifies nurses values of caring, compassion and community,” said DeMoro, “Bernie’s campaign has also unified families. Nurses are working with their high school and college age children to support and promote the campaign, bringing families across generations.”

Both the video, and a convention resolution brought a standing ovation from the convention delegates and in testimony by nurses before the convention vote.

“I am incredibly proud, for the first time in my whole life, that there is finally a candidate speaking to the values I’ve held my whole life,” said California RN Katy Roemer. “I hope everyone will work as hard as they can to elect Bernie.”

“I want to tell everyone here that I am a Republican,” said Georgia RN Irma Westmoreland. “I have voted my whole life as a Republican. This is the first time I am going to vote for a Democratic president. Bernie is for nurses’ values.”

“The reason I support Bernie Sanders is his stance on Black Lives Matters,” said Chicago RN Martese Chism. “They say Bernie does not have the black support, well, I’m here to say that the black support is here for Bernie.”

“Bernie Sanders is looking out for me, and that’s the reason I’m supporting him,” said Florida RN Marissa Lee. “He’s looking out for the little people, and that’s you, me, and everyone else.”

“It’s the first time actually in my life that I feel very excited about a candidate,” said California RN Monica Rizzo. “I want to talk specifically about the College for All Act. I have a son recently graduated from high school and I am faced with the reality of putting him through college as a single parent. And I can’t do it” noting Sanders proposal for free tuition at all public colleges and universities.

cont'

http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2015/10/26/national-nurses-convention-delegates-unanimously-re-affirm-endorsement-bernie

[WillyT]

1. HUGE K & R !!! - THANK YOU !!!

[NCTraveler]

2. Solid pick up for Sanders. K&R nt

[Uncle Joe]

3. Kicked and recommended for the healers.

Thanks for the thread, Segami.

[sabrina 1]

4. Nurses are the heart of the HC system. No surprise they support someone who has

always supported them.

[Fred Sanders]

5. Congratulations to Sanders. NNU is a progressive gem.

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/11/the-little-union-that-could/382206/

[kelliekat44]

6. Actually, that surprised me in view of HC's past support of nurses.

http://www.blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/06/clinton-calls-o.html

And on many other occasions.

[the octogenarian]

7. nurses always display the best of healthcare

As a former hospital administrator I can testify to the dedication of American nursing. They are usually the "first responders" in healthcare. They know what is right and what is wrong in the system and I am not at all surprised at their endorsement of Bernie Sanders who knows what is right and wrong with our government .