Howard Dean just got the endorsements of the AFSCME and the SEIU!!!!

[slinkerwink]

Woohooo!!!!! I'm so proud of the Dean campaign---they have the best campaign organization ever, and this is just amazing! Gephardt is going to be toast in Iowa and so is Kerry in New Hampshire!

My favorite Dean quote from AFSCME-SEIU-IUPAT press conference:

"this president ran as a uniter, not a divider. that wasn't true. he used 'quota' three times on the evening news, every politician that the word is a race coded word that is designed to induce fears. the president played the race card, and that alone entitles him to a one way ticket to TX.
i am tired of being divided by race, by gender, by sex. orientation, by income, by religon. we are one america, all of us. if these three unions doesn't prove that by the rainbow in this room, i don't know what does. this is our america."

[dobak]

1. And Dean will be toast in SC

Sorry, I could not resist...

:-)

[slinkerwink]

3. and Clark will be toast in New Hampshire also...

he screwed up getting the AFSCME endorsement by pulling out of Iowa....

sorry, couldn't resist :-)

[dobak]

5. true...

He should've talked to AFSCME before he pulled out of Iowa. I bet he could've smoothed things out and got their endorsement.

Oh well, just makes it more interesting now...

[slinkerwink]

14. they did talk to the AFSCME

before they pulled out of Iowa, but Clark's campaign handlers said that they had to pull out of Iowa because there was no time to set up an organization there. Hindsight is 20/20 in this case....

[CMT]

15. based on what?

Dean is statistically tied for second in latest ARG poll of SC. Clark leads but with only 17% and Dean has 7% (as does Gep)Lieberman at 8% and Edwards at 10%, so really Dean, Lieberman, Edwards, and Gep are within the moe and technically tied for second--and not all that much behind first place Clark.

[slinkerwink]

2. dean quotes from press conference

Howard Dean's quotes as transcribed by people on the Dean blog:

"let me than kyou all very much. dont' tyou think that black and green and purple look just great.

this election is about us. about what kind of coutnry we're going to have. we go through all that bush has done - his motto: if you're rich, you deserve it, if you're poor, you deserve it. that's not the country i was taught to be proud of and it's not the country we're going to have in 2004.

this is extradorinary what you have done. it's going to change america by putting people back in the driver's seat. the POTUS gave three tril of our money to ken lay, borrowed money for tax cuts, where 60% of us got 300 dollars. but what have your tuition and property taxes done? our tax money went to his friends who gave him checks so that he could be re-electd. that's not going to happen."

" do you know what it would cost to provide health coverage for every man woman and child in this country, plus a prescription benefit for our seniors? it's a number that's gonna be real familiar to you....87 Billion dollars a year"

"we've been runnign away from democrats. we need to start w/ our base and the people that have built the democratic party. these people have been w/ us right from the beginning. we're going to give the 57% who don't vote a reason to, and we're going to get their vote. this time, the person w/ the most votes is going to the WH.
there is no reason to back off from being the strong supporter of labor. ppl forget that 125 years ago, labor helped build the most powerful country in america. that's b/c the people who make up that country are middle class, and the labor union made it possible to be middle class. this president that the system is going to work for him and his cronies, and that's wrong. when we say we want this country back, we want it back for those who built the country, and that is you.

people have died for the civil rights movement, so that americans have equality. but good things happened too: medicare, voting rights acts, etc. we felt that we were in this together - it wasn't enough for me to want good things for myself. there was an obligation as an american to want things better for the whole nation. we were all in this together. that's what we want back."

[w13rd0]

4. Don't forget IUPAT as well...

...joint endorsement by IUPAT, SEIU and AFSCME...

[Cha]

28. Ah! The Painters!

It's amazing for the primaries, no?! :kick:

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

45. Don't forget Gephardt's 20+ unions either

Amalgamated Transit Union

American Maritime Officers

Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees

International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Moving Picture Technicians

International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers (Iron Workers)

International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers

International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers

International Brotherhood of Teamsters

International Longshoreman's Association

International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC)

International Union of Journeymen, Horseshoers, and Allied Trades

Laborers' International Union

Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association

Office and Professional Employees International Union

Operative Plasterers' and Cement Masons' International Association

Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical & Energy Workers International Union (PACE)

Seafarers International Union

The Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union

United Food and Commercial Workers International Union

United Steelworkers of America

[Scott Lee]

49. There are sucker unions born every minute...

I wonder if thats what Barnum meant to say. Pffft.

[ShimokitaJer]

Woo Hoo

Props to the Dean machine!

[AP]

6. He now joins pantheon of whom? Mondale and Gore? Kiss of death?

couldn't resist.

[ShimokitaJer]

7. Yes, union support is a bad thing

That sounds like Bush proclaiming that more attacks in Iraq show we're making progress.

--on edit--

And don't forget: Mondale and Gore did both win their party's nomination

[slinkerwink]

11. isn't that funny?

Union support of 3.3 million members is obviously a good thing....especially from diverse unions like those backing Dean. can you imagine how much money we could potentially raise this quarter if a call goes out to those unions to raise money?

[Bertrand]

21. This is a good thing for Dean

but he doesnt have the support of the 3.3 million union members. 35% of all union members voted for Bush in 2000, and that doesnt even take into account how many people will vote for other candidates outside of the endorsement this primary season (or not even vote). It's a good thing, but it isnt by any means a deathblow to any of the other main candidates.


Edit: union members, not unions

[ShimokitaJer]

23. except maybe Gephardt

Nobody was counting on labor support like ol' Gep was. This has to be a big blow.

[Pastiche423]

25. Maybe not

But it does show how important reaching out to Iowa and having an excellent organization means to the unions.

Unlike others...

[KaraokeKarlton]

39. A big chunk of the union members who voted for Bush did so over guns

And Dean's position won't scare pro-gun union members into the clutches of the GOP.

[Scott Lee]

48. then you have your Archie Bunker union members

The ones who voted for Ronnie Raygun.

I know, I know....I can't figure it out either.

[slinkerwink]

8. hahaha, those silly memes haven't stuck to Dean so far....

First Howard Dean was an asterisk, then he was McGovern, then Gingrich, and when none of those stuck, he now has a "temperament" (http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/2003-11-11-dean-temperament-usat_x.htm) to worry about. You make the call. Meanwhile, a story in the Manchester Union Leader (free registration required) notes that your work is "rewriting the campaign rule book."
---from the Dean blog.

[meegbear]

10. How about "dinkweed"?

Can we try that one?

[slinkerwink]

12. well, how about "president dean?"

:nopity:

[Cha]

30. And what about sourgrapes for

some non Dean supporters?

[Forkboy]

13. The question then becomes

WHY couldn't you resist?

[slinkerwink]

17. I don't know why.....

maybe people have a very deep visceral dislike of Dean that even on a good news campaign thread, that they have to trash the good news? hmmm....:nopity:

[Forkboy]

19. To be fair

all the candidates have a few supporters that trounce anything the other candidates do or say,but Dean haters are really extra silly.

"Dinkweed"?

I haven't heard that one yet,but being out of high school does have it's advantages I suppose.

[CMT]

20. and don't forget Clinton

AFSCME was a huge boost to his campaign in '92.

[Duder]

9. Good choice

They're backing the winner.

[Pastiche423]

16. HooHah!

I am so very proud to be a supporter of this great Democrat! He truly earned these endorsements, showing the unions that he cares. Just like he cares for the people in Iowa and New Hampshire and every other citizen of our country.

[slinkerwink]

18. there's a news report that says that

the AFSCME and the SEIU were blown away by how organized the Dean HQ was compared to the other campaign HQs.....

[CMT]

22. according to NYT

today the head of AFSCME was looking at "electability" in making his endorsement.

[slinkerwink]

24. so basically, this is sending a message to the

Washington establishment that Dean is electable.

[DemExpat]

26. Congratulations to Dean and his supporters!

This is good news for the Dean team.

:kick:

DemEx

[slinkerwink]

27. thanks!

:-):hi:

[Cha]

34. Thank you! That it so kind!

:kick: :D

[Meshuga]

29. Dean has the best campaign...

But he is not the best candidate.I wish a great candidate like Kerry had a great campaign like Dean's.

Congrats to the Dean camp!

[Cha]

31. Dean and we have the "best campaign"

because we are without a doubt "The Best"!

kerry would have a great campaign if he were great and only if he were great.

[Name removed]

33. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[DakotaDemocrat]

32. Big deal?

Getting any large organization to endorse your candidate is great news. As a Clark supporter, I send my congratulations. But the Dean team, fumbled (not dropped) the ball on this one though, delaying the announcement a week.

Everyone has known over the past week that Dean was going to get it, but it's now been overshadowed by Bush winning the hearts and minds of Iraqis by blowing them up. Hindsight, of course, but delaying the announcement by a week did nothing for momentum for the campaign, unless you can show me different. Plus, it leaves some to think "Why wait the week to endorse?"

They'll see this on the evening news, and Joe Public will say, "I thought they did that last week?"

As for the unions announcing at one time argument, has that ever been done before. I don't know, please show me that has happened in the past.

[slinkerwink]

35. Average Joe hasn't been tuned into politics yet....

It's a full year before the campaign---what this announcement is aimed for is to create a buzz in the political junkies communities, and it's significant because of the history behind the AFSCME getting behind Clinton and sending him to the nomination with their organization.

[Cha]

36. I'm glad I don't see all that negativity.

This is the perfect time to announce! Solidarity! And it keeps it in the news longer.

[pruner]

37. it wasn't Dean's decision

30 minutes before SEIU was set to announce last week they received a call from AFSCME asking them to hold off so they could do a joint announcement.

[deutsey]

38. Regarding the bombing

I heard a discussion here at work by very non-political types, some of whom supported Bush, complaining about the US casualty rate in Iraq, the bombing today, the billions of dollars going to Iraq, the fact that Hussein and bin Laden have not been caught yet.

I don't think the bombing is going to score big points among Joe Public and his pals.

[ajacobson]

40. Ok, those are big endorsements

but don't assume a one-for-one translation into feets on the street.

Ask Tom Harkin about how labor support gets you nominated.

The fact of the matter is many MANY self-proclaimed Democratic primary voters have not voiced a preference as measured by the polls and until we see who makes the cut in February, I don't think anybody can or should say they have it in the bag.

[FrenchieCat]

41. I congratulate Dean on his Union Coup....

and as Democrats, we will get whatever we deserve....and so will the unions.

[andym]

42. Dean has positioned himself as a modern day Truman

Dean has positioned himself as a modern day Truman.

He us now the frontrunner with alot of political
momentum.

Truman was one of the great Democratic Presidents,
and he is one of two 20th century Presidents known
for their straight-talk (Republican T. Roosevelt being the other
straight-talking president).

As a campaigner, Truman, an unelected President at the time, was nearly defeated by Dewey. I've read that Truman won by constantly attacking Dewey, for example, he even made suggestions that Dewey's mustache was reminiscent of Hitler. Dewey ran a positive campaign and never responded to the attacks.

I expect that Dean will try to do the same to Bush in the general election. The difference this time is that he face Karl Rove and
a very pliable press that will allow extreme counterattacks. The basic attack theme will be the "anger" one now being introduced. It won't really be ramped up til Dean locks up the nomination. Then it likely will be used to attempt to portray him as unbalanced. That way the angry straight talk counterattacks can be used as "proof" that he is not trustworthy.

The only way to really fight this is to get on popular TV shows (Oprah etc) now and show that it is not true, that Dean is a regular guy, etc
I hope Dean will be constantly on TV in the coming weeks. That way he will have "teflon" when he needs it. So far, the attacks against Dean by his Democratic rivals have been very mild, and it's not surprising that none have stuck. But the upcoming character assassination is predictable and can be defended against if countered early.

[IronLionZion]

52. true but he should be positive too

Obviously he has to be angry about the pure hell that Bush wrought upon the world, but should make Americans feel proud about everything else that is good in this country. He needs a patriotic image or he will be labeled as the angry anti-american hippie.

[ACPS65]

43. Howie is having esparagus for dinner! Whooooo!

eom

[newyawker99]

44. Hi ACPS65!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Scott Lee]

47. I'm sure it tastes better than sour grapes

Want some sugar to help them puppies go down?

[Scott Lee]

46. Congratulations, Dr. Dean!

Silverwink this is indeed good news....and you can tell it really means something, because look at how the shrill cries of the Deanophobes are amping up from the cages.

[slinkerwink]

53. *nods*

Campaigns, in my opinion, are a lot like football teams but there's only one campaign that can win the Superbowl, and it's increasingly looking like it's going to be Dean. I just don't understand why some people here can't get over their "personal dislikes" and help work to get Dean elected, but then he's not the nominee yet.

[loudnclear]

50. They jumped too soon on the Dean bandwagon. Kucinich is a card-

carrying union member and he is honestly supportive of unions. They should have given him a second look.

[IronLionZion]

51. Dean is the man

Looks like our next president will be either Dean, unless he gets "Bushwacked" in the general election

[slinkerwink]

54. here's a quote from the head of the AFSCME

"Here at AFSCME we will work like HELL night and day to ensure Howard Dean is the next President of the United States".

It was the AFSCME that helped propel Clinton to the nomination and then to the presidency of the United States, due to their organizational power to get the vote out.

[Silverhair]

55. I think Dean has achieved critical mass.

He has been ahead in fund raising, doing well in the polls, and now with those endorsements, I think he has the resources and the momentum to become the Democratic nominee. I still think Clark is the best candidate, but I think Dean will be the winner.