Union President Defends Clinton From Attack Over Wal-Mart Ties

[rodeodance]

Source: new york observer



Union President Defends Clinton From Attack Over Wal-Mart Ties
by Azi Paybarah | January 31, 2008


Although Hillary Clinton severed her ties with Wal-Mart years ago (she sat on the board when Bill Clinton was Governor of Arkansas, but now refuses to accept contributions from the company), Barack Obama raised the issue of Clinton's past relationship with retail giant during the debate in South Carolina.

Now, hours before another Democratic debate, Clinton supporter Stuart Appelbaum, who is also President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, has sent out a public statement defending her record:

...

“We know from experience that Hillary shares our belief that Wal-Mart and other
retailers have a moral responsibility to respect every worker's right to
organize. She has stood with us and has been and continues to be supportive of
our efforts to call attention to Wal-Mart's business practices that hurt
working families. And she has lent her voice to calls for the giant retailer to
change its ways.

“Over the last seven years American workers and their families have been
brutalized by corporate greed and unprecedented government indifference. Based
on our experience we are convinced that, as president, Hillary would work from
day one to restore workers rights and the institution of collective bargaining.

“Some politicians only stand up for labor at election time, but we know from
experience that Hillary will be there for workers and their unions long after
the ballots are counted.”




Read more: http://www.observer.com/2008/union-defends-clinton-wal-mart-attack

[Virginia Dare]

1. We can count on Hillary to fully support Wal-Mart workers' rights..

to form a union then...:shrug:

[leftynyc]

2. Radiodance just posted this as a separate thread

Read it and weep. It's from the Union's president.

Source: new york observer



Union President Defends Clinton From Attack Over Wal-Mart Ties
by Azi Paybarah | January 31, 2008


Although Hillary Clinton severed her ties with Wal-Mart years ago (she sat on the board when Bill Clinton was Governor of Arkansas, but now refuses to accept contributions from the company), Barack Obama raised the issue of Clinton's past relationship with retail giant during the debate in South Carolina.

Now, hours before another Democratic debate, Clinton supporter Stuart Appelbaum, who is also President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, has sent out a public statement defending her record:

...

“We know from experience that Hillary shares our belief that Wal-Mart and other
retailers have a moral responsibility to respect every worker's right to
organize. She has stood with us and has been and continues to be supportive of
our efforts to call attention to Wal-Mart's business practices that hurt
working families. And she has lent her voice to calls for the giant retailer to
change its ways.

“Over the last seven years American workers and their families have been
brutalized by corporate greed and unprecedented government indifference. Based
on our experience we are convinced that, as president, Hillary would work from
day one to restore workers rights and the institution of collective bargaining.

“Some politicians only stand up for labor at election time, but we know from
experience that Hillary will be there for workers and their unions long after
the ballots are counted.”




Read more: http://www.observer.com/2008/union-defends-clinton-wal-...



Note to radiodance: hope you don't mind me doing this. I think it should be posted far and wide. Thanks for the link.

[fascisthunter]

3. "read it and weep"

Union Presidents never say anything untrustworthy :sarcasm:

[leftynyc]

4. Whom are you choosing to believe

if I may ask?

[fascisthunter]

6. I Not Chosing

but just because a union president says so, don't make it so.....

"An ABC News analysis of the videotapes of at least four stockholder meetings where Clinton appeared shows she never once rose to defend the role of American labor unions."

That's some very damaging evidence. Believing doesn't dismiss tapes.... neither do words by a figure man/woman.

[leftynyc]

12. How many board meetings was she

part of as a member of the board? HOw are we to know that the others show something quite different? You'll have to excuse me for not having the faith in ABC that you apparently do. I've seen the parsing, sliming of candidates and out and out lies the press has been part of. I think they all suck. Why would the union president lie (because that's what you are choosing to believe)?

[rodeodance]

16. This wal-mart issues surfaces over and over-and Obama brought it with a smarky

ness. He made it re-surface again when it was a dead story.

[Djinn]

21. because they have agenda's too

I've been anactive union member since I was 14, I recently took a huge pay cut to work for them.

I've never really believed in anything except the labor movement.

HOWEVER many unions are now pretty shitty, they have becomes as corporate as the bastard across the table (especially in the US) Oftentimes the heads of unions have agenda's that don't neccesarily equate to their member's best interests.

I don't know anything about this issue but as someone who'll defend labor to the death and has always strongly believed you deal with scabs with a baseball bat, I think you're being a bit naive in your estimation of union bosess.

[cstanleytech]

17. How is it damaging?

Just because she was not screaming and shouting support for unions at a board meeting like some raving psycho or because she was civil during the meetings?
My opinion is though its not a big deal and Obama is blowing smoke though he does not have the market cornered on that as Hillary has done it a few times as well, especially with that whole kindergarten thing she tried.

[classykaren]

20. Her husband did nothing for Unions either n/t

[cstanleytech]

24. Whoop-Dee-Doo except he is not running for office. NT.

[JeanGrey]

25. You coulda fooled me....................

[Deja Q]

13. http://glassbooth.org/

There's a lot of quotes Ms. Clinton has made that has made me think, for real, about the future and not the past.

Trouble is, other candidates have been pro-worker as well - given AFSCME, amongst other unions, are all pitching in for her, that tinfoil hat is admittedly getting its share of use lately.

It's truly hard to tell.

"It's time to provide quality affordable health care for every American," Clinton said. "And I intend to be the president who accomplishes that goal finally for our country." A Clinton adviser compares the plan's "individual mandate" -- which requires everyone to have health insurance -- to current rules in most states that require all drivers to purchase auto insurance, according to The Associated Press.

...I will be requiring all Americans to have health care...

...

[fascisthunter]

26. Forcing People into Private health Insurance

one word there: Sicko.

Don't need a tin foil hat for that one neither.

[leftynyc]

5. I'm not sure what happened

here. Wanted to post this in another thread.

[Kokonoe]

7. Walmart means China

The post is good, but i think having a discussion on who I should vote for based on Hillary's recollections from 32 years ago is too much.

[aquart]

8. Yeah. Go with new. You KNOW what he'll do.

Because he hasn't done it.

[azmesa207]

9. Yea

go with the new guy he hasn't done it that the problem he hasn't done anything yet but talk a good game . In that old saying from years ago WHERE IS THE BEEF .

[rodeodance]

10. obama made this issue--it went plunk. the smear but out by Obama is dead!

Although Hillary Clinton severed her ties with Wal-Mart years ago (she sat on the board when Bill Clinton was Governor of Arkansas, but now refuses to accept contributions from the company), Barack Obama raised the issue of Clinton's past relationship with retail giant during the debate in South Carolina.

[murielm99]

11. Walmart has changed over the years.

Old Sam was big on keeping everything American made. After he died, his heirs changed that.

Bill seemed to get along pretty well with Sam, even though he was a republican.

Sometimes it is a good idea to have a person on the inside and see firsthand how decisions are made. Unions often have a seat at in the company boardroom. That does not mean they have to support everything the board does.

[Deja Q]

14. Just because a person is a Republican doesn't mean they're evil.

That's why I'm militant against militants.

The world is made up of all types; where is the line that has to be drawn?

[rodeodance]

15. yes, it is not the same wal-mart that was 20 some years ago.

[Bitwit1234]

18. Wonder why they don't go after the more recent WalMart board

sitter. She was on the board of a WalMart branch company. And it was more recent than Hillary...but of course they dont' post negative stuff about THEM. They just bash Hillary...

[murielm99]

19. Who is that person? n/t

[Riverman]

22. Now We Know Why WalMart has not been unionzed, with such spineless

Union leadership, kissing up with the corporatist.

[pauldg0]

23. God the Country's gone......

...a Walmart supporter supporter.