For the Future of Working Families: Vote Hillary Clinton

[DemocratSinceBirth]

Lee A. Saunders
President, American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO




Public service workers are following the presidential election closely. We care deeply about our communities, and we know all too well the terrible costs to working families when corporate-backed extremists take the reins of our government.

We see this election as one of the most important elections in our lifetime. The next president will determine if CEOs and corporations can keep manipulating the rules in their own favor, or if working people will get a fair shot at sustaining our families and getting ahead, not just struggling to get by. The person we elect president next year will make decisions that could make or break the middle class.

We can't afford to elect anything less than a proven fighter who has what it takes to both win at the ballot box next November, and be an effective champion for working people in the White House. That's why AFSCME members chose to endorse Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton.

AFSCME members across the country have spent the past six months engaged in the most in-depth endorsement process we have ever undertaken. We gathered feedback and fostered discussion through personal conversations, live-streamed town hall meetings, polling and engaging our activists directly in the decision-making process at national meetings in San Diego, Albuquerque, Washington, St. Louis and Indianapolis. When it came time to decide, our process delivered a clear choice.



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lee-a-saunders/for-the-future-of-working_b_8452788.html

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

1. No Sale.

[modestybl]

36. You and Elizabeth Warren agree - Hillary does NOT champion working families...

Wall Street is her priority, not you...

[Bubzer]

49. This succinctly illustrates Hillary's longstanding flip flopping for political expediency

[whatchamacallit]

2. yeah...

no.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

3. Thank you for your input and kicking my thread.

[MADem]

23. Here's another kick--and I'll have what she's having!!!

Yay, Hillary!

[onehandle]

4. Unions are clearly 'third-wayers.'

Heh...

[DemocratSinceBirth]

5. ...

AFSCME members across the country have spent the past six months engaged in the most in-depth endorsement process we have ever undertaken. We gathered feedback and fostered discussion through personal conversations, live-streamed town hall meetings, polling and engaging our activists directly in the decision-making process at national meetings in San Diego, Albuquerque, Washington, St. Louis and Indianapolis. When it came time to decide, our process delivered a clear choice.

[sufrommich]

7. That's going to leave a mark.

[coyote]

13. You know what left more of a mark for me, is this thread:

Stephen Leser in 2008: Hillary is a liar.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251658816

[DemocratSinceBirth]

16. Being the perspicacious fella he is Mr. Leser wisely recanted.

[MADem]

26. Gee, it would appear he "got over it." Remember that? Maybe you should try that on for size, too.

Real 'funny' to try to trash a DUer who isn't even participating in this thread. Probably the height of incivility! Pat yourself on the back!

I thought "Progressives" would be better at "progressing." Leser seems to have managed to do that--why can't you?

Times change--get with the program. Or hey....don't!

No one is forcing you to hop on the train--but if you don't, you'll be left at the station.

[firebrand80]

6. corporate-owned big labor

[MineralMan]

12. What corporations do AFSCME members work for?

I think you may be confused about this particular union. "State, County & Municipal Employees" are not corporate employees, you see.

[MADem]

31. But....but....but....!!!

Hillarious.

I'm starting to figure out that a lot of these dumbass memes are "fill in the blank" poutrages. If it's not "CORPORATIST--waaaaah!!!" it's "DLC--WAAAAAH!!" or "TURD way---WAAAAH!" And of course, everything is the fault of "DWS"--and half the people using the term probably are blaming Tom Bergeron at Dancing With the Stars for some vague reason.

These gripers don't know what they're talking about. It's painfully obvious, too.

[MineralMan]

32. Same thing with the teachers' unions.

Not corporate employees, either.

Sometimes I despair at the lack of knowledge some people seem to have.

[MADem]

51. I think some of the complainers aren't really serious.

They've got a big wooden spoon, and they're stirring the pot.

They like to get the earnest believers here to follow them, and parrot them--and then they laugh at them. I think they have a stack of socks, and they pull them out every two years and rotate them. They really go to town during election years.

It's an odd way to get kicks.

I guess ya have to kind of feel sorry for them, because they're in real "Need a Life" territory. They might think they're getting something out of their little performances, but in reality, they're wasting the finite amount of time they have to enjoy themselves on this earth. So much incitement, goading, baiting and mocking...and so little living!

[azurnoir]

40. None however their presidents make +$1,000,000 per year in salary

that's 3 times Bernies net worth

[erronis]

43. +1 Agree. When the voices of the unions are making median wages of their members

Then they can have a meaningful voice.

Otherwise, they are just getting in line to be another plutocrat.

[MineralMan]

45. Not the point at all. These are not corporate workers

in that union. Their union President's salary is decided on by the union. Unions operate democratically.

Unionized workers in the public sector are not corporate tools. The poster to whom I replied does not seem to understand that there are unions for government workers, too.

Is that salary too large? I don't know, but the members of the union apparently approve of it, so it's none of my business.

Do you think AFSCME members are dupes? I don't think so. They're union members. They decide. Not you and not me.

[azurnoir]

55. I think the millionaires proHillary campaign started 6 months ago

and I know a few AFSME members

[Starry Messenger]

50. Lee Saunders does not make $1 million a year.

He and the others campaigned in 2012 partially on the issue of reducing the ridiculous AFSCME salary of their predecessor. It's at best 1/3 of that now.

And before people squawk about how high that is, the Chancellor of my community college district makes over $400k a year, which is a much smaller operation.

[azurnoir]

54. Saunders campaigned on the fact that McEntee was useing AFSME funds for private jets

but I appreciate your effort

[Starry Messenger]

56. So you're agreeing that Saunders does not make $1 million a year. Good.

Also:

http://inthesetimes.com/article/13418/afscme_searches_for_new_leader_in_heated_election

"Donohue has said he would reduce wasteful spending in the union so that he could focus more resources on organizing. Emblematic is his call to reduce the salary of the presidency to $295,000 a year, a move that Lee Saunders supports as well."

[azurnoir]

57. I'm correcting your post the one that campaigned on taking a pay cut was Donohue not Saunders

[Starry Messenger]

58. They both campaigned on it, as I said.

And Saunders took that pay cut, as you'll acknowledge and correct, I'm sure. Thank you.

[azurnoir]

61. Oddly your link only mentioned Donohue

[Starry Messenger]

62. Read the part I highlighted.

[azurnoir]

63. I did the first time

[Starry Messenger]

65. Going to correct the posts now? The ones where you said Saunders makes $1 million a year?

Hate for you to be wrong twice.

[azurnoir]

66. if I was wrong I would correct them but a mumbled well he says he supports that too-maybe

hardly cuts it

[Starry Messenger]

67. LOL.

You want to pretend he makes $1 million a year. Noted. You can have the last word if you need to, I'm sure people can see what you attempted there.

[azurnoir]

68. correction a secondhand mumbled he supports it too doesn't cut it

[azurnoir]

69. you're right Saunders took a pay cut but his yearly salary is more than Bernies net worth

and I'm still unimpressed with the endorsement

[Thinkingabout]

8. K & R

Thanks for the post.

[litlbilly]

9. You mean, "Working Billionaire Families"

Bernie is the only one for actual working families.

[KansDem]

30. "Working Billionaire Families"

Isn't that an oxymoron?

[Fawke Em]

10. No thanks.

And the AFL-CIO rank and file will agree with me.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

11. Thank you for your input and kicking my thread

[riversedge]

14. Thanks AFSCME

[elleng]

17. Martin O'Malley has PLANS!

15 Goals to Rebuild the American Dream
https://martinomalley.com/category/15-goals/

Making College Debt Free for all Americans
https://martinomalley.com/policy/make-college-debt-free/

Holding Wall Street Accountable
https://14d2r744okfe40r1ug1oqm6y-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/OMalley-Wall-Street-Reform.pdf

Expanding Social Security
https://martinomalley.com/the-latest/expanding-social-security/

Immigration
https://martinomalley.com/the-latest/immigration/

National Service
https://martinomalley.com/national-service/

Environment
https://martinomalley.com/climate/iowa/
https://martinomalley.com/climate/
https://martinomalley.com/climate/agenda/

Gun Reform
https://martinomalley.com/policy/preventing-and-reducing-gun-violence/

Trade Policy
https://martinomalley.com/policy/trade-policy/

Campaign Finance Reform (Restoring our American Democracy)
https://martinomalley.com/the-latest/restoring-our-american-democracy/

and MORE!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/12813600

[DemocratSinceBirth]

19. You are one of his campaign's greatest assets.

eom

[elleng]

20. Thanks, DSB!

[Starry Messenger]

18. I thnk SEIU will be next.

[sadoldgirl]

29. If that happens they lose me as member! n/t

[Starry Messenger]

33. Bye!

Enjoy right to work.

[Phlem]

46. !

Cause Bernie won't do anything about right to work?

[Starry Messenger]

47. I guess he could try, when he returns to the Senate.

Maybe call to repeal Taft-Hartley. I'm sure he'll confirm President Clinton's Supreme Court picks though. Some nasty anti-labor rulings coming through there lately.

[Phlem]

52. Okee Dokee.

[djean111]

21. Working families in which TPP or TPIP country? NO SALE. n/t

[Populist_Prole]

38. +1 n/t

[BrainDrain]

22. Ummmm.NOPE....

if by working family you mean "working to keep their millions" then yes by all means vote for MULTI-MILLIONAIRE HRC.

But if you mean honest working families with two incomes that are barely making it, or maybe you mean working families that have a mountain of student debt..or maybe you mean the working families who will probably loose one or both of their jobs because of TPP...

NOT SO MUCH!!

BERNIE!!!!!!!

[azurnoir]

24. why yes because because I'm sure Hillary will do every bit as much for working families

as her husband did for impoverished ones, in fact I'd wager a number of those working famiies got where they are today because of her husbands revolutionary changes in 1995 and 1996

[Geronimoe]

25. Endorsing the establishment candidate

is like rearranging chairs on the Titanic.

[SoapBox]

27. Ohhhh...I think not.

Time for really change.

No to any Third Way crap.

[MisterP]

28. war, H1Bs, exporting jobs, selling off the public good to Wall Street, padding the wealthy ...

[DemocratSinceBirth]

64. Thank you for your input and kicking my thread.

eom

[azurnoir]

34. Saunders predecessor Jerry McEntee made +$1,000,000 per year in salary from AFSME

but I'm sure Saunders took a massive pay cut

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_McEntee

[HassleCat]

35. It'a all relative, I guess

Considering Clinton's close ties to major corporations, Saunders chooses an interesting argument.

"The next president will determine if CEOs and corporations can keep manipulating the rules in their own favor, or if working people will get a fair shot at sustaining our families and getting ahead, not just struggling to get by."

Of course, the Republican nominee is likely to be even more in the pockets of corporations, so I guess better is better.

[JaneyVee]

37. K AND R! Love the GIF, love the movie.

[blackspade]

39. Their endorsment process sounds like a sham if they started 6 mo ago.

That was before any of Clinton's challengers entered the race and before any debates had taken place.
These types of endorsements should definitely come closer to the actual election so that their membership have time to see the candidates for themselves.

That said, congrats to Clinton on another notch in her belt....

[frylock]

59. It probably started 6 years ago.

[Betty Karlson]

41. And for a future in which only the parents have to work -

and where they make enough to supply their family on two jobs, one per parent -

VOTE BERNIE.

[pinebox]

42. For real change

Vote Bernie.

Increase and expanded social security.

REAL free college education.

$15/hr minimum wage, not $12.

Single payer health care.

[Phlem]

44. *cough* BS

[Ron Green]

48. As a 10-year AFSCME member...

...I strongly disagree.

[Jester Messiah]

53. Lol no.

Hillary is the champion of the oppressors, not the oppressed.

[sonofspy777]

60. <GAG>

That's no future at all!