"The Teamsters endorsed Obama. I'm a Teamster." [View All]

[Coexist]

Out of the corner of my eye I see an older man in a UPS uniform -- your typical working class older white male (to listen to the pollsters, everything Obama voters are not). His name was Tony Munoz, a 43-year Teamster. I asked him if he had made up is mind about the election and he gave me a "c'mon now" disapproving look like I should already know the answer. "The Teamsters endorsed Obama. I'm a Teamster."

I really enjoy TeamsterPower's Diaries on the Teamster's Convy for Change.

This latest one in Indiana was a particular favorite of mine. It included results from this interesting poll:

Teamsters Thoughts on a Gas Tax Holiday?

The viewer poll this morning on CNN was the Gas Tax Holiday proposals: Which plan would you prefer - McCain's (summer break); Hillary's (pay for it with windfall profits) or Obama's (no holiday). After the first half-hour of the straw poll, the responses were 84% for Obama's no plan, which tells me that after eight years of George Bush's consumer-centric feel-good "solutions," Americans are wising up. To test my theory, I asked some Teamsters:

"I think that's nothing more than fluff. It's not a long-term solution to the problem. It may win a few votes, but that's about it." - Janet Josway, Teamster steward and member for ten years

"I don't see where it's going to do any good. We need to come up with a long-term solution. I think the costs are going to be more than the benefits. That money goes to fix the roads. I drive a truck I know what the roads are like and we can't afford not to fix them." - Matt Tchoukaleff, Pepsi driver, Teamster for 10 years.

"It won't make a difference. It's just a band aid." - Tom Michalski, Teamster retiree.

Keep Truckin' for Change, Teamsters!