Think that this is the first time the AFT endorsed a candidate before the primaries started? Wrong!

[Freddie Stubbs]

American Federation of Teachers
AFL-CIO
News Release
Department of Public Affairs, 555 New Jersey Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20001-2079
October 5, 1999


For Immediate Release
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS ENDORSES
AL GORE FOR PRESIDENT
Statement of AFT President Sandra Feldman

"Today, the 38-member AFT Executive Council, representing more than one million AFT members nationwide, voted to endorse Al Gore in his candidacy for President of the United States. As Congressman, Senator and Vice President, Al Gore has been a leading force for the needs of America's children and working families. He has fought the tough fights--and never walked away when the stakes were high. He has a lifetime of passion for education. That is why Al Gore is our clear choice for president.

"He has fought for better schools. He has fought for better health care. It is vitally important that he be elected president. Al Gore's vision includes securing a strong enforceable patient's bill of rights, making pre-school available for every child, raising standards for students, teachers and public schools, strengthening Social Security and Medicare, and building on the strength of our economy to ensure that all Americans can participate in our prosperity.

"Starting today, AFT members across the country will roll up their sleeves to ensure that Al Gore's vision for America becomes a reality."

# # #

http://www.gwu.edu/~action/aftendrs.html

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

1. So they have a history of endorsing people who never become President?

That probably goes along with endorsing too early.

[bigtree]

3. except Gore not only won the election

...but also led by millions in the popular vote.

He didn't 'become president' because the Supreme Court halted the counting of votes.

[zappaman]

18. Gore won the election.

Supreme Court basically took it away.
Try to keep up.

[quickesst]

2. Looks like...

......the AFT can be counted among the millions of other democrats many Bernie supporters believe are too stupid to vote responsibly. Winning hearts and minds everywhere. FEEL THE BERN!!

On edit, I wonder, if the AFT made a poor choice, as indicated by one of Bernie s supporters, in endorsing All Gore, then who should they have went with?

[99Forever]

4. So...

... how'd that "early Al Gore endorsement" thing work out for Al?

[bigtree]

5. going with the Supreme Court on that election, then?

...that's a good example of how republicans shaped the narrative of public opinion with that stolen election. Here we have someone on a Democratic board a decade and a half later degrading our Democratic nominee's winning campaign based on that theft.

[JaneyVee]

9. It went good. Won the popular vote.

[99Forever]

10. Ahh, President Gore.

I must have missed that.

[Agschmid]

11. Man that Supreme Court sure is important isn't it?

[99Forever]

13. Almost as important as Wall Street and it's...

....bought and paid for servants in Washington DC.

[Agschmid]

14. Yup, ask Al Gore.

[99Forever]

17. Why?

He didn't stand up to them when he had the chance.

[cherokeeprogressive]

6. The Executive Council. Did they poll the members?

[Freddie Stubbs]

8. Yes, they did

http://www.aft.org/sites/default/files/memo_presidentialsurvey2015.pdf

[ancianita]

12. Here's the 30-year Chicago paper on all things teacher. It wraps the opposition well.

http://www.substancenews.net/articles.php?page=5752&section=Article

[ancianita]

15. "The numbers" is exactly the issue. Here's what a Chicago IFT rep has to say:

"The idea that a plebiscite (or a Hart Associate polling) is the same as rank-and-file democracy is so odious that it would be a joke if our dollars were not now being poured towards Hillary.

This will backfire on the national leaders, and on any local leaders who went along with it with their votes on the Executive Council.

I've been a Chicago Teachers Union members since 1969, and I am currently a CTU House of Delegates delegate, a delegate to the AFT and IFT conventions from CTU, and a member of the steering committee of CORE. NONE OF US was asked about this before the railroad went wild running down the track for Hillary!

[cherokeeprogressive]

19. Maybe you should note the OP I responded to, and my question might make more sense to you.

"Today, the 38-member AFT Executive Council, representing more than one million AFT members nationwide..."

I believe that was a different election.

Try again.

[fed-up]

7. News Release dated OCTOBER, this is July, a full 3 months earlier! eom

[arcane1]

16. "October 5" n/t