Union official says Clinton should withdraw next month
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- February
- 21
The highest ranking woman in the American labor movement said Thursday that Hillary Rodham Clinton should consider withdrawing from the race for the Democratic presidential nomination after the next critical round of primaries are held March 4 in Ohio, Texas and Rhode Island.
“I think we are getting to that point,’’ said Anna Burger, executive director of the Change to Win federation of seven labor unions. “We are hoping to get to that point sooner rather than later.’’
Burger made the comment during a conference call announcing her organization’s endorsement of Barack Obama.
“It’s time for her to realize change is happening and it’s happening for Barack Obama,’’ Burger told reporters. “We think we can make a difference, We do think it is time to bring this nomination process to a close.’’Burger said her labor federation â€â€Å“ which has 175,000 members in Ohio, 60,000 Texas and 25,000 in Rhode Island â€â€Å“ would coordinate the mobilization of members to vote in the March 4 primaries.
She didn’t predict Obama would win those states, but she noted he has “surged forward’’ in recent primaries and picked up more and more delegates.
Four of the unions in the federation â€â€Å“ the Teamsters, the service employees, the food and commercial workers, and the restaurant and hotel employees â€â€Å“ have endorsed Obama and will coordinate their work on his behalf.
Two others â€â€Å“ the laborers and carpenters â€â€Å“ are in the process of polling their members and could join in the effort if they make endorsements before March 4.
The seventh member of the federation—the United Farm Workers â€â€Å“ is not withdrawing its support of Clinton. However, most of their members are in California, which Clinton won on Super Tuesday.
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on Thursday, February 21st, 2008 at 2:07 pm by Brian Tumulty.
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It’s public servants and change agents like Anna Burger that we need more in America, to stand for the Democratic Party and for the people who work so hard in this country. She has an excellent point and I applaud her for her honesty and her move. I never thought Hillary stood for anything related to the union workers or minorities until she realized she needed our vote so desperately, which is so patronizing, and she’s neither worthy of unions’ support nor the nomination.
Yes, I am glad that influential people are finally saying this. Wisconsin was the death knell for Clinton’s campaign. HRC should now stop attacking and get behind Obama for the sake of the party. This election is not about her or her husband. I have noticed that, throughout her campaign,after she loses a state, she has avoided giving the polite concession speeches which are considered a customary and considerate obligation. But guess what, if she is really as tough as she pretends to be, then she ought to be able to get out there and lose graciously.
“The highest ranking woman in the American labor movement…” A labor movement has ranks? Is Burger an admiral?
Public servant? How in hell can a union employee be called a public servant? Even our ‘public servants’ aren’t public servants.
“F” Anna Burger! Who the he—is she to be calling for any democratic presidential contender’s resignation?
Oh, these family food fights. What a pity.
When with union sheep finally realize the Democratic Party has been using them as fodder for decades.
Unions should wake up to the changed world. Obama cannot give them jobs – except repairing bridges – Corporations do and they move where they can make money – Unions should tell the members that skills sets need to be constantly updated and the forces of global competition cannot be stopped by Obama – that is, if the US still believes in free markets. Wake up to this inevitable reality Union members?