Teamsters' Local Backs Kerry

[SGrande]

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-kerry-endorsement,0,1634353.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines


SNIP

Less than a week after the powerful Teamsters union endorsed Dick Gephardt for president, one of the union's local affiliates is bucking the party line.

The Chicago Teamsters Local 705 announced Monday it is supporting Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry for president. The announcement comes on the eve of the AFL-CIO meeting in Chicago in which the Democratic candidates will gather for a presidential forum.

With nearly 21,000 members, Local 705 is the largest Teamster local union in Illinois and the second largest Teamster local in the country. But its numbers pale in comparison to the Teamsters' overall membership of 1.4 million.


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[foo_bar]

1. that's pretty big

if Kerry can move the union rank 'n file to take sides against their (Bush-lovin') leadership, he'll be the Howard Dean of people with jobs.

[SGrande]

2. omg, lol

Im not sure how you meant that, but if you mean the opposite that Howard Dean supporters are without jobs...thats pretty damned funny, no offense to Dean supporters or Dean, I think and thank Dean supporters for their "fire"

In the end, its us versus them, and while we are fighting now, Ill be grateful...no honored to stand next to a deanite in October 2004

[Nicholas_J]

6. Looks like the teamsters

plan to put out that fire in the belly.

[SGrande]

7. hehehehe

[ShaneGR]

8. I disagree with the Bush loving line

Here's the deal. Gephardt has been about 10,000,000 times more pro-union than Kerry. That's why Hoffa has chosen to back Gephardt. If Gephardt has put himself on the line for 20 years (Only candidate who ACTIVELY condemned NAFTA) and the unions don't back him in the primaries... what is the point of being pro-labor if you know they might backstab you in the end? It's a question of loyalty.

NOTE: I'm not a Gephardt backer back I don't see how labor doesn't support him. It hurts their credibility if they don't.

[blm]

11. Kerry's prolabor record is 91% lifetime...

he's no slouch with labor. He's pulled his load in the senate for them.

[SGrande]

14. lol, Kerry's lifetime union rating blows Gephardt away

:wtf: are you talkin bout?

[foo_bar]

15. it's not about Gephardt

it's about Bush:

http://www.teamster.org/03news/nr_030116_1.htm
http://www.prospect.org/webfeatures/2002/03/hunter-na-2.html
http://www.cnn.com/2001/ALLPOLITICS/08/11/hoffa.drilling/?related

[Octafish]

16. Made me smile Big Time!

It says something when Kerry can get the Unions to break away from Hoffa, let alone Gephardt.

Thanks, foo bar!

[blm]

17. Some unions are concentrating on electability.

I know McEntee reinforced that position. He doesn't want Gep to feel slighted for his record which is great, but whether or not Bush will face the TOUGHEST opponent possible.

[blm]

3. Watch the Firefighters Union...

that will be a BIG one.

[SGrande]

4. *sniffle*

I love firefighters...

[blm]

5. me too...

one of my brothers is in the Firefighters Union in Ohio.

[Frances]

9. Will you keep us posted?

When the economy was good, I think a lot of people left the Democratic party because they thought they had it made economically. I think some of them are just beginning to realize that they've been had.

[blm]

12. Firefighters endorsed Gore in 2000.

They understand service to country and I have the feeling that they CARE whether a candidate has made that type of sacrifice or not. They put their life on the line almost every day.

[SGrande]

13. Yup

and especially when they realize that "Dubya" is mortgaging their kids future as well!

[JI7]

10. thought this would easily be geps

i thought this would easily go to gephardt, and he did get the national endorsement which i do believe he deserves, but nice to see kerry get this endorsement which he also deserves.

[sujan]

18. good for Senator Waffle