Praise for Unions, Moments of Disunity at Democrats’ AFL-CIO Forum

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.cqpolitics.com/2007/08/praise_for_unions_moments_of_d.html

Praise for Unions, Moments of Disunity at Democrats’ AFL-CIO Forum
By CQ Staff | 11:30 PM; Aug. 07, 2007 | Email This Article

By Sara Lubbes, CQ Staff

Seven of the candidates seeking the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination squared off Tuesday in a 95-minute debate at Chicago’s Soldier Field. The event, sponsored by the AFL-CIO, the nation’s largest organized labor federation, was broadcast live by MSNBC from the stadium — better known as home to football’s Chicago Bears — and was moderated by Keith Olbermann, host of the network’s nightly news and commentary show, “Countdown.”

On stage for the event were the candidates who have consistently topped the field in polls: front-running New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards. Also participating were New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, Connecticut Sen. Christopher Dodd, Delaware Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Ohio Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich. Only former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel, whose campaign for the Democratic nomination appears quixotic, was missing from the group of candidates who have appeared at previous candidate debates and forums.

Olbermann — known for his liberal leanings and open mocking of the rival and more conservative-oriented Fox News Channel — delivered a mix of questions, some focusing on workers’ issues, others on the war in Iraq and other foreign policy questions. Seeking to maintain a quick pace and give all the candidates a say, Olbermann asked for brief responses to questions such as whether candidates would define China as an “ally or an adversary” or if they believe presidential races are too long.

There also was some audience participation, with Olbermann asking some questions sent in by MSNBC viewers, and some members of the large AFL-CIO audience on hand at the stadium also getting time at the microphone.

The following is a roundup of some of the debate’s key moments:

Most Discussed Issue: Taking note of the union audience, Olbermann focused most of his questions on issues facing American workers and controversial aspects of U.S. trade policy, asking the candidates what they viewed as the best way to create new jobs and whether they would “fix or scrap” the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico.

FULL story at link.