Entertainment Union Endorses Gephardt

[undergroundrailroad]

Entertainment Union Endorses Gephardt

By AMY WESTFELDT
The Associated Press
Tuesday, July 29, 2003; 1:32 PM


NEW YORK - Democratic presidential candidate Dick Gephardt picked up his seventh union endorsement Tuesday as the executive board of the 104,000-member International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees unanimously backed his candidacy.

It was the first time in its 110-year history that the union, which represents film and television production employees in the United States and Canada, endorsed a presidential candidate.

International President Thomas C. Short praised Gephardt's national health care plan and his opposition to the privatization of Social Security. "For Dick Gephardt, affordable health care for every American is not a national imperative, it is a moral imperative," Short said.

Gephardt, whose father was a Teamster, said he is more in touch with everyday working families than President Bush.

[Cha]

1. Oh God! Maybe they should study it a little bit longer

before they come out and endorse a presidential candidate "for the first" time in their 110 history!

[AnAmerican]

4. Amen to that

Gep is yesterday's news.....there are more deserving candidates this year.

[gottaB]

2. A huge win for Gep

This could solidify Gep's standing as a contender to reckon with, especially if it gives momentum to his supporters in AFL-CIO and they go ahead and give him an endorsement.

Another quote: Short said that Gephardt "has demonstrated through words and most importantly his actions, that he supports working families. He has fought to protect the rights of unions to organize, bargain and represent their members."

All well and good. However, as an opponent of the MPAA/RIAA war on public culture and the rights of computer users, I'm nervous about this politicization of the IATSE. What will they want in return? What would Gep give them?

[goobergunch]

3. Was he fighting for them when he missed the OT vote? (n/t)

[gottaB]

5. Would his vote have made a difference?

I dunno, but I got to respect Kucinich's work ethic on that count. He's certainly earned some labor endorsements.

Are you questioning the assumption that organized labor represents the interests of all workers, or the working class?

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

6. Gephardt and Kucinich - the real candidates of the working middle class

Dean, Kerry, and Lieberman are all pro-NAFTA, not surprising, since they all grew up rich than rich.