Hillary Clinton

Remarks of Hillary Rodham Clinton, Denver

Mike W — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 02:35:00 EDT

Remarks of New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, for her address to the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday night in Denver:
---------------------------------

I am honored to be here tonight. A proud mother. A proud Democrat. A proud American. And a proud supporter of Barack Obama.

My friends, it is time to take back the country we love.

Whether you voted for me, or voted for Barack, the time is now to unite as a single party with a single purpose. We are on the same team, and none of us can sit on the sidelines.

This is a fight for the future. And it's a fight we must win.

I haven't spent the past 35 years in the trenches advocating for children, campaigning for universal health care, helping parents balance work and family, and fighting for women's rights at home and around the world ... to see another Republican in the White House squander the promise of our country and the hopes of our people.

And you haven't worked so hard over the last 18 months, or endured the last eight years, to suffer through more failed leadership.

No way. No how. No McCain.

Barack Obama is my candidate. And he must be our president.

Tonight we need to remember what a presidential election is really about. When the polls have closed, and the ads are finally off the air, it comes down to you - the American people, your lives, and your children's futures.

GLBT Issues - Food for thought

Miacol - Dominican, Latino, American, Gay - Deal — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 22:58:31 EDT

The Honorable Senator Hillary Clinton's position on GLBT Issues
http://gaylife.about.com/od/politics/p/hillaryclinton.htm

Joe Biden's position on GLBT Issues
http://gaylife.about.com/od/politics/p/joebiden.htm

Barrack Obama's position on GLBT Issues
http://gaylife.about.com/od/politics/p/barackobama.htm

John McCain's position on GLBT Issues
http://gaylife.about.com/od/politics/p/johnmccain.htm

Tuesday, August 26 2008: Renewing America's Promise [complete agenda, caucus schedule]

Mike W — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:27:06 EDT

Tuesday, August 26 2008: Renewing America's Promise
Starts 2 pm PDT, 3 pm MDT [local], 4 pm CDT, 5 pm EDT
Complete podium agenda below...

Millions of Americans are struggling to get by. The failed policies of the last eight years have betrayed the country's values and left an economy out of balance. Barack Obama believes a strong economy is unattainable with a weak middle class. Tuesday's Convention program will feature the voices of Americans who share Barack's concerns and strongly support his detailed economic plan to grow the economy, create jobs, restore fairness, and expand opportunity.

Senator Hillary Clinton will be the headline prime-time speaker and former Virginia Governor Mark Warner will deliver the keynote address on Tuesday night. Pay Equity pioneer Lilly Ledbetter will also address the Convention on Tuesday.

Other Tuesday speakers will include: Governor Brian Schweitzer of Montana; Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts; Governor Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas; Governor Janet Napolitano of Arizona; Governor Joe Manchin of West Virginia; Governor Jim Doyle of Wisconsin; Governor Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania; Governor Ted Strickland of Ohio; Governor David Paterson of New York; Governor Chet Culver of Iowa; Senator Bob Casey, Jr., of Pennsylvania; Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont; former Secretary of Energy and Transportation Frederico Peña; House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer; House Democratic Caucus Chair Rahm Emanuel; Representative Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Assistant to the Speaker of the House; and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) Chair Chris Van Hollen, who will use his time to showcase his top candidates for change.

Representatives Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Mike Honda (D-CA), California Controller John Chiang, Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards, Change To Win's Anna Burger, and AFL-CIO President John Sweeney will also speak.

Clintons Backers May be Restless But They Will be United

Miacol - Dominican, Latino, American, Gay - Deal — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:48:34 EDT

http://embeds.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/08/25/clintons-backers-may-be-restless-but-they-will-be-united/

I'm not sure I agree 100%, but it's a general idea.

PUMA: HILLARY LOSES, VOTE McCAIN ?!?! (unity)

Miacol - Dominican, Latino, American, Gay - Deal — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:55:33 EDT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3j4m4THu7Q&feature=related

While I may not like Obama's attitude and behavior much, this guy on youtube speaks very well about the whole situation between the Hillary and Obama supporters. I recommend listening to whole video before commenting.

And by the way he's very cute too.....

DMN: Hillary Clinton fans tough to woo

Mike W — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 18:55:51 EDT

DMN: Hillary Clinton fans tough to woo
11:50 PM CDT on Saturday, August 23, 2008
By CHRISTY HOPPE / The Dallas Morning News
http://tinyurl.com/5ht6vm

AUSTIN – Barbara Rosenberg of Dallas went to her car only eight days ago and peeled off the Hillary Rodham Clinton bumper sticker – slowly, like she was removing a Band-Aid. ...

Texas' delegation to Denver is almost equally split among Clinton and Obama backers. And while most are ready to celebrate the nominee, others are waiting to assess the salve he offers to their own wounds and the nation's problems. ...

Offstage, the Democratic Party and the Obama campaign are clearly reaching out to female delegates. The convention offers an estrogen-fest of women's gatherings, from Sheryl Crow to Nancy Pelosi, from Oprah Winfrey to Michelle Obama, and virtually every political women's group in the nation is holding an event.

Mr. Obama still has work to do, though. He needs female voters to win in November...

---
complete copyrighted story at link above

Congratulations to Sen. Biden

Lee McD — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 10:17:15 EDT

Joplin for Hillary congratulates Sen. Biden on his selection as Obam's VP choice. Joplin for Hillary has endorsed Obama and wholeheartedly supports the Obama-Biden ticket. Let's all help put Missouri in the Obama column come this Fall. Lee McD

Join Hillary in Denver

Mike W — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:39:56 EDT

Oklahoma delegates may cling to Clinton

Mike W — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:57:33 EDT

Oklahoma delegates may cling to Clinton
By Chris Casteel
Washington Bureau, Daily Oklahoman
Sun August 17, 2008
http://newsok.com/article/3284529

WASHINGTON — Many Oklahoma Democrats pledged to support Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton at the national convention still strongly back the former first lady and want to see her chosen as the vice-presidential nominee, even though that seems unlikely.

Several of Clinton's delegates from Oklahoma said they wanted her name placed in nomination at the convention, which begins Aug. 25 in Denver, before it was announced Thursday that she would be part of the traditional roll call of the states.

"I was elected to vote for Hillary, and there is not any reason at all that her name should not be put in nomination,” said Jacque Tomsovic, a delegate from Tulsa.

Ron Dye, a Clinton delegate from Midwest City, said, "Senator Clinton must be included in the roll call vote. Why would you not? She has more popular votes nationwide. Why would you exclude her?”

But Stuart Price, a Clinton delegate from Tulsa, said he didn't think a roll call vote was necessary at a convention that will nominate Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois to be the presidential nominee.

- complete copyrighted story at link above

The “Being Stupid” and “Sounding Strong” Policy Connection

Stephen Crockett — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:39:38 EDT

Developments in the ongoing conflict between the nations of Georgia and Russia grew very hot this past week. The conflict has very long historical roots and has been potentially ready to explode since the collapse of the Soviet Union. The comments of John McCain on the current outbreak of war has demonstrated the close connection between “sounding strong” for domestic political considerations and “being stupid” in the execution of American foreign policy.

McCain has a tendency to talk tough and to threaten military consequences far too often for the comfort of many foreign policy experts and American citizens. McCain seems to have the first response impulse to use force and to send in the troops. This sometimes is appropriate but often is not the wise or intelligent course of action. McCain seems to discount the limits of military force in achieving foreign policy objectives and the negative blowback or other unintended consequences of getting involved in military conflicts without carefully studying the facts first.

Basically, McCain’s well-known bad temper marks him as a seemingly dangerously hot-head when it comes to foreign policy. McCain is very opinionated when it comes to many aspects of foreign policy. When conflict first erupted this week, McCain quickly made harsh comments criticizing Russia. McCain clearly appears to be threatening Russia with economic, diplomatic and, maybe military actions without considering the consequences for the United States.

His comments were not very helpful in persuading Russia to halt military actions. The Russians never respond well to direct public threats or orders from the United States. Intelligent diplomacy requires the very careful use of both carrot and stick measures to achieve the desired results. When you start “being stupid” in your public rhetoric by “talking tough” before thinking through the situation, you almost always fail to achieve your foreign policy goals.

Our foreign goals in the current Georgia-Russia conflict should be (1) halt the exchange of hostilities, (2) get Russia to withdraw their soldiers from occupied Georgian territory, (3) obtain a solid diplomatic front with our European allies especially NATO members regarding this conflict, (4) guarantee the international border integrity of Georgia, (5) protect the international oil pipelines running through Georgian territory, (6) guarantee the safety of American citizens in the war zones, (7) preserve both democracy in Georgia and a measure of ethnic self-rule in the breakaway provinces within Georgia, (8) avoid outright American military conflict with Russia and (9) avoid a new Cold War between Russia and the United States. “Taking tough” to “sound strong” in order to win points with the American electorate is a poor way to achieve any of these desired foreign policy goals. McCain was reckless and self-serving in his highly charged rhetoric.

Military action is all but impossible for the American government when it comes to responding to Russian actions in Georgia. The foreign wars launched by Bush (with the enthusiastic support of McCain) in Iraq and Afghanistan have drained away our military response ability when it comes to real threats to world peace and international emergencies.

McCain, like Bush, seems to be recklessly saber-rattling regarding Iran without having the necessary military forces required to back the threats being made. We need not to make the same mistake in Georgia.

How are we going to pay for more wars? McCain and Bush have not explained how we are going to pay for the current military conflicts or rebuilding our nearly exhausted military forces, much less launch even more foreign military misadventures. Economic mismanagement and disastrous trade policies have crippled our national finances and undermined our industrial capacity to fight wars.

Even economic conflict with Russia will have a very negative effect on the American nation. The world needs Russian oil. Disruptions in the oil supply from Russia will create severe hardships on American consumers. Only the oil companies financing much of McCain’s Presidential campaign would profit from such a situation. McCain’s “tough talk” might already be keeping oil prices higher than they would have been if McCain had not made those comments.

The fact that McCain has had a chief foreign policy advisor that was directly employed by the nation of Georgia while working on the McCain campaign demonstrates very poor judgment by Senator McCain. His chief foreign policy expert on Georgia was half of a two-man lobbying firm which received around $800,000 from the Georgian government while he was advising McCain. No advisor to any Presidential candidate should be a paid agent of any foreign government. It is no wonder that McCain does not have a balanced, well-informed approach to this subject.

McCain has dangerously injected himself into this touchy foreign policy/military crisis in a very public way. McCain should remember that he is not the President. Hopefully, for the sake of the American nation, he never will be.

Written by Stephen Crockett (host of Democratic Talk Radio http://www.DemocraticTalkRadio.com and Editor of Mid-Atlantic Labor.com http://www.midatlanticlabor.com ). Mail: 698 Old Baltimore Pike, Newark, Delaware 19702. Email: demlabor@aol.com. Phone: 443-907-2367.

Feel free to publish without prior approval.

Joplin for Obama on facebook

Lee McD — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 13:52:09 EDT

For all those interested, I now run the facebook group, Joplin for Obama. Please join in as we work to elect Barack Obama the next President of the United States. wwww.facebook.com

Can they give it a rest

Miacol - Dominican, Latino, American, Gay - Deal — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 13:38:56 EDT

Lord I may not be fond of Obama, and definitely think Michelle, needs to check herself, but she already wrecked herself, but come on, all this Obama bashing is sickening. For the Love of GOD, Obama is not the Anti-Christ and he is not weak because he gaved the Clintons respoect.

If anything I respect him a little more because he knows that the Clintons have allot of followers that feel they were disrespected and he wants them to feel at ease and understand that he needs to show compassion for the purpose of party unity. He is not wrong, he's done what he feels is necessary, and on top of that he is sharing his spot light not hogging it. It's his way of saying to stand together we have to share it all together, good and bad.

So for once I wish the CNN/MSNBC/FOX,etc would shut up and give the Clinton's and the Obama's breathing room, to do what needs to get done.

Thank you Obama Supporters

Miacol - Dominican, Latino, American, Gay - Deal — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:22:16 EDT

For the first time since I have been on this forum I can truly say thank you to the Obama supporters. I was afraid to even bother coming on, because I figured it was going to be a repeat performance, because of what Penn said, she would be attack on this site, and to my surprise she was not.

I was really impressed, I mean I know that on the CNN and MSNBC blogs they were ripping into her, but allot of that is also caused by people who want to keep the fight in the democratic party alive, because if we stop and talk then potential there is the ability to attempt to resolve our difference, so rarely do I pay those site any mind.

Once again thank you to the Obama supporters for not reading to much into what Penn stated, after all he's still upset that the Clintons moved on and didn't put up a fight after Obama became the party nominee. Bill and Hillary may not be happy, but they are moving forward with their lives and work and have endorsed Obama. Penn is bitter, old and really needs to by a new wig, that one is just so revealling for my taste. So now that he figures he can't beat Obama with the Clintons, he'll simply trash their name as well.

What I took out of this story is that I respect the Honorable Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton for not taking his suggestion, and at a cost to her maintained her integrity. The 3 am bit is one thing, but to say Obama does not have American values because of his upbringing is simply wrong, and I am proud of her for holding to her instincts and saying no to those ads.

Building Alliances and Voting for Change in 2008

Stephen Crockett — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 12:39:22 EDT

The American nation has an excellent opportunity to change the nature of politics in our country this year. We have a real chance to build lasting alliances that will re-define the political landscape at every level of government and permit us to take back our government by the average citizen.

For decades, the political power of the largest international corporations and the wealthiest of the Super Wealthy have been tightening their grasp on governments in America. They have effectively bought their way to power by giving billions in campaign donations and buying up the media.

The effect has been passage of laws that undermine the power of average citizens to control their own economic futures, have an effective voice in government policies and to hear opposing political viewpoints. It is no accident that most Americans think that their children will not have as high a standard of living as they currently experience. It was economic policy on the national and international levels that forced tens of millions of families to have both parents working to maintain a decent standard of living.

Your rights to sue corporations when they abuse you as a worker, investor or consumer are being stripped away by Republican politicians like George W. Bush, John McCain, Dick Cheney and your allegedly “moderate Republican” member of Congress. The same bunch of Republican politicians are and have been for decades falling all over themselves to pass legislation that ships high-paying jobs with healthcare benefits to Third World nations where the high pay and employer provided healthcare vanishes while corporate profits explode! Yes, Bush, McCain and Cheney love NAFTA, the WTO, CAFTA and the rest of these deals. They have been a goldmine of campaign cash for the Republican Right and the alleged “Republican moderates” in Congress.

By appointing corporate thinking federal judges and government regulators, American workers have seen their rights to form labor unions effectively undermined and often destroyed. The public fiction of “free elections” in the workplace is there for these deceitful Republicans to “defend.” However, in most workplaces, the reality is that these giant corporations make real free elections impossible by intentionally breaking the law (the penalties are a joke), firing pro-union workers, preventing union organizers from talking to workers or distributing material, issuing threats and the like. The reality of these “free unionization elections” is that they are no more free and fair than the “free elections” in the former Soviet Union, communist China or Nazi Germany! Still, the Republicans vehemently oppose passage of the Employee Free Choice Act which would return effective workplace democracy when it comes to unionization votes.

The decline of labor unions has meant the decline of the American Middle Class both economically and politically and corporate forces know it! An effective labor movement has meant real economic opportunity for tens of millions of working class and poor Americans. Labor unions have been the vehicle for millions of racial and ethnic minorities to join the mainstream, Middle Class majority in experiencing the American Dream.

Corporate controlled politicians like Bush and McCain are simply killing that Dream. Will we let them?

The wealthiest of the Super Wealthy control our mainstream media but not our votes.

We all should know that racism has an economic purpose. It is the tool most often used in America to get the working class whites and Middle Class majority to put in power politicians who vote against the economic interests of working class and Middle Class whites. Racism is the tool used to divide the non-economic elite majority so that all working class and Middle Class Americans do not demand government policies that provide real economic opportunity for the vast majority. Racism is a sucker bet for all poor, working class and Middle Class Americans!

HEY SOUTH DAKOTA....

Vidya — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 22:45:02 EDT

Protect a woman's right to chose in America!

On that creepy/CRAZY "Focus on Family" website I saw this, and it made my blood curdle.

"COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. �" Pro-life initiative Measure 11 offers South Dakota voters an opportunity to stand in defense of preborn human life during the November election, and carries the endorsement of Focus on the Family Action in conjunction with the South Dakota Family Policy Council.

Both groups are urging South Dakota voters to vote “yes” on Measure 11, which would prohibit abortion except in cases of rape or incest, or when the life or health of the mother is endangered by the continued pregnancy.

“South Dakota continues to be a driving force in efforts to protect women and the preborn from abortion. Focus on the Family Action is pleased to lend its support to this important ballot effort that will result in saving the lives of preborn children,” said Tom Minnery, senior vice president of Government and Public Policy for the organization.

“South Dakotans know the value of human life and the deep threats against it,” South Dakota Family Policy Council President Chris Hupke said. “Our organization pledges to come alongside this historic effort and the state’s voters to help ensure a November victory for Measure 11.”

South Dakota, please say NO, to Pro-life initiative Measure 11!

Focus on the Family is one hellfire and brimstone of an organization, how can anyone worry about Obama, with nuts like that supporting McCain?

To The Honorable Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton

Miacol - Dominican, Latino, American, Gay - Deal — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 18:13:41 EDT

I would like to thank you for all you have done, for your eternal vigilance, and you eternal love for this nation and her people. You and your husband are eternal in my mind for all you have done, for all you have reach and always turning around and reach for the rest of us to pull us up with you. Regardless of what happens you are my candidate and you will always represent the best of this nation.

Even when the obamanation and michelle sought to tear you down you responded as a woman of your statue with grace, dignity, and elegance. You are truly a hybrid of Jackie O, Eleanor Roosevelt, The Queen of England and The Queen of Hearts.

I think both Obama and Michelle realize that you and Bill are still a primal force to be reconned with and your supporters regardless who we vote for will not abandon you or Bill simply because they wish us to do so. While this nominee was stolen from you, and your suppose members of your party did not stand by you when you was told "stay in the kitchen" and so on, we stood by you and Bill, and till this day we stand by you and with you and tomorrow we will do the same.

Now while I personal do no like the man because of his behavior to my two communities and to you and while I can not stand his wife for her nastiness, I did hear your words and I will consider voting for him and convincing my friends and family to do the same.

To borrow a word from Disney Onastra - Onwards, Forwards and Upwards. Obama may win the presidency but he will never take our support away from you and Bill.

The Note: Greek Drama [ABC News]

Mike W — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:28:15 EDT

The Note: Greek Drama

Obama-Clinton Relationship Stands In Way of Party Unity

By RICK KLEIN with HOPE DITTO, ALEXA AINSWORTH and JASON VOLACK
August 7, 2008

Sen. Barack Obama is set to leave for his much-deserved vacation with one very big loose end that doesn't want to be tied -- and that's not counting the veepstakes.

It's the drama that won't go away, the storyline that's too delicious to recede, the symbol of a party's divisions the very mention of which brings smiles to the faces of editors and producers: Obama vs. Clinton. (Welcome back.)

Respect

Miacol - Dominican, Latino, American, Gay - Deal — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:01:31 EDT

Reality is I believe that Obama has been disrespectful to the Clintons and they and their supporters have a right to be angry and deserve an apology. Obama has attemtped to dismiss them, the 8 years Bill Clinton servers as president (which revitalized this country) and the achievements of Hillary.

Not for nothing Obama has been around for a minute, his poor record speaks for itself (150 votes present in two years, etc, etc, etc) and then he has the nerve to think he can dismiss Hillary. Like it or not, Hillary did what was asked of her by the state she represented. As a survivor of 911 I wanted to war, plain truth, I was angry so many of my friends died, and I wanted revenge, plain and simple, and she voted as was asked of her. Now the war has not gone well and we asked her to end the war and she said she would. You can all say I never wanted it, but I was there when so many of us screammed for it.

Also the DNP behavior was right down dispresectful and dismissive of the Clintons and that's wrong. Pelosi, Dean, Brazile can all kiss my gritts. How dare they behave in the way they did.

Now that I vented. Obama is many times seen as cold, he's been dismissive of the GLBT community and thinks of many minorities as an afterthought, or I should say it is how he's perceived. It's why so many are on the fence with him. He might be a great public speaker (one of the best I have ever heard), but he has no substance, sorry my opinion.

He needs to stop playing the Rock Star to the kids who are in college, who do not take the time to understand what's happened and be a real catalyst for change and not just words.

I challenge Obama to prove to us all that his words are true, and those who think he does not need the Clintons, you can scream change all you want, but if you don't have the right people to help you with congress and senate you are nothing. Even with a republican senate and congress Bill accomplished allot for the great USA.

Just my thoughts and opinion, here are two great articles

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008085423_clinton01.html

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26043808/

Union Web Sites that can help you buy union-made products

Stephen Crockett — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 20:35:55 EDT

Union Web Sites that can help you buy union-made products

BUILD UNION, BUY UNION, SHOP UNION, BE UNION!

http://www.unionlabel.com

Miscellaneous

http://www.allamericanclothing.com

Clothing (Formerly Union Jean Company)

http://www.unionhouse.com

Clothing

http://www.justiceclothing.com

Clothing

http://www.unionmade.com

Miscellaneous

http://www.kinglouie.com

Clothing

http://www.legendaryusa.com

Leather Jackets (All Jackets Made in USA, Schott Jackets are Union Made)

http://www.tigereyedesign.com

Promotional Items – Bumper Stickers, Buttons, Pens, Etc.

http://www.unionvacations.com

Air, Hotel, Car, Cruises

http://www.unionsales.com

Miscellaneous

http://www.unionwear.com

Miscellaneous

http://www.atc-ny.com

Watches, Clothing, Clocks, Etc.

http://www.buyunion.us

Clothing, Specialty Items, Promotional Items

http://www.backdraftproducts.us

Specializing in IAFF Products Union Retail Stores

Greater Lehigh Valley Area in Pennsylvania

Wines & Spirits Shoppes

Rite-Aid

Super Fresh

Shop-Rite

Strauss Auto

Mailroom Copy & Print Center (call Stephen Crockett at 443-907-2367 for details)

K-Mart , T.J. Maxx Distribution Centers are Union, Retail is Not

Marshall’s

Do Not Shop! Wal-Mart Sam’s Club

Union Web Sites

• Bakery Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM)

http://www.bctgm.org

Food Products

• UNITE-HERE (UNITEHERE)

http://www.unitehere.org

Textiles, Hotels, Casinos, Etc.

• International Association of Machinists (IAM)

http://www.goiam.org

Motorcycles, Miscellaneous

• United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW)

http://www.ufcw.org

Retail, Miscellaneous

• International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT)

http://www.teamster.org

Truck Drivers, UPS, Misc.

• United Food & Commercial Workers Local 1776 (UFCW 1776) http://www.ufcw1776.org Eastern Pennsylvania

• AFL-CIO http://www.aflcio.org

• Change to Win http://www.changetowin.org

-United Steelworkers of America http://www.usw.org

-United Auto Workers http://www.uaw.org

If you cannot find a Union Made product, please contact me at 610-217-5123 or at schlen@union-america.com

In Solidarity,

James S. Schlener

IAFF Local 735

UFCW 1776

Lehigh Valley CLC. VP.

Bethlehem City Democratic Party Chair

Why Democrats should organize boycotts of Wal-Mart, picket their stores and challenge all store openings

Stephen Crockett — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 07:49:00 EDT

Wal-Mart Wants to Make Sure Its Employees Don’t Vote Democratic

by Tula Connell, Aug 1, 2008

http://blog.aflcio.org/2008/08/01/wal-mart-wants-to-make-sure-its-employees-dont-vote-democratic/

Wal-Mart and all its $13 billion in 2007 profits are quaking. The retail monolith is scared that Democrats will be elected to office this fallâ€"and might pass legislation that would level the playing field for workers seeking to join unions.

The Wall Street Journal http://online.wsj.com/article_print/SB121755649066303381.html reports on Wal-Mart’s corporate tremors today, noting that

in recent weeks, thousands of Wal-Mart store managers and department heads have been summoned to mandatory meetings at which the retailer stresses the downside for workers if stores were to be unionized.

Downsides, huh? Like getting paid enough to support yourself and your family. Or maybe even the real big downside of having affordable job-based health insurance so that the emergency room isn’t the only option when your child has the flu. Because by not paying its employees enough to afford the company health plan, Wal-Mart dumps the cost of health care onto all taxpayers http://www.aflcio.org/corporatewatch/walmart/upload/walmart_tax_memo.pdf , even making it a corporate policy to encourage new hires to use public emergency rooms, according to author Barbara Ehrenreich.

(You can tell Wal-Mart to stop its unfair and immoral workplace intimidation by signing a petition here http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/wal_mart_petition .)

Wal-Mart has been so intent upon piling up its billions in annual profits, it has created a mini-industry of anti-unionism to ensure it keeps its employees at everyday low wages. So, Wal-Mart is stepping up its efforts to prevent Democrats from being elected this fall, by telling employees http://online.wsj.com/article_print/SB121755649066303381.html that “voting for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama would be tantamount to inviting unions in.” And Wal-Mart employees report feeling pressured to vote for candidates who oppose the Employee Free Choice Act.

Wal-Mart is doing even more arm-twisting workers on their way to the ballot box. Rather than pay its employees a decent wage and provide affordable health care, Wal-Mart is putting mega bucks into front groups that are spearheading a multi-million dollar ad campaign to slam workers, their unions and their efforts to pass the Employee Free Choice Act http://www.aflcio.org/joinaunion/voiceatwork/efca/ .

For instance, Wal-Mart is the largest member of the Retail Industry Leaders Association, one of the main funders of the $30 million anti-union campaign called “Coalition for a Democratic Workplace http://www.americanrightsatwork.org/the-anti-union-network/chamber-of-commerce/coalition-for-a-democratic-workplace-exposed-20080424-557-273.html .”

AFL-CIO President John Sweeney says this latest revelation of Wal-Mart’s egregious meddling into its employees’ voting preferences

goes to show the extent that companies like Wal-Mart will go to maintain the status quo, which allows them to exploit workers to maximize profit. It’s clear the business community intends to spend heavily to protect its interests but working people know this election is about creating real, lasting economic change.

Wal-Mart is ready to use its corporate power as America’s largest private employer to corrupt the political system to safeguard its profits. American Rights at Work has lots of info on Wal-Mart’s actions attacking the Employee Free Choice Act here http://www.americanrightsatwork.org/employee-free-choice-act/latest-updates/wal-mart-mobilizing-against-the-employee-free-choice-act-20080801-605-83-83.html and has a detailed report here http://www.americanrightsatwork.org/wal-mart/wal-mart/wal-mart-rolling-back-workers-wages-rights-and-the-american-dream.html on how Wal-Mart rolls back workers’ wages in an assault on the American Dream. Plus the worker advocacy organization also tracks the front groups behind the Employee Free Choice Act smear campaign, with info here http://www.americanrightsatwork.org/the-anti-union-network/chamber-of-commerce/coalition-for-a-democratic-workplace-exposed-20080424-557-273.html .

Take action now and tell Wal-Mart stop intimidating its employees http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/wal_mart_petition . Sign the petition here http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/wal_mart_petition .