Brown is backed by rank-and-file union members

[Algorem]

http://www.cleveland.com/letters/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/opinion/113507137987690.xml&coll=2

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

As a UAW member, I am appalled that UAW leader ship has endorsed Paul Hackett for the U.S. Senate. Hackett might be a fresh face, but he doesn't have the savvy and know-how to get our state back on track. Sherrod Brown, on the other hand, has fought for America's working families for nearly 30 years. He valiantly led the bipartisan opposition to CAFTA, and he deserves our support.

Don't listen to those who are turning their backs on one of the greatest allies the UAW has in Congress today. We need Sherrod Brown to keep fighting for working families...

We are shocked and sad dened by the fact that the United Auto Workers Union leadership in Ohio has decided to endorse Paul Hackett for the U.S. Senate.

How could they forget that Sherrod Brown has been one of the UAW's biggest supporters and cheerleaders ever since he has been in Congress? How could they forget his voting record on issues important to the UAW? How could they forget that he has tirelessly fought administration trade policies that hurt U.S. workers, especially those here in Ohio? He's been with us on the North American Free Trade Agreement, fast track and permanent normal trade relations with China, and he led the fight against the Central American Free Trade Agreement...

[Algorem]

1. Hackett got a union endorsement,so he stops driving Honda

...his driving record is less union-friendly than that of fellow Democrat and primary challenger Sherrod Brown...

...union members might be surprised to know that Hackett's a fan of Honda, which builds cars in Ohio with nonunion workers...

...Until recently, Hackett drove a special 2003 Honda Civic...

...image-savvy candidate now cruises in a Ford pickup truck,spokesman Karl Frisch said...

...Hackett can still ride in the Honda; he sold it to Frisch...

...Brown, who lost the endorsement IN PART BECAUSE OF PERSONAL DIFFERENCES WITH A UNION OFFICIAL(?)drives a Ford Thunderbird built in Lorain. When he campaigns, Brown rolls in a Ford 500 sedan.

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/localpolitics/index.ssf?/base/opinion/1135247538222690.xml&coll=2

[MercutioATC]

2. Hmmmm...a dilemma...

Pandering to unions aside, which vehicle better personifies Democratic values, a Ford Thunderbird sedan or a Honda Civic hybrid?

It's a shame that silly stuff like this matters. At least Hackett's made the ecologically correct choice in a personal vehicle.

[Algorem]

3. Silly it isn't.Chamelion candidate.Why didn't he buy the Ford hybrid?

Maybe he can get himself one of them snazzy black cowboy hats next,now that he's 'a Ford truck man'.Yee-haw.

[MercutioATC]

4. Personally, I wouldn't own a Ford. I think the Civic hybrid is a great car

American-made, reliable, environmentally friendly.

I think it's unfortunate that any candidate has to drive an "American-made" car to get votes. Unfortunately, that's a political reality. I don't fault Hackett (or any candidate) for making small concessions like this...and I DO like the fact that his first choice was a Civic hybrid.

[Algorem]

5. Who was he trying to con when he bought the Honda I wonder.

[MercutioATC]

6. I believe he had the Honda before running for office.

So, to answer your question, "nobody".

[Algorem]

7. Maybe he was trying to get some environmentalist tail.You don't know.

Maybe he was infiltrating the Sierra Club.

[MercutioATC]

8. Hackett-bash all you like. It's not going to make people vote for Brown

in the primary...

I haven't seen many fence-sitters on this one. Once they know both candidates, most people seem to make up their minds pretty easily.

[Algorem]

9. Didja take a poll or are you just guessing some more?

[MercutioATC]

10. So you're endorsing Hackett-bashing as a Brown campaign strategy?

Let me know how that works for you...

:eyes:

[Algorem]

11. Hackett-bashing is your term.It's a silly one.

[MercutioATC]

12. The label is appropriate, it's the act that's silly.

Suggesting that Hackett purchased a Civic hybrid (before becoming a candidate) for political reasons? Silly.

You started a pro-Brown thread and had to reply to YOURSELF to interject an attack on Hackett. Silly.

Then again, I'm actually taking the time to reply to you (and I'm the ONLY traffic this thread is getting).

Silly.



Bye.

[cmd]

13. Thank you both for the chuckles.

I'm a Brown supporter who drives a Honda.

[Kolesar]

14. I'm an environmentalist who drives a Ford

...and I was chuckling too. Algorem, don't you know the Marine is married?

[Algorem]

15. mebbe he should run his wife :Poll> Brown (D) 51 , Hackett (D) 22

http://blog.oh02.com/2005/12/12/51-yes-38-favorable

[geiger]

16. Chuckles

I find this thread amusing as well, but for the reason that when I ran a coordinated campaign for Dems, my American-made Subaru was indeed a subject of discussion among my new-found union buddies. What I don't understand is how any Democrat or union member can support someone who couldn't even win against the now totally discredited and disgraced Jean Schmidt. If he can't even win against her, how does he or any of his supporters expect him to win statewide. I am sorry that he thought he might not have Dem opposition, in the beginning, but that is all moot now, and the more I think of it, the more it seems to me that he is a loose cannon just like Schmidt. Maybe that's why Brown really decided to run and why the UAW leadership perhaps needs to take heed. I find their endorsement SINGULARLY perplexing.

[OzarkDem]

17. What county did you work in?

Just curious.

[geiger]

19. more chuckles

rather not say; I might get my knees broken (joking). But anyways, I have been politically incorrect with my position on Walmart, too, which I believe is coming full circle to treating employees better and improving product strategy. As a small business owner, I know how difficult it is to pay a living wage and stay viable as a company--haven't been able to afford health coverage for myself or employees. But, it's one of the reasons I believe in national health coverage, so that industries dont go out of business wholesale. Canada embraced national health care at the prodding of Ford, I believe, so that they would be able to keep substantial manufacturing capability there.

Need to get more sophisticated in our thinking as a Party and as the Party of Labor, I think, but it's difficult to express it in the face of all or nothing thinking, which is a lot of what seems to be going on these days.

[newyawker99]

18. Hi poli speak!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast: