2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumThree Presidential Candidates go to the union convention, But only one went to the demonstration.
Three Democratic Presidential candidates; Clinton, Sanders and O'Malley all went to the Nevada AFL-CIO convention in Las Vegas two weeks ago, seeking support from the 120 unions there representing 200,000 workers.
At the same time, hundreds of Las Vegas union members rallied in front of the Trump International Hotel, protesting Trump's union busting and scab herding.
I was glad to see the candidates honor labor by attending the convention. I was dismayed that only one candidate cared enough to go out into the hot sun to stand with the workers against Trump.
And it wasn't the Socialist. . .
Socialist presidential candidates have a rich history or interweaving their campaigns with support for local struggles. Eugene Debs was a union leader and the Socialist candidate in the early part of the last century. He led national and general strikes, and served prison time for it, when not running for President. In 1920 he ran for President while sitting in prison for giving an anti-war speech.
I lavished praise on Bernie Sanders in a diary two days ago, for marching on the Fairpoint Communications and other picket lines, and he's scheduled to join the grain millers' union to picket the Penford/Ingredion ethanol plant on September 4.
But it was only Martin O'Malley, according to published accounts, who hit the bricks to march against the odious Trump. Neither Hillary or Sanders apparently attended the anti-Trump demonstration.
Go, Martin!
I'd think that's one rally no Democratic candidate could afford to miss.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/09/01/1417427/-Three-Presidential-Candidates-go-to-the-union-convention-But-only-one-went-to-the-demonstration
PowerToThePeople
(9,610 posts)would give the media anything to swiftboat Sanders with?
John Poet
(2,510 posts)I would have liked to have seen Bernie there, but strongly suspect it was a matter of scheduling conflicts or prior commitments. The candidates can only be in one place at one time, unfortunately.
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)candidates have very busy schedules to keep!
elleng
(131,031 posts)and I'VE been missing YOU!!! :NO sarcasm!:
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)that won't seem to stay down.
So glad I haven't seen any M O'M supporters giving their brains over to it. Perhaps, support (as opposed to fanatic fandom) makes one immune.
elleng
(131,031 posts)not my thing, and we don't do 'fanatic,' just not OUR thing.
dsc
(52,166 posts)and if the AFL CIO wishes to take that into account in determining who to endorse they have every right to do so.
lovemydog
(11,833 posts)for marching with Las Vegas union members!