MyDD :: EDWARDS - I'll Walk the Line with UAW tomorrow

EDWARDS - I'll Walk the Line with UAW tomorrow

by DrFrankLives, Tue Sep 25, 2007 at 06:51:41 PM EST

The John Edwards campaign announced tonight that John will join striking UAW workers in Buffalo tomorrow. He will join the members of U.A.W. Local 774 in their picket of GM's Powertrain plant.

Workers are being asked to pay for bad products with their pensions and their healthcare. Nothing crystallizes the need for John Edwards's universal health care plan more than this strike.

EDWARDS TO JOIN STRIKING AUTO WORKERS ON PICKET LINE IN BUFFALO

Buffalo, New York - Tomorrow, Senator John Edwards will join striking auto workers from U.A.W. Local 774 on a picket line outside of the General Motors Powertrain Plant in Buffalo, New York. On Monday, 73,000 U.A.W. members walked off the job after contract negotiations with General Motors reached a stalemate. Edwards released the following statement in support of the striking auto workers:

"I offer my strong support to the striking auto workers in Buffalo and all across the country, and I look forward to a fair and speedy settlement that will improve the lives of these hard-working U.A.W. members. And I've called on General Motors to do what is right and realize that it has a responsibility to negotiate fairly and move quickly to settle a contract that respects the health, safety and economic security of the auto workers and their families. I also salute the courage of the auto workers to go on strike. Their fight for fair wages, safe workplaces, affordable health care and a secure retirement helps raise standards for workers all across America.

"Sadly, the issues on the bargaining table between General Motors and the United Auto Workers are not unique to Detroit - they represent the larger failures of Washington and public policies that have weakened unions and the middle class. The truth is now, more than ever, it's time for America to go in a new direction and start doing much more to strengthen America's unions and protect the rights of working Americans."

The details of the event are:

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2007
12:00 PM
Senator Edwards to join striking U.A.W. Local 774 members on picket line.
General Motors Powertrain Plant
2995 River Rd
Buffalo, NY 14207

Tags: John Edwards, UAW (all tags)

Permalink :: 51 Comments :: Post a Comment

Re: EDWARDS - I'll Walk the Line with UAW tomorrow (2.00 / 2)

Money where his mouth is.

Now please give him some more.

http://www.johnedwards.com/contribute

by DrFrankLives on Tue Sep 25, 2007 at 07:00:02 PM EST

Re: EDWARDS - I'll Walk the Line with UAW tomorrow (none / 0)

Nice job, Doctor.

by david mizner on Tue Sep 25, 2007 at 07:13:41 PM EST

Re: EDWARDS - I'll Walk the Line with UAW tomorrow (none / 0)

And right in Clinton's backyard too.

by benny06 on Tue Sep 25, 2007 at 08:20:30 PM EST

he has to get to the New (2.00 / 1)

hampshire debate right after that

McCain - a serial Opportunist, from marriage to policy positions

by TarHeel on Tue Sep 25, 2007 at 08:25:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: he has to get to the New (2.00 / 1)

Yep, but at least he's doing it. He's the workin' man/woman's candidate.

by benny06 on Tue Sep 25, 2007 at 08:29:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: he has to get to the New (none / 0)

What a coincidence- and I'm sure he'll mention it at some point. How many will he be walking in after the winner of the nomination is revealed? Try "zero."

by reasonwarrior on Tue Sep 25, 2007 at 10:41:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Suppose, (2.00 / 4)

for the sake of argument, the following:

1) When Edwards says how important he thinks unions are as an anti-poverty instrument, and as a foundation for a strong middle-class, he actually believes this.

2) He believes that as a presidential candidate, he has an especially good chance of focusing public attention on issues he considers vital to the nation. Since (arguendo) he considers union issues vital, he believes his walking in the UAW picket line is a good way to draw attention to this issue.

Given these premises, it might follow that he would mention, at a presidential debate, his support of the workers in a contemporaneous strike of a major union. It might also follow that he would be less apt to be found walking in picket lines, at some point in the future, if he can no longer effectively attract media focus to this issue the way he can as a presidential candidate.

Notice how the very things you have predicted, might follow from the above, quite innocuous, premises. Moreover, they seem like fairly logical premises to ascribe to a Democrat running for the presidency.

But your own premises are quite different than these, aren't they? You pretty clearly think John Edwards doesn't believe what he says he believes about unions, he's just pandering for votes. In your view, apparently, he doesn't actually give a hoot about unions in America.

That seems like an awfully cynical view. Do I misunderstand your position here?

Keep it short. DemocraticShortList.com

by Rob in Vermont on Wed Sep 26, 2007 at 12:39:38 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Edwards comes from a union family (2.00 / 4)

His brother is a union electrician.

You better believe he is a strong supporter of unions. And he is right to say that the labor movement was an extremely effective anti-poverty movement in this country.

John McCain: 100 years in Iraq "would be fine with me."

by desmoinesdem on Wed Sep 26, 2007 at 12:45:09 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Suppose, (none / 0)

You did not misunderstand me- I don't think he cares much- like Biden asked Edwards in one of the debates- how many picket lines did he walk in while he was in the Senate? Most likely, "none." I don't think it's a coincidence he's walking in all these picket lines and also running for President. Many people join picket lines because they believe in their cause and these people don't expect media coverage because they are there. You see, this is the difference between Hillary Clinton and John Edwards. If Hillary lost the nomination and was not able to run again and for some reason Universal Healthcare was not passed, she would still be doing everything she could to still get it passed- if Edwards lost, you'd probably never hear from him about it again. But that's just my opinion about it, yet even so, I don't believe for one minute Edwards isn't heading to this particular "picket line" for anything other than to mention it tomorrow in the debate. But we'll see tomorrow if he mentions it- if he doesn't, I will admit to being wrong about it and apologize for it.

by reasonwarrior on Wed Sep 26, 2007 at 05:38:26 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Suppose, (2.00 / 2)

But you seem to have misunderstood, or are ignoring, the point. If your prediction that Edwards mentions supporting the UAW workers comes true, that does not indicate your premises for his motivation is true. The premises I mentioned are just as (and arguably more) plausible.

Do not assume that if predictions you make about the world turn out to happen, then your theories about the causes must be true. There's a joke about a man who notices that whenever he claps his hands near a housefly, it takes off. He captures a fly and clips off its wings. Then he claps his hands and the fly remains still. The man concludes that his theory must be true: flies' ears are located in their wings.

Keep it short. DemocraticShortList.com

by Rob in Vermont on Wed Sep 26, 2007 at 08:13:52 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Suppose, (none / 0)

No, I agree with that and should have been clearer- yes, if he does mention it, it will not PROVE what I say is true- I was just saying if he doesn't, it WILL prove I was wrong to say that- I wasn't meaning to imply the other, except in terms that it will convince me, I was just stressing the part where it will prove me wrong if he doesn't- but we'll see what happens. I'm not big on "absolute truths" about anything.

by reasonwarrior on Wed Sep 26, 2007 at 02:28:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Suppose, (none / 0)

Understood.

I would also mention, regarding your point about Biden: he could have used that time simply to add his own voice of support to unions, or to focus attention on whatever other subject he considers vital to our nation - but instead, he used those precious moments of camera time to suggest that his opponent is motivated by presidential politics, not by genuine concern for the issues affecting America.

That's so ironic! It's pretty common, though. A thief imagines everyone else is a thief; a liar imagines everyone else is a liar; and someone with only one thing on their mind imagines everyone else has only one thing on their mind.

Keep it short. DemocraticShortList.com

by Rob in Vermont on Wed Sep 26, 2007 at 06:03:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Suppose, (none / 0)

for some reason Universal Healthcare was not passed, she would still be doing everything she could to still get it passed

Well, the last 14 years prove you wrong.

by desmoulins on Wed Sep 26, 2007 at 12:32:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: he has to get to the New (none / 0)

This sort of cynicism is what Hillary Clinton is counting on. If no one believes that our democracy can change our country, then why not vote for the best-known name and not care about who's behind her.

This primary seemed to me early on not that consequential but its increasingly becoming the showdown between the cynicism of the 80s, 90s and 2000s and a return to a faith in ourselves.

by desmoulins on Wed Sep 26, 2007 at 11:01:36 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: EDWARDS - I'll Walk the Line with UAW tomorrow (none / 0)

News reports today suggest that the UAW has quietly asked the Democratic Presidential candidates to lie low on the strike because they are very close to hammering out the details of a deal and a ton of political rhetoric would not be helpful.

But, of course, Edwards isn't going to pass up a pander opportunity.

by hwc on Tue Sep 25, 2007 at 09:03:52 PM EST

Re: EDWARDS - I'll Walk the Line with UAW tomorrow (2.00 / 2)

I haven't seen any of these news reports. I'm glad to know that Hillary's front-page poster on MyDD thinks walking a picket line is a "pander opportunity."

If Hillary ever saw a picket line, she'd have to ask an advisor what it was.

The sharpest criticism often goes hand in hand with the deepest idealism and love of country. ~RFK

by Vox Populi on Tue Sep 25, 2007 at 09:41:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: EDWARDS - I'll Walk the Line with UAW tomorrow (none / 0)

I'm sure Hillary could ask Penn how to best deal with a pesky picket line and pesky unions.

by Quinton on Wed Sep 26, 2007 at 08:30:46 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: EDWARDS - I'll Walk the Line with UAW tomorrow (1.83 / 6)

I'm sure that Edwards would co-operate with union leaders.
I can't see how walking the picket line when they don't want him to would be "pandering".
I think it would be the opposite and would piss them off.

I like his "pandering" to the unions.

I would have appreciated Clinton's pandering to unions rather than Walmart's board or Murdoch.

I am an Edwards Democrat. Visit EENR blog for Progressives

by pioneer111 on Tue Sep 25, 2007 at 10:05:42 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: EDWARDS - I'll Walk the Line with UAW tomorrow (none / 0)

We should take "bets" on when he'll mention it in the debate tomorrow. I say within the first fifteen minutes.

by reasonwarrior on Tue Sep 25, 2007 at 10:49:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: EDWARDS - I'll Walk the Line with UAW tomorrow (2.00 / 3)

You are assuming he will get to talk within the first fifteen minutes.

Usually, Obama and Hillary get to talk several times each before Edwards is allowed to say a word.

If he doesn't talk about the strike, I will be disappointed. This is an important issue for not just the strikers, but for the country. Not enough people understand that the unions help all workers, not just their direct members.

Edwards is leading the way in changing the perception of unions. Kudos to him for that.

by ashlarah on Wed Sep 26, 2007 at 12:39:35 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: EDWARDS - I'll Walk the Line with UAW tomorrow (2.00 / 7)

My father was a Steelworker and I have mentioned this before. But I want to talk about the mixed feelings in the population about unions that Reagan brought on. Every time we bought a house my dad was out on strike and we had to sell. Sometimes my dad was so pissed at the union as well as the company. Not all the rules the unions put in were sensible to the rank and file.

The third time we bought a house it took longer before they were on layoffs or something and we got to keep it.

So when Reagan went after the unions some of the union members had mixed feelings and these were the Reagan Democrats. Initially I got my perspective from the msm. After a while I read deeper accounts and became more appreciative of the challenges of unions. But I got no history about unions and the middle class until recent years and became a lot more supportive in retrospect.

We have to understand that the population at large doesn't know about unions. Many are struggling and thankful for a job at minimum wage. The autoworkers salaries and benefits will look extravagant to them. They need an education about the labor movement. They also need an education about CEO and management salaries and profits.

The unions are NOT doing a good job on this. They need to bypass the msm.

Good for Edwards in using his bully pulpit to educate the population at large. He is a one person government in opposition to the current status.

The man is amazing.

I am an Edwards Democrat. Visit EENR blog for Progressives

by pioneer111 on Tue Sep 25, 2007 at 09:53:48 PM EST

I wish someone would get a hold of (2.00 / 3)

the video the Carpenter's Union put together to be shown at the endorsement of John Edwards.

The video was about the state of the American economy, the effects of NAFTA, the pressure on the American workers and how unions can help.

It was awesome - it communicated effectively and it is certainly something not seen or heard in the MSM.

I realy hope everyone gets a chance to see it.

by merbex on Wed Sep 26, 2007 at 07:19:33 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: EDWARDS - I'll Walk the Line with UAW tomorrow (2.00 / 4)

Great news. Elizabeth walked the UAW/GM today in Wyoming.

Short clip of Elizabeth on the picket line:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ey_b30pJn iM

by NCDemAmy on Tue Sep 25, 2007 at 09:54:09 PM EST

How many of you can be there to? (none / 0)

I would be great if union supporters and Edwards supporters could come out to support the UAW.

Just don't make it all about Edwards. Simply wear an Edwards button while holding a sign that supports the union.

That way they know who you are and that you are there to support them without campaigning for Edwards. Subtly works best in situations like this.

Washington Woman

Progressive Blue

by kevin22262 on Tue Sep 25, 2007 at 10:13:40 PM EST

Re: How many of you can be there to? (2.00 / 1)

I doubt you'll see a single Edwards sign. It's not an Edwards event, it's a UAW event.

The sharpest criticism often goes hand in hand with the deepest idealism and love of country. ~RFK

by Vox Populi on Tue Sep 25, 2007 at 10:17:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: How many of you can be there to? (none / 0)

exactly. But it would be good for any union supporters and/or edwards supporters to go and support the UAW. Like I said, a simple Edwards button and a big "Support The Unions" type of sign.

Washington Woman

Progressive Blue

by kevin22262 on Tue Sep 25, 2007 at 10:30:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

ROTFL! (none / 0)

I swear .. I was going to post today asking how long it would be before Edwards made a bee line for the picket line and I got sidetracked.

Too predictable for the Edwards campaign. Next thing ya know they will be trotting Elizabeth out to take shots at the Clintons.

by dpANDREWS on Tue Sep 25, 2007 at 11:03:00 PM EST

Re: ROTFL! (1.00 / 1)

Clinton would have to call a lobbyist to find out what a picket line is.

The sharpest criticism often goes hand in hand with the deepest idealism and love of country. ~RFK

by Vox Populi on Tue Sep 25, 2007 at 11:20:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Will John write a check? (none / 0)

Does this campaign mean enough to him for him to self finance to stay competitive on air with Obama and Clinton? Will he pull and Romney or Kerry and put his own skin in the game?

by dpANDREWS on Tue Sep 25, 2007 at 11:24:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Will John write a check? (none / 0)

I don't think he's to that point yet. As of July he still had over $10 Million in the bank, I'm guessing it will be about that by the end of this month.

The sharpest criticism often goes hand in hand with the deepest idealism and love of country. ~RFK

by Vox Populi on Tue Sep 25, 2007 at 11:26:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

How much $$$ will Obama have? (none / 0)

If this is a race he has to pass the #2 guy to get a clear shot at #1.

by dpANDREWS on Tue Sep 25, 2007 at 11:29:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: How much $$$ will Obama have? (2.00 / 2)

It's not all about money. Edwards will have enough to compete. Not a question.

The sharpest criticism often goes hand in hand with the deepest idealism and love of country. ~RFK

by Vox Populi on Tue Sep 25, 2007 at 11:42:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Will John write a check? (2.00 / 1)

What the heck does that have to do with anything? Put away your list of talking points until we get an open thread, huh?

"If [John Edwards] seems too good to be true, well, so be it; instead, you can pick a candidate who's bad enough to be plausible." - Daily Kos user Drew

by Junior Bug on Wed Sep 26, 2007 at 01:31:17 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Supporting unions is predictable for Edwards (2.00 / 3)

He supports them in every speech he gives. He has walked picket lines for years.

I am proud to support a candidate that I know will go stand with picketers who are fighting for health insurance and secure pension benefits.

I know he will also fight for my family's health care and the security of eveyone's pension benefits.

That is predictable and why I will be voting for him.

by ashlarah on Wed Sep 26, 2007 at 12:45:32 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: ROTFL! (none / 0)

EE took another potshot at Clinton, and Clinton campaign again refused to comment. The press seems to be getting tired of her rhetoric... It's becoming a daily farce.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/wn_repor t/2007/09/25/2007-09-25_clintons_tanked_ 90s_health_plan_for_clou-3.html

Hillary: We will finally have a president who doesn't mind pulling over and asking for directions. Am I right, ladies?

by areyouready on Wed Sep 26, 2007 at 12:45:59 AM EST
[ Parent ]

"potshot"? (2.00 / 1)

What she said is factual--the Bill Clinton White House put more muscle behind getting NAFTA through Congress than health care.

They spent considerable political capital on NAFTA and pissed off many of the influential Democrats on the Hill.

You may agree with that choice (I think it was a mistake). Either way, I don't see how it is a "potshot" to point out that Bill Clinton made it a priority to get NAFTA through Congress.

John McCain: 100 years in Iraq "would be fine with me."

by desmoinesdem on Wed Sep 26, 2007 at 02:00:31 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: "potshot"? (none / 0)

You and John Edwards pit bull need to do a little reading on the 1993 health care history. Here's a good place to start:

http://prospect.org/cs/articles?arti...c are_mythology

by hwc on Wed Sep 26, 2007 at 03:22:49 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: "potshot"? (none / 0)

I tried your link, and there was no article, only advertising. Somewhat appropriate, I thought; all promotion and no substance.

Seriously, why don't you share with us your candidate's stand on the strike and how she will be good for unions? So far, if my candidate is a "panderer", yours is far too quiet and cautious.

Take out the trash. Down with Saxby Chambliss!

by CLLGADEM on Wed Sep 26, 2007 at 05:46:41 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: "potshot"? (none / 0)

The correct link is here:

http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?arti cle=the_hillarycare_mythology

It's a very interesting article that people should definitely read, although I'd note it doesn't seem to mention NAFTA at all.

"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman

by Steve M on Wed Sep 26, 2007 at 09:26:21 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: "potshot"? (none / 0)

Thank you, it was an interesting read. Yes, Republicans, not Hillary Clinton, destroyed health care reform in the 90's. That was never in dispute. It also goes to show how so called moderate Republicans are the worst backstabbers out there. They'll lead you to beleive honest compromise is possible, then they will "succumb" to pressure from the right and pull back.

So, if we are not going to get any Republican support for our priorities, why even try to compromise? Why not instead focus on maximizing both the size and progressive cohesiveness of the Democratic majority? This goes back to what I was saying earlier about repeating mistakes.

Take out the trash. Down with Saxby Chambliss!

by CLLGADEM on Thu Sep 27, 2007 at 05:36:47 AM EST
[ Parent ]