The Giffords campaign announced its endorsement by three Arizona Labor Unions today: The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the Arizona State Council of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen.
13 comments:
Also, isn't it odd that Dorthy Finley and Eddie Basha, Giffords' Honorary Campaign Co-chairs are named prominently in Giffords' 1/22/06 news release re her formal campaign launch party BUT they are not included on her present large list of people who have endorsed her. Huh? What do you think about this?
Roger...
Well said and Amen!
Endorsements really belittle the democratic process.
Don't think for yourself, just vote for me because XYZ organization endorses me.
Like Geotuttle says, in this day and age, you know that some sort of deal has been struck for these endorsements.
We need a participatory democracy, not more co-opting of elected officials.
Sorry, this deal sways me against Giffords. Why an endorsement so early in the process?? This does stink and it is bad for our democracy.
So, I guess it is now incumbent for the candidates to be pandering to the unions for endorsements.
This is REALLY changed since I ran for office four years ago.
I can recall getting a letter from the unions asking me to come in for an interview to discuss their issues and see what my points were in my campaign.
Funny, it was like that two years ago as well.
I really wish the Giffords supporters here would stop acting like lock-step Bush supporters and recognize that there are some serious flaws here. Let's say Patty or Jeff win the primary-then that puts the three union's credibility up there with the save the Pygmy owl club.
Go ahead folks, rationalize that you need to go ahead now and endorse candidates without interviewing any of them-it will be the working people who take it in the backside in the end.
Kralmajales-With all due respect-I think you are not really seeing my point here.
Let's say either Patty or Jeff win the primary. Then that really shoots the credibility of the unions out the proverbial window. It would be nice to have the union endorsement, but at the same time-if either one of these players win the primary without their endorsement, then why should they fret if they don't get it in the general? Do you honestly believe that any one of these unions will endorse Huffman or Graf? Not on your life will they do that! The unions right now are at the table holding a pair of 7's-hoping they can win the pot. Legislatures across the nation are against them and it is unfortunate that the working people are buying into the idea that unions are obsolete. When in fact, they are more needed today than at any other time in the last 40 years.
Raul's ploy to help Gabby here will quite possibly backfire against her. You have to wonder why Raul didn't stay out of this race in the first place? I have lost a lot of respect for the man; who should have shown much more valor than to jump of the Gifford's bandwagon so fast. There are those in the Democratic Party and those who volunteer for him that say the only reason he wants Gabby to win is because he knows she will tow his line and carry his water on the hill if she gets elected.
Do you honestly think the people of CD-8 are true fans of Raul? I'm guessing not. Raul could have played this like a gentleman and worked with all the candidates so he would not alienate everyone except for one. If Gabby goes down in flames-Raul simply becomes a joke in the party.
Yes Kralmajales,
It's true... Gabby will throw a long time community leader under the bus for an endorsement.
Eddie Basha was one of her big names she advertised when she made her big announcement. The unions want to organize Basha's this year and couldn’t stand the fact Eddie Basha was a higher-up on her campaign. They told her to dump him or their endorsement went to another candidate.
She dumped him and got the endorsement.
You take it for what you want.
I personally from this action see that she does not have a backbone.
This is not someone I would want representing me in congress.
Look how quickly she gives into the special interest blackmailing her with an endorsement.
Just imagine the pressure she will face in DC and how quickly she will give into Special Interest. This is not someone we want in DC P.E.R.I.O.D.
Yo...Weiss and Latas partisans, it's time for a reality check. The locomotive engineers, the machinists, and the electrical workers don't have a dog in the fight with Basha. They endorsed Giffords beause they believed in her record.
Basha's name has disappeared as honorary co-chair, but there is no evidence that he was "dumped" or "thrown under the bus."
The fact is that a name no longer appears. The rest, until we hear from Basha or the campaign, is partisan speculation.
Has anyone done what a journalist would do and made a phone call?
workers don't have a dog in the fight with Basha.
To say Unions arent united in their effort to organize is lame.
They do have an interest in Basha because they are all in it together.
If one of their fellow unions can't organize, then thats a slap in the face to them.
Have you made any phone calls?
I've made a few and everything is pointing to the same fact.
Gabby gave into Special interest pressure very quickly and easily after being blackmailed with the potential endorsement.
Dear Anon..
Who did you call? I'd be more inclined to give credence to your claims if you didn't hide behind anonymity. All readers know who I am. What are you afraid of?
I seriously doubt that you'll see any machinists on the food service workers picket line. I also doubt that the electricians will refuse to cross a picket line. Will the railroaders refuse to carry Basha produce? Not likely.
'gards
Art
Art, are you union?
Anon:
I was once a member f AFRA..the radio atrists union that becaom AFTRA, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.
Art
Anon:
I was once a member of AFRA..the radio artists union that becaom AFTRA, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.
Art
Sumble fingers today
To summarize:
Let's stipulate that Gabby will desert or hide anyone for endorsements, without considering the negatives that begin to define her has duplicitous and calculating.
Her pro-business slant and support suggest that the union endorsements are window dressing, covering for the real source of her campaign money:
Developers, Realtors, Lobbyists and Lawyers for the nonpartisan Status Quo.
Post a Comment