Dean Cancels Cal Speech

[rodeodance]

Good for him.

http://www.sfgate.com/

Friday, May 12, 2006

Dean Cancels Cal Speech

Dean
Boalt Hall grads won't have Howard Dean speaking at their commencement after all. The DNC chief (seen here in SF in 2005) is the latest in a line of speakers who have decided to honor union picket lines and not participate in Cal graduation ceremonies.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

1. Unfortunate...Isn't Cal Berkeley A Liberal Institution?

Bummer that the graduates from Cal won't have the opportunity to hear someone intelligent like the Dr. speak. Probably have to get polluted by garbage from some conservative prick, who will fill their minds with lies.

[FrenchieCat]

6. Not really....anymore. He was going to speak at the Boalt Hall

Law school graduation.....in where minority representation has nearly disappear.

Although Berkeley is very progressive, as a whole, U.C. Berkeley is not as progressive as it used to be.

[MADem]

2. He didn't leave them totally out in the cold, though--smart guy

"We've very supportive of organized labor and we just don't cross picket lines. It's unfortunate," said Luis Miranda, a spokesman for the Democratic National Committee. "But he was very appreciative that he was invited."

Miranda said that when it became clear that UC and the union would not reach an agreement, graduating law students organized a gathering off campus Thursday night so Dean could spend time with them.

"It was a nice alternative. At least he got the chance to speak with the students," Miranda said.

The union fighting with UC Berkeley represents custodians, landscape maintenance workers and food service workers.
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/05/12/MNG5LIQVH46.DTL

[wryter2000]

5. Cool

I wonder if I can sneak in. :evilgrin:

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

3. Hobson's choice. Sad, IMO the right decision. :-(

MKJ

[central scrutinizer]

4. Even my father, a Republican, would never cross a picket line

Working class people have to stand together. He was IBEW.

[readmoreoften]

7. Dems shouldn't cross picket lines.

If a union is trying to "shut it down", we should respect that effort. Of course, I'm also on strike.

[wiley]

8. Good for Dean!

and the DNC. Good luck to the workers as well.

[magpie]

9. This proves how wrong the Pat Robertson/700 Club gig was.

We shouldn't cross those picket lines, ever. And we should never cross the (our) line to try to pander to hateful bigots like Robertson. Appealing to Christians through Roberston is like trying to appeal to union members through scabs.

[madfloridian]

10. Recommend and kicked.

I am glad all those dems honored the picket line. Was it yesterday Dean met with them, or next Thursday? I assume yesterday.

[jarab]

11. A no-brainer. Good move. n/t

...O...

[Placebo]

12. He probably canceled out of embarrassment.

Doesn't want to be seen in the public just yet after all of the stupid things he's been saying lately.

[madfloridian]

13. He was in Seattle, other western cities. He had several appearances.

No, I just watched the interview. Dean is not the one who should be embarrassed. He did us proud in that interview, except for that mistake on the platform.

He has been in public quite a few times since that interview. It was one he could be proud of.