Teamsters Endorse Franken
Friday, June 29, 2007 at 12:54 pm
- 8 Comments
Teamsters Joint Council 32 has endorsed Al Franken in his U.S. Senate bid. The organization represents more than 50,000 active and retired union members.
In a prepared release, Council President Dan Fortier said, “Al Franken is Minnesota’s candidate for working families. Norm Coleman has repeatedly abandoned Minnesota working families. We need a senator who will fight for better jobs – and Al Franken is the man for the job.”
The release from the Franken campaign also included notes of endorsements from several state legislators, including freshman Rep. Shelley Madore, DFL-Apple Valley, and veteran fellow freshman Rep. Tom Anzelc, DFL-Balsam Township, from the Iron Range.
In 2006, the Teamsters endorsed Mike Hatch for governor, Amy Klobuchar for U.S. Senate, and Christian Sande for secretary of state before the DFL convention in June.
The full text of the release can be found below.
***Updated — thanks for the fix***Teamsters, Seven More Legislators Endorse Al!
____________________________________________________________
SAINT PAUL[6/29/07] – U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken today received the endorsement of Teamsters Joint Council 32, which represents over 50,000 active and retired Teamsters in Minnesota, as well as Teamsters Local 120, which is the largest in the state.
Joint Council 32 President Dan Fortier made the announcement in a release, saying:
“Al Franken is Minnesota’s candidate for working families. Norm Coleman has repeatedly abandoned Minnesota working families. We need a Senator who will fight for better jobs – and Al Franken is the man for the job.”
Brad Slawson Jr., Chairman of Teamsters Local 120 PAC, added:
“We intend to turn out the vote for Al Franken. We will put the boots on the ground and fight to elect Al Franken. His election will allow us to use politics to bargain better contracts, protect American jobs, and organize new workers.”
Quote from Al Franken:
“I’m honored to receive the Teamsters’ support. Working families deserve access to quality health care, an affordable college education for their children, decent jobs at decent wages, and a secure retirement. Every one of these things is increasingly at risk today, and labor is the most effective line of defense for our middle class. Norm Coleman hasn’t stood up for Minnesota’s working families in the Senate. I will.
The Teamsters endorsement marks the second significant labor endorsement of the Senate race and the second for Al’s campaign in as many months. The United Steelworkers District 11 endorsed Al in May.
* * *
In addition, Al Franken for Senate released the names of seven more Minnesota state legislators who have endorsed Al. They are: Sen. Dan Larson (Bloomington), Rep. Tom Anzelc (Balsam Township), Rep. Kent Eken (Twin Valley), Rep. Shelley Madore (Apple Valley), Rep. Tim Mahoney (St. Paul), Rep. Nora Slawik (Maplewood), and Rep. Tom Tilberry (Fridley).
This brings the number of Minnesota state legislators who have endorsed Al to 26: ten state Senators and sixteen state Representatives, including at least one from each congressional district. Al has also been endorsed by State Auditor Rebecca Otto.
Rep. Anzelc’s endorsement gives Al the first legislative endorsement from the Iron Range.
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8 Comments
Comment posted June 29, 2007 @ 1:42 pm
ok, since someone has to say it That’s not a very reassuring record…
>>>In 2006, the Teamsters endorsed Mike Hatch for Governor, Amy Klobuchar for U.S. Senate, and Christian Sande for Secretary of State before the DFL convention in June.
Comment posted June 30, 2007 @ 11:50 am
racing to a cliff I am a loyal union member myself, but it seems to me that some unions have been caught up in a frantic search for a bandwagon, hoping against hope for a victory against Republicans. We saw it with Kerry in 04, with Hatch in 06 and I think we are seeing it now. The problem is, nobody is actually looking very hard for who would actually make the best senator. In neglecting that vital question and in trying to stampede everyone into a “winning” candidate’s camp, Democrats keep supporting candidates that most voters just can’t vote for. Voters sense the fraud.
The saddest part of all is when unions support candidates who aren’t actually very strong on issues which would benefit their memberships, because they are continually backing candidates who aren’t actually very strong on issues or substance at all. I think unions would actually be ahead if they backed the best candidate, not the most focused-grouped candidate or the candidate with the biggest campaign chest. By continuing down this destructive path, they are actually throwing away the considerable power of a union endorsement.
Comment posted July 1, 2007 @ 9:05 am
Teamsters leadership just another arm of the Democrat party Giving their endorsement to a DFLer is about as predictable as the sun rising in the east.
Comment posted June 29, 2007 @ 8:42 am
ok, since someone has to say it That's not a very reassuring record…
>>>In 2006, the Teamsters endorsed Mike Hatch for Governor, Amy Klobuchar for U.S. Senate, and Christian Sande for Secretary of State before the DFL convention in June.
Comment posted June 30, 2007 @ 6:50 am
racing to a cliff I am a loyal union member myself, but it seems to me that some unions have been caught up in a frantic search for a bandwagon, hoping against hope for a victory against Republicans. We saw it with Kerry in 04, with Hatch in 06 and I think we are seeing it now. The problem is, nobody is actually looking very hard for who would actually make the best senator. In neglecting that vital question and in trying to stampede everyone into a “winning” candidate's camp, Democrats keep supporting candidates that most voters just can't vote for. Voters sense the fraud.
The saddest part of all is when unions support candidates who aren't actually very strong on issues which would benefit their memberships, because they are continually backing candidates who aren't actually very strong on issues or substance at all. I think unions would actually be ahead if they backed the best candidate, not the most focused-grouped candidate or the candidate with the biggest campaign chest. By continuing down this destructive path, they are actually throwing away the considerable power of a union endorsement.
Comment posted July 1, 2007 @ 4:05 am
Teamsters leadership just another arm of the Democrat party Giving their endorsement to a DFLer is about as predictable as the sun rising in the east.
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