Hillary Clinton Wins Key Endorsement From American Federation of Teachers

[DemocratSinceBirth]

It's the first major union endorsement of the 2016 Democratic presidential primary

Hillary Clinton has secured the first major union endorsement of the 2016 Democratic presidential primary.

The American Federation of Teachers, a powerful, 1.6 million-strong national union, voted on Saturday to endorse the former secretary of state, calling Clinton a “champion” for “working families.”



https://time.com/3954717/hillary-clinton-endorsement-american-federation-teachers/

[Wilms]

1. Broad Foundation revealed it allied with president of teachers' union from the start.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021860154

[DemocratSinceBirth]

5. Congratulations on your candidate securing the tacit endorsement of a random internet poster

[1StrongBlackMan]

42. Huh? ...

From the 2009 annual report of the Broad Foundation, one of the major groups pushing education "reform" and charter schools. They admit they as much as enlisted Randi Weingarten, president of the AFT, from their beginning and have allied with her quite often.

What does that mean ... they shared a taxi cab? ... they follow her on Linked-in (she follows them)?

General Rule: Statements with such a qualifiers typically means "it didn't happen", e.g., "I as much as won the game", means I lost.

[Thinkingabout]

2. I like to see the endorsements coming in early. Hillary has been an advocate for education and we

Depend on our teachers to educate everyone.

[madfloridian]

6. Waiting for Bernie's stand on charter schools. Hillary is strongly for them.

Bernie's against the over testing, against turning education into a profit-making industry.

Waiting for more.

Hillary also strongly supports Common Core which is causing great dissension among ranks of educators.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021860154

[DemocratSinceBirth]

7. Okay

eom

[Thinkingabout]

9. She backs education, has for many years, even contacting migrant camps to get their children in

School, she doesn't just look at one part of education, she has advocated for preschool also.

[m-lekktor]

17. no surprise there. yet another reason to vigorously be against her. nt

[Sheepshank]

3. Great announcement

Teachers k-12, predominantly women, middle class. It makes sense.

[oasis]

4. More to come

[BooScout]

10. More good news!

[lunamagica]

11. WHOO HOO!!!

Go, Hillary!!!

[DemocratSinceBirth]

12. ...

[Le Taz Hot]

13. My credit union is right across the way from an FTA chapter.

Saw two cars parked in front with Bernie stickers. The "leadership can endorse who they want. Doesn't mean the rank-and-file are going to follow.

[JaneyVee]

14. Wonderful endorsement. KNR.

[madfloridian]

15. Perusing Twitter and Facebook teachers' comments...

They don't seem very happy overall.

The executive committee of AFT made the decision. Many members complaining they had no input, were not polled.

American Federation of Teachers Endorses Hillary Clinton

WASHINGTON -- Hillary Clinton picked up an early if not surprising endorsement on Saturday from one of the country's largest labor unions: the American Federation of Teachers.

The executive council of the 1.6-million member AFT voted "overwhelmingly" in favor of backing the early frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, according to an announcement from the union. It marks the first endorsement from a major national labor union during the 2016 presidential campaign.

"Hillary Clinton is a tested leader who shares our values, is supported by our members, and is prepared for a tough fight on behalf of students, families and communities," Randi Weingarten, the union's president, said in the statement.

Weingarten and Clinton have been personal friends for years and the union threw its weight behind the Democrat during her 2008 campaign as well. In the resolution declaring its endorsement, the AFT said it polled its members twice and held two town halls before deciding which primary candidate to back.

At both Twitter and Facebook there are many teachers who are upset and angry. They intend not to follow the endorsement.

https://twitter.com/search?q=aft%20hillary&src=typd

https://www.facebook.com/AFTunion/posts/10153179896154160

Arthur Goldstein, aka TeacherArthurG is taking a poll at his NYC Educator website.

http://nyceducator.com/2015/07/hillary-and-randi.html

AFT poll turns out to actually be one of those famous 10-foot poles we've all heard so much about. We will keep you updated here at NYC Educator.

[WillyT]

23. That's What I Thought... Thanks...

[Enthusiast]

36. Just as we suspected.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

30. But isn't that the way of it all?

Sit down, shut up and vote. She's inevitable.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

16. ...

[Man of Distinction]

18. You got a problem there..

The executive council of AFT endorsed Clinton without one single input from the teachers, and they are hopping mad.

Another gunshot to the foot misfire by the Clinton surrogates.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

19. "You got a problem there..."

"You got a problem there..."

[Starry Messenger]

48. Sorry you had to Skip out.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

50. I saw what you did.

I found his tone threatening.

[Starry Messenger]

52. Threatening and familiar

I don't usually post in here, I have this forum in my trash can, but I saw that utter bs OP of his on the front page and knew it had to be countered. Luckily the admins showed him the door. Again.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

53. His profile says the account is active.

I have misbehaved on this site but threatening others posters , implicitly or explicitly, should be verboten.

[Starry Messenger]

54. Maybe we are talking about different posters?

http://election.democraticunderground.com/?com=profile&uid=324373&sub=trans

[DemocratSinceBirth]

55. I was speaking to his present reincarnation./nt

[Teacheral]

20. AFT teacher (ret.)

Many retired teachers are for Bernie. With age comes wisdom.

[Man of Distinction]

21. Won key endorsement without ONE SINGLE input from the AFT membership.

Teachers are hopping mad. Thank you, madfloridan for continuing to keep tabs on the AFT and I trust her when it comes to teachers.

[Thinkingabout]

28. Who voted to endorse, was it delegates in a convention?

[LordGlenconner]

22. Lots of hurt feelings in this thread

[Man of Distinction]

24. Uh, don't tell that to the membership..

https://www.facebook.com/AFTunion/posts/10153179896154160

[LordGlenconner]

25. There there

It'll be ok I promise. I'm sure Bern will get his share of endorsements.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

29. That's what I love about my fellow Clinton supporters, their empathy.

eom

[Historic NY]

26. They did poll their membership.......

<Weingarten and Clinton have been personal friends for years and the union threw its weight behind the Democrat during her 2008 campaign as well. In the resolution declaring its endorsement, the AFT said it polled its members twice and held two town halls before deciding which primary candidate to back.>

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/07/11/american-federation-of-teachers-clinton_n_7777410.html

[DemocratSinceBirth]

27. Don't confuse people with facts./NT

[Iliyah]

33. Already a thread claiming that did not happen

[Agschmid]

38. Now someone claiming it was a racket.

[1StrongBlackMan]

43. I'm noticing a pattern here ...

I didn't get/not getting what I want from the larger group so the larger group most be illegitimate!

[DemocratSinceBirth]

44. Who?

[Scootaloo]

31. Apparently they don't even let their membership see the candidate's answers to questions...

http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/op-ed_serving_up_a_preferred_candidate/#.VaGBlqQgGsB.twitter

This feeling was confirmed when an AFT union member contacted me this week, upset about AFT’s process for endorsing a candidate in the upcoming presidential election:

I listened to a town hall meeting from the AFT . . . The first 1/2 hour was Randi speaking about (selling) the transparency and inclusiveness (my words) of AFT leadership before they decide who to endorse for President. She talked about sending the attached questionnaire to all the candidates and receiving responses from Democrats only. After the questionnaires the candidates were invited to be interviewed.

The purpose of the town hall meeting . . . was to allow members to ask questions.

I pushed [zero] and spoke to a very friendly person. I had to tell her my question before going in the cue. My question was: “Where can I find a copy of the candidates’ answers to the questionnaires and a transcript of the interviews?” Obviously, I was not chosen to ask this question publicly. However, Randi announced that everyone who had waited and did not get a chance to ask their question could email her to get their answer.

I emailed her and this was her response: “We promised the candidates that we would not distribute questionnaires beyond the Exec Council — that’s why we are trying to do it orally as part of these Town Halls. Why don’t I send you the questionnaire and then you give me a sense of which of the questions you want answered.”

AFT political director John Ost did indeed send my contact the questionnaire, but this just raised more questions, because the candidate questionnaire clearly stated: “The AFT has prepared this questionnaire to gauge your views on issues of concern to our members . . . Please note that your answers will be made available to our members and posted on the AFT public website.”

So much for transparency and inclusiveness. Who wants to bet which of the Democratic candidates doesn’t want their positions on teachers unions and education made widely available?

[Thinkingabout]

32. Yes, looks like two polls should do the trick. I would assume you would have to be a member of this

Union in order to participate in the polling.

[LordGlenconner]

34. Some blatant lies being posted in this thread

And the others on the AFT endorsement. All supported solely by some angry posts on the organization's Facebook page and Bernie bumper stickers on cars at one of the group's chapters.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

35. Somebody in this thread linked to a facebook page with Netanyahu urinating on HRC

That's just the website I am going to take as gospel.

[Enthusiast]

37. This endorsement is a grave error.

[oasis]

39. Kicking thread for more sour grapes posts. I'll take

A stroll through the whine vineyard in the early a.m..

[DemocratSinceBirth]

47. Sour grapes make the best whine.

[PatrickforO]

40. They surveyed 1 million of 1.6 million members?

Sure they did...

So, what are all those comments from teachers saying they weren't asked?

Sounds like SOMEBODY jumped the gun!

[stevenleser]

41. I'm sure she will receive a lot more Union endorsements. Well done AFT!

[DemocratSinceBirth]

45. I expect if you looked at data teachers would be one of the most respected professions.

Our future is literally in their hands.

[99Forever]

46. I have a number of AFT family members and friends.

None, not a single one, was even asked about their opinion on this.

Saying that they aren't happy about it, is being generous.

WTG Team Hillary, piss off some people with your blatant dirty politics.

[William769]

49. Kick & Recommended.

[hrmjustin]

51. K&R!

[HooptieWagon]

56. Board member of Hillarys Super PAC endorses Hillary.

What a shock <rolleyes>
Now normally, what comes with a Union endorsement is a whole lot of volunteers for canvassing and phone-banking. In this case, Weingartner is going to have a hard time delivering...in fact, may have delivered to Sanders. Way to go!

[DemocratSinceBirth]

57. Sour grapes make the best whine.

Last edited Sun Jul 12, 2015, 03:00 PM - Edit history (1)

http://www.aft.org/sites/default/files/memo_presidentialsurvey2015.pdf

[ronnykmarshall]

58. In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 .................

Let the thread shitting begin! Oh, I see it has. I'm sure my stalker with report this.

[George II]

59. Great news - the AFT canvassed their entire membership through various means...

....and more than half participated in the polls, website questionnaires, etc., and they responded 3-1 in favor of Clinton.

[riversedge]

60. Congrats

[Little Star]

61. k&r