Obama Camp takes a hit from labor icon

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/campaignmatters?bid=45&pid=272668

OBAMA CAMP TAKES A HIT FROM A LABOR ICON...Delores Huerta is an iconic figure within the trade union movement, and a hero of the civil rights struggles of Latinos -- especially in western states such as Nevada.

So when the co-founder of the United Farm Workers of America union calls out the Barack Obama campaign and its supporters in the labor movement on the eve of the Nevada caucuses, it is a development that ought to concern Obama.

Even if she is wrong, even if she is being unfair to the opponent of the candidate she favors, Obama does not want to be on Huerta's bad side for long.

And, make no mistake, the campaign of the senator from Illinois is currently getting very low marks from the longtime ally of Cesar Chavez.

Huerta is furious about Spanish-language radio ads that cheer on Obama while suggesting that the candidate she supports, New York Senator Hillary Clinton, and her supporters have been disrespectful of Hispanic workers.

"It's pathetic and it's sad and it's unfortunate that they have to stoop so low," Huerta says of Obama's backers, who she suggests are making a desperate play for Hispanic votes in today's Nevada Democratic caucuses. "I have yet to find even one worker -- a Latino worker -- who is supporting Barack Obama."

The radio ads in question, which are paid for by UNITE-HERE, the parent union of the Las Vegas Culinary Workers union local that backs Obama, describe Clinton as "shameless" for encouraging a lawsuit that would have prevented the setting up of at-large caucus sites in casinos on the Vegas Strip.

The at-large sites in hotels that have been organized by the Culinary Workers are seem as key to Obama's effort to win what have become key caucuses. And, while the Clinton campaign did not attach its name to the lawsuit, no one doubts that the Clinton camp has played a behind-the-scenes role in trying to prevent at-large caucuses where it will be easier for casino workers -- many of them Latinos -- to participate in the first stage of the Democratic delegate-selection process.

But Huerta says that it is not the Clinton campaign, but rather Obama's, that is intimidating Latino voters.

Charging that workers at one of the big hotels on the strip, the Hilton, had been told they would get no transportation to the caucuses

they got the ball rolling with the suit.

Everything else came after that.

He didn't....

The Parent Co. of the Culunary Union did...

They were the one being directly affected by the suit, remember?

Suit by the Teacher's Association Union closely whose 3 members who filed the suit, were part of the panel that approved the set up to begin with....and who are Hillary supporters.

They have a history of clashing. I have not seen any evidence the Clintons initiated the lawsuit. The lawsuit's purpose was to maximize the teacher's union's clout and minimize the bangwagon union's clout.

The ad is a different story. Obama himself set a standard three weeks ago that he is now hypocritically violating (since he knows full well the msm will not call him on it). It wouldn't be as big a deal otherwise if it weren't for that and the alleged racial true from Monday.

Yet of course Hillary was behind her supporters doing the suit.

Double standards for you Obama lot.

Yet another "original" idea from Obama. Geesh...

Cesar Chavez must be rolling in his grave. I bet he would have loved Cheney's energy bill that Obama signed. He's a "true" progressive, alright. How sad is that?

Let's not forget the Secure Fence Act authorizing a fence be built along the Mexican Border. Sure. Cesar would LOVE that.

You never ceases to amaze me

We know it worked for him in South Carolina. :(

been a fan of either of them.

He needs taking a peg down or two after his behaviour.

Temo Figeroa is one field leader trying to make the leap. A longtime labor organizer, and the son of farm worker organizers, Figeroa, was hired away from the top political job at AFSCME to be the National Field Director for the Obama Campaign.

This past weekend's Atlanta training was lead primarily by Harvard Professor Marshall Ganz, once a National Organizing Director of the United Farm Workers and now sought-after advisor to political campaigns, unions and NGOs.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/zack-exley/obama-field-organizers-pl_b_61918.html

Huerta needs to get out a little more, or realize we do.

No such thing would happen under the pure clinton campaign.

"It's pathetic and it's sad and it's unfortunate that they have to stoop so low,"

Thank you Huerta!!!

K&R

Thank you Delores Huerta!