Oregon AFSCME breaks ranks, endorses Obama

[bicentennial_baby]

Earlier this afternoon, Oregon AFSCME voted to endorse Barack Obama for President. Previously, the national AFSCME organization had endorsed Hillary Clinton.

Oregon AFSCME becomes the only state organization in the country - other than Illinois AFSCME, in Obama's home state - to break ranks with the national.

Oregon AFSCME's executive director, Ken Allen, described the vote as "overwhelming."

From their statement:

Several members of the Oregon AFSCME Executive Board explained their support for Obama.

"I think he's a uniter, not a divider," said Becky Steward, President of AFSCME Local 88, which represents Multnomah County employees. "I believe his record better reflects how my members feel in Multnomah County."

"I believe Obama has a proven track record of fighting for our members," said Jack Tucker, President of AFSCME Local 2067, which represents City of Salem workers. "I also believe Obama has a much better chance of winning in November against John McCain."

Dal Ollek, President of AFSCME Local 1724 that represents City of Eugene employees, said Obama brings a message of change. "We need more collaboration at the national level," said Ollek. "I believe this vote in support of Obama represents the best choice for the American people."

http://www.blueoregon.com/2008/03/breaking-oregon.html

[bluestateguy]

1. Cool! Let's invite them to the country club for latte on Sunday!

nt

[thunder rising]

9. I thought it was crepes on Sunday. A person cannot live on latte alone.

[XemaSab]

33. You'd be surprised.

[roguevalley]

41. GO, OREGON! I belong to that union. GO OREGON!

[democrattotheend]

2. That's great news

And I am glad this happened now, with plenty of time for them to put together a program before the Oregon primary. This is the best news I have seen all day.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

3. A splinter group says "I think he's a uniter, not a divider," Irony is dead.

[anigbrowl]

15. Did you say that sbout Nevada?

Remember all those people with signs saying 'I support my union, I support Hillary' - which it was their perfect right to do, even though the union had chosen to endorse Obama.

[TheDoorbellRang]

20. OK. That IS ironic

and pretty funny.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

29. Nero Wolfe fan?

[TheDoorbellRang]

31. Indeed I am!

Had to laugh at myself one day here in GD-P when I posted "Pfui!" in a kneejerk response to an inanity. Such a useful, under-used word.

[Forkboy]

46. I got a chill when I read Becky's first words.

Still, interesting news.

[JimGinPA]

4. Great News!

K&R

[BeyondGeography]

5. Take that, McEntee, you ass

K&R

[anigbrowl]

16. Why is he an ass?

Just asking - don't know much about the guy.

[BeyondGeography]

22. His members have been fighting him over his opposition to Obama for some time

http://thepage.time.com/letter-to-afscme-president-mcen...

[KittyWampus]

6. Gee, I guess the Wright thing really scared them off. Oh, and the Iowa delegates too,

[Voice for Peace]

11. yeah.. looks like he's really going down

not.

[SunsetDreams]

7. wowweeeeeee

That is music to my ears!

Thank you bicentennial, I really appreciate it

Obama 08

[bicentennial_baby]

8. Most welcome!

We need some positivity up in here.

[Cha]

10. Yay, GOregon AFSCME!

"I think he's a uniter, not a divider," said Becky Steward, President of AFSCME Local 88, which represents Multnomah County employees. "I believe his record better reflects how my members feel in Multnomah County."

I would think they'd want the strongest candidate in Fall and not someone who thinks marauding night raids against Democrats is all a part of the game.

I'm wondering if the National AFSCME endorsed too soon?

[thevoiceofreason]

12. This is Hugh!!!111!!! Onehundred eleven!!!!

All seriousness. Wow.

[anigbrowl]

13. Ha! Take that, Tom Buffenbarger!

Buffenbarger is the IAMAW union leader who opened a Hillary meeting largely attended by AFSCME members and embarrassed everyone, to the point that the local union steward tried to get him off the stage. As you can probably tell, I don't like him - he's a xenophobic, protectionist, authoritarian asshat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKJVHjZVD60

[meow mix]

14. nice! cant wait for oregon

ty oregon

[ericgtr]

17. As an Oregonian I am looking forward to the race coming here

this is an Obama state, one of the little ones that may not count to the Clinton campaign but it sure does to us.

[sandnsea]

18. Hehe, maybe it was the push polls

that already started. Or maybe it was when she sucked money out of our party when we had a Governor and Senator up for election. Or maybe it was Kyl-Lieberman, or her meeting with Code Pink before the war.

Could have been a lot of things, but I sure as hell knew the polls showing Hillary's support were way off base.

[Kittycat]

19. GO Oregon - GOBAMA!

Great news, thank you for sharing.

[Arugula Latte]

21. Oregon is Obama country.

Why? Because we're true progressives here; not DLCers like the vicious Hillary.

[bicentennial_baby]

23. Hey you!!

[Arugula Latte]

25. Hey you, right back atcha!

[Major Hogwash]

35. The Great Northwest is a solid block of support for Obama.

That's was the first thing I noticed from the map on CNN, just how dark blue the entire Northwest and Northern states were for Obama. Then how big of a block of dark blue states were on the Gulf Coast.

It's unreal.

[malik flavors]

24. Great news, thanks!

[bigbrother05]

26. Good news thanks

[Scurrilous]

27. Great news!

K & R

[Beregond2]

28. OR

No surprise. If there was ever a state tailor-made for Obama it is Oregon. And there are very few AAs there, BTW.

[ampad]

30. wow

It says quite a bit that they were willing to split from the national union. Go Oregon, Go Obama!

[bicentennial_baby]

32. Kick!

[boppers]

34. Oregon's not just blue, we're blue/green.

We're doing our best to make California and Massachusetts citizens look like the wasteful, corporatist, right-wing, republicans they really are....

Kidding, kidding.

Sort of.

Examples: Monthly mass naked bicycle rides to protest people committing the sin of driving. Green building standards for all new development. Bio-diesel in city-limits pumps. City garbage stream of 75% recycled materials, with citywide compost for all yard and food waste starting up soon.

I'm not sure we can take on SanFran yet, but we're getting close...

[Hawkeye-X]

36. When Oregon doesn't go around busting people for drugs....

I'll move there.. Colorado is getting close to being completely pro-marijuana.. Denver is legal (up to 1 ounce) - and Hickenlooper told the police this is a VERY low priorty arrest. I love our mayor!

Hawkeye-X

[boppers]

37. We're giving out traffic tickets for it.

IIRC, 35 bucks, or far less than the ounce.

[Hawkeye-X]

40. not too bad...

[meow mix]

43. yah i like oregon they are sick of federal interference in their liberal state laws.

medical marijuana, doctor assisted suicide.

[cooolandrew]

38. Great some good news that's what I like to see . FIRED UP.

[davidpdx]

39. As an Oregonian, I'm glad to hear that.

I am living overseas and will vote in the May Primary. The day after I'll be watching for election results hoping for a nice win for Obama.

[Cha]

45. Welcome to DU,

davidpdx!

[stevedeshazer]

42. Oregon fuckin' rocks

We're gonna kick our Republican senator out on his ass, too.

Fifth-generation Oregonian and damn proud of it.

AFSCME Local 88 is Ms. D's union, too.

[Arugula Latte]

52. ... and the state GOP is bankrupt!

[Pavlovs DiOgie]

44. Good news! EOM

[Mme. Defarge]

47. Heyyyyyyyyyyy!

That's my State, and we count this time!

[DerekJ]

48. kick

[thevoiceofreason]

49. Kick

[barack the house]

50. ....

[KittyWampus]

51. Keep wondering where the big endorsements for Hillary are lately.