Howard Dean cancels Berkeley graduation speech to honor union picket line

http://www.eyewitnessnewstv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4899478&nav=F2DO

SAN FRANCISCO Democratic Party chairman Howard Dean and several other officials have backed out of giving graduation speeches at the University of California at Berkeley, to avoid crossing a picket line for janitors. snip

About 20 janitors picketed outside the main undergraduate commencement on Wednesday. Union officials say janitors are upset over revelations that university executives receive (m) millions in bonuses and other perks. snip

Democratic Congressman Dennis Kucinich of Ohio also canceled his speech as did several state lawmakers.

Damn, that makes me proud!

Thank you Howard and Dennis! This kind of support makes a big difference.

:kick:

But the man walks the walk.

Hrumph.

Can't fault you for this one. At all. Credit where credit is due. Thanks for this great birthday present.

And a big thumbs up to the rest of the lawmakers as well.

Good on ya, Dr.Dean. :thumbsup:

good man.

for the unions and workers. Giving power to the people. GO HOWARD !!!!

Go Dean!

Bravo Dr. Dean, Rep. Kucinich and all those who refused to cross the picket line. :applause:

I understand and apprciate the support of unions. Very good point, and I'm proud of Dean and Kucinich.

BUT...

...that means that Republicans, who don't give a damn about workers, were given an open field to come in and speak in their place. The Democratic walkout won't go reported in the press for certain, and I doubt they'll speak about it on the campaign trail. So what was accomplished?

In fact, this has given the Republicans a plain and simple way to derail any Democratic speaking tour. Just help incite labor unrest at the speaking site. (They're the bosses; they will have no problem in doing so.) Democrats will not cross the picket line to speak, thus killing chances for photo-ops and other activities.

UNLESS...

...the unions and the Democratic candidates come to a simple agreement - allow the candidates to cross the picket line and speak, as long as a union spokesman appears on the dais with the candidate and is allowed to address the crowd about the union disagreement. If this is unacceptable to the facility owners, then the event can be boycotted. Or maybe even better, the speech can be held out in the street at the picket line.

Dmocrats have to start thinking as deviously, or more so, than the Republicans. (And so should the unions.)

Makes you proud doesn't it? :)

Your support of the workers is duly noted, and probably appreciated by the vast majority of graduates from Berkeley, one of our most liberal institutions. I wonder which officials did not cancel, and if they were repukes....

:)