President Obama speaks to the AFL-CIO Executive Council Meeting about the need to pursue bold, new options for the economy rather than fall back to failed policies of the past. August 4, 2010.
A couple of thoughts. First, President Obama hardly mentions the health care law which was supposed to be signature for the Democrats this fall, but in quite a few states more of a hindrance than help. Next, it was confirmed by Richard Trumka, President of the AFL-CIO that the negative language coming from the White House after the Blanche Lincoln win and the anger it caused for Union members and progressives the supposedly person(s) apologized.
The AFL-CIO chief already caused a stir in the 2010 election season when he put the union's resources behind a primary challenge to Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.). Lincoln ultimately won the nomination in a runoff election sparking a heated bit of anonymous sniping from White House officials. Trumka stressed that President Obama never talked him out of backing Lt. Gov. Bill Halter in that race. As for the nameless administration aides, he said: "The anonymous sources have [apologized]."
Lastly, the AFL-CIO from their stance will not protect many Blue Dog Democrats based on their voting records for the mid term elections in November. And that is less money in November and up to the DCCC and DSCC to protect those particular congress critters. Good luck on that one.
Transcript
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