Bernie Sanders Joins a Union Picket Line, and It’s Not Just for Labor Day

[smokey nj]

Labor Day parades, marches, rallies and picnics used to attract presidential candidates of both major parties. Since the Republican Party has in recent decades embraced the extreme anti-worker and anti-union policies of the Koch brothers and other billionaire campaign donors -– abandoning its historic roots and confirming its current allegiance to multinational corporations — the party’s presidential contenders have made less frequent appearances on the Labor Day circuit.

But, for Democrats (along with Greens, Socialists and progressive independents), Labor Day is still a time for showing solidarity with workers.

This year’s Labor Day calendars in key states are packed with appearances by the Democrats who are seeking the their party’s nomination – and who might do so. Vice President Joe Biden, who is still wrestling with the prospect of a 2016 bid, was headed for the swing state of Pennsylvania, where he was set to march with AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka in Pittsburgh. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton planned stops at the Quad City Federation of Labor’s Salute to Labor chicken fry in Hampton, Illinois, and at the Des Moines-Henry County Labor Council picnic and the Hawkeye Labor Council celebration in the first caucus state of Iowa. Heading for additional events in Iowa was former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, who planned to attend the Jackson County Labor Day Meet and Greet in Maquoketa and the Dubuque Labor Council Labor Day Picnic in that riverfront city.

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders had a busy schedule set for the first-primary state of New Hamsphire, where he was set to begin the day by keynoting the New Hampshire AFL-CIO’s Labor Day Breakfast in Manchester.

http://www.thenation.com/article/bernie-sanders-joins-a-union-picket-line-and-its-not-just-for-labor-day/

[leftcoastmountains]

1. Gotta love John Nichols!

Thanks, shared

[merrily]

2. I wish I could have been at a union Breakfast with Bernie.

[MisterP]

3. that second clause is very important: he's getting votes to pass policies, not endorsing

policies to get votes

hence the incredulous blinking daze from the top of the party--they've been playing the game so long they forgot there's anything outside the round of donor meetings, rallies with commoners who don't have any pull (i.e. $) so their issues are shoved aside in direct proportion to how much money they can proffer, and backdoor deals with the Republicans who--despite flogging them in the elections and blaming indolent voters for--they feel much more comfortable with than anyone who NEEDS something

they'd even rather lose to a Pub than win with a Dem who challenged the system (have we forgotten Lamont, Halter, and scads of other primary shenanigans?)