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Site chosen for Obama-Oprah event isn't unionized despite suggestion of pro-union alternate venue

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Progress And Change Donating Member (617 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-08-07 12:58 PM
Original message
Site chosen for Obama-Oprah event isn't unionized despite suggestion of pro-union alternate venue
Edited on Sat Dec-08-07 01:00 PM by Progress And Change
More hypocrisy from Obama...

Manchester – Barack Obama’s presidential campaign deeply concerned organized labor by booking its big rally Sunday with superstar Oprah Winfrey at the non-union Verizon Wireless Arena. But an agreement reached tonight ensures no picket line will be set up at the event, saving Obama from an uncomfortable choice and potential embarrassment.

While Obama’s event will go on, UnionLeader.com also learned that the New Hampshire Democratic Party chose not to have its annual 100 Club fund-raiser, scheduled for Jan. 4, at the Verizon after MacKenzie voiced concerns about the same labor issues.

“The other candidates seem to be standing up to what they say,” shesaid. “They haven’t even approached that building.”

Cardoza said she had suggested that Obama's campaign hold the event at the University of New Hampshire’s Whittemore Center in Durham, which, she said, seats 7,600 people and admits union labor. She said she later heard from UNH officials that the Obama campaign “decided to go with the Verizon."

http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Site+of+Barack-Oprah+event+isn't+unionized&articleId=810c56f6-6bd1-4dd0-a7a3-010c7a2ca1b7

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Zynx Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-08-07 12:59 PM
Response to Original message
1. Oprah has never struck me as particularly sensitive to workers' issues.
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DURHAM D Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-08-07 02:23 PM
Response to Reply #1
8. Amen - Oprah has never really thought/helped in a political way.
All of that clout and she has never used it for the country - just for herself.

IMO she is just trying to create another figure like herself - more of a personality cult than a healthy political move.
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Gman Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-08-07 02:12 PM
Response to Original message
2. And Obama screws up AGAIN
the guy just keeps stumbling all over the place.
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BeyondGeography Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-08-07 02:15 PM
Response to Original message
3. Another failed line of attack
==Union stage hands have been trying to gain a foothold at the arena since it opened six years ago. State AFL-CIO President Mark MacKenzie did not disclose the terms of the agreement with the campaign. The New Hampshire Union Leader reported that Obama at the least is expected to make a pro-union statement.

MacKenzie said Obama has clearly supported unions with his votes in the U.S. Senate.

MacKenzie said he realizes no other facility in the state can accommodate the size crowd expected to turn out to see Winfrey.==

http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2007/12/08/agreement_averts_union_picket_at_nh_obama_event/
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tammywammy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-08-07 02:18 PM
Response to Reply #3
4. Other candidates have spoken at the same arena too
I hope Obama gives a good pro-union statement today at the rally.
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Progress And Change Donating Member (617 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-08-07 02:20 PM
Response to Reply #4
6. such as who?
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tammywammy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-08-07 02:22 PM
Response to Reply #6
7. Hillary, it's in the article you linked to
Obama’s Democratic rival Hillary Clinton spoke as an invited guest to Manchester Central High School graduates at the Verizon Wireless Arena last June.
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Progress And Change Donating Member (617 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-08-07 02:24 PM
Response to Reply #7
9. so only two, and the other had the venue chosen for her?
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DURHAM D Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-08-07 02:25 PM
Response to Reply #7
10. Good grief - Hillary didn't pick the venue.
But Obama did.

Not much difference to you I guess.
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Progress And Change Donating Member (617 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-08-07 02:26 PM
Response to Reply #10
12. and Hillary has been endorsed by numerous unions, like 3rd place Edwards, and unlike Barackstar...
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tammywammy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-08-07 02:27 PM
Response to Reply #10
13. I'm sorry, I misspoke then
But according to the article:

"MacKenzie said Obama has clearly supported unions with his votes in the U.S. Senate.

MacKenzie said he realizes no other facility in the state can accommodate the size crowd expected to turn out to see Winfrey"

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Progress And Change Donating Member (617 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-08-07 02:32 PM
Response to Reply #13
15. obama could have shown leadership on this like hillary did with the cbs debate
Obama is more interested in packing in a few thousand extra people than taking a stand for unions. Clinton stood for unions even though it cost her a chance to speak to millions of viewers in a televised debate. Again, Clinton leads; Obama bobs and weaves.
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tammywammy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-08-07 02:36 PM
Response to Reply #15
16. Clinton, Edwards and Obama all said they wouldn't cross picket lines
As well as Richardson and Dodd.

They all stood up for unions concerning the CBS debate and strike.
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Progress And Change Donating Member (617 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-08-07 02:45 PM
Response to Reply #16
17. clinton was first. obama essentially is crossing the picket line for this
He just used his political clout to engineer a deal that will last a few hours to spare him the bad PR of actually crossing a picket line...
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Progress And Change Donating Member (617 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-08-07 02:19 PM
Response to Reply #3
5. bull. he could have chosen the pro-union UNH arena
"MacKenzie said Obama has clearly supported unions with his votes in the U.S. Senate."

Why are all the unions endorsing Edwards and Clinton instead of Obama? There must be a reason organized labor shies away from him...
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oasis Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-08-07 02:25 PM
Response to Reply #5
11. "Thr Great Pretender" can't fool savvy union leadership. They've seen it all. (eom)
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Egnever Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-08-07 02:52 PM
Response to Reply #5
23. And turned away nearly 50% of the turnout.
Edited on Sat Dec-08-07 03:18 PM by Egnever
The idea that the UNH is a viable alternative is a farce.
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Joanne98 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-08-07 02:29 PM
Response to Original message
14. Unions are for the little people!
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Egnever Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-08-07 02:46 PM
Response to Original message
18. More bullshit from posters.
"New Hampshire’s Whittemore Center in Durham, which, she said, seats 7,600 "

Seating capacity for the Verizon Wireless Arena varies, depending upon each individual event. For example, hockey games seat approximately 10,019, basketball seats 11,140 people, end stage concerts hold about 10,050, while center stage concerts seat about 11,770.


So lets turn away up to 4 thousand people from a sold out event cause we don't want to offend the union.

While it would be nice if they could hold it at union friendly arena instead the idea that this other place is a viable alternative is pretty silly when the Verizon arena has almost a 50% larger capacity.

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Progress And Change Donating Member (617 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-08-07 02:48 PM
Response to Reply #18
19. Barackstar packing a few more people in an arena is more important than worker's rights?
Obama is a national "leader" and could have made a strong statement by standing up for labor...maybe this is why unions are not endorsing Barackstar?
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Egnever Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-08-07 02:51 PM
Response to Reply #19
20. let me see if I got this straight
He should turn away 50% more supporters for a union that seems determined to torpedo him despite the fact that other candidates used the same arena.

Who would have noticed had he changed? It wouldn't have been a story at all.

The only reason this is a story is because of an agenda to find anything to criticize him about.
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Progress And Change Donating Member (617 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-08-07 02:52 PM
Response to Reply #20
22. What other candidates chose that arena? maybe some republicans did...
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bunnies Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-08-07 02:52 PM
Response to Original message
21. This is annoying.
First of all the union leader is a right-wing rag. Second of all... as someone who has actually been to both arenas several times, I can tell you that the Verizon in Manchester is a better choice for many reasons. There are many, many reasons to rag on every candidate, but this is just getting ridiculous.
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Progress And Change Donating Member (617 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-08-07 02:56 PM
Response to Reply #21
24. so barackstar cares more about packing an arena than worker's rights?
No audacity here...
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Capn Sunshine Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-08-07 03:01 PM
Response to Reply #24
25. HIllary spoke there and it didn't bother her
I think you have to go with the horses available when hauling a heavy load
But when you're desperate , you try anything.

My compliments to that bunch of braggadocious beltway blowhards for taking a huge lead and fumbling it away , just as I expected them to.
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Progress And Change Donating Member (617 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-08-07 03:12 PM
Response to Reply #25
27. hillary did not chose the venue and has any other dem candidate spoken there?
Was Clinton even aware of its anti-union position? Obama was told about it.
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bunnies Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-08-07 03:04 PM
Response to Reply #24
26. No. I think the point of the event is to reach people.
Edited on Sat Dec-08-07 03:06 PM by bunnies
Manchester is *way* more accessible to travelers and has significantly more amenities than Durham. Union or not it defies common sense to chose UNH over Verizon.

on edit: Besides that... the whittemore center is staffed by UNH employees. I know several of them. They are not union.
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