DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Democrat Barack Obama is telling union activists he would walk a picket line as president if organized labor helps elect him in 2008.
The Illinois senator also criticized President Bush’s policies toward working people.
`We are facing a Washington that has thrown open its doors to the most anti-union, anti-worker forces we’ve seen in generations,” Obama said in remarks prepared for delivery Saturday night. “What we need to make real today is the idea that in this country we value the labor of every American.”
Obama was scheduled to speak to Iowa’s largest union representing more than 20,000 state workers.
Four other Democratic presidential candidates have courted activists at the annual convention of Council 61 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
Like his rivals, the Illinois senator challenged Bush’s labor policies and said he was committed to union causes.
“I stood on the picket line and marched with workers at the Congress Hotel in Chicago last week,” Obama said. “I had marched with them four years earlier and I told them when I left that if they were still fighting four years from now, I’d be back on that picket line as president of the United States.”
Semi-related: Brian at Iowa Voice smacks down the leftosphere for another glaring example of their blatant hypocrisy, this time over a sign Mitt Romney held up at a recent campaign appearance which disparaged Obama the Great, a sign Dan Riehl doubts Romney even looked at before holding up next to the supporter who probably made it.
Wanna talk “offensive”? How about DNC Chair Howie Dean wearing a black and white kaffiyeh, which symbolizes solidarity to “the Palestinian cause,” back in 2004? Or making buddy buddy with Socialist candidate for president of France Segolene Royal and other Socialists back in 2006? Democrats have absolutely no room to talk when it comes to ‘offensive’ signs or symbolism.
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Willard chose to pose for the photo with the woman and her sign. He didn’t know what the sign said? That’s a fine defense. I suppose if he becomes president he’ll sign bills without reading them either.
I’ll tell ya what, you take all the people who think Barack Obama is Muslim and went to a madrassa (arabic for school) in Indonosia and we’ll take all the people who know how to spell momma.
Comment by markg8 @ 7/22/2007 - 1:38 pm
What, are you going around to all the blogs and pasting the same comment?
Comment by Brian @ 7/22/2007 - 2:11 pm
The working people? Last I heard Obama’s income was about $900,000 a year from investments. He is not a working man, he has never been a working man, he knows absolutely nothing about going on strike or trying to make ends meet or anything else. This is just pure demagoguery.
Comment by Terrye @ 7/22/2007 - 2:42 pm
From the Iowa Voice:
Who cares if it does. This woman has the right to express her opinion about Barak Hussein Obama and Hillary Clinton. Let’s face it Barak does/did have something to hide about his madrassa education otherwise it would have much better known here in Illinois while he was running for the Senate. As far as Chelsea’s Momma yippie, her every evil is old news, and the American People just aren’t to thrilled with her. - Lorica
Comment by Lorica @ 7/22/2007 - 4:34 pm
This man is so pathetic. I have only 1 question. Where were you when the Maytag factory closed Senator?? What precisely did you do to help those hard working people to keep their jobs?? I have his one word answer also, NOTHING!!! - Lorica
Comment by Lorica @ 7/22/2007 - 4:37 pm
First, a question for Obama: if a strike is illegal, will you still walk the picket line? I’d like to know what’s more important to him - campaign cash from AFSCME or the rights of workers and the safety of the public.
Second, as for Romeny and the sign, I’d dont care if he read it or not. I don’t have a problem with the sign. “Osama Obama” is what Ted Kennedy called the candidate, in case any visiting leftists didn’t know it. And as Brian said at Iowa Voice (ST’s link above):
Oh, and for the blog-spamming troll: Hillary’s campaign was the one that did the research and found that Obama went to a Madrassa in Indonesia for four years (LINK), so if there’s an inaccuracy, take it up with her.
And if you’re still interested in parceling out the voters, I’ll tell you what - you can take all the voters that aren’t bothered by genocide or want a president who can’t tell the difference between 12 and 10,000. We’ll take the rest. Deal?
Comment by Great White Rat @ 7/22/2007 - 7:31 pm
I just love it how they’ll toss out phrases like, “Bush is anti-working man!” They’ll do and say anything to get elected.
Comment by Ryan @ 7/22/2007 - 7:47 pm
Lets face it, osama will say anyting, just like the rest of the dem clowns, to WIN in 08 — too bad most sane rational folk know he and others are full of hot air.
Comment by Drewsmom @ 7/23/2007 - 5:01 am
I am beginning to feel sorry for Obama. This man is nothing more than yet another in a long line of “Cindy Sheehan’s”. He is going to be used up by the left and then once he is no longer useable, he will be tossed to the four winds. It is just saddening that he doesn’t realize this yet. The Clinton War Machine is going to eat him alive. He is clueless. What’s the old saying, Never trust a Clinton while they are smiling at your face. - Lorica
Comment by Lorica @ 7/23/2007 - 10:05 am
Of course, company shareholders and management are not full citizens and are therefore undeserving of a President who would support their rights, too.
Or maybe Obama just thinks only union goons vote. The management at least won’t break your kneecaps or burn down your home if you walk the picket line. Crossing one can be lethal.
Comment by Steve Skubinna @ 7/23/2007 - 10:55 pm