Check For the Union Label? In a Switch, McCain Does

By: John Bentley
Topics: John McCain

(CBS)

From CBS News' John Bentley:

(CINCINNATI) – When John McCain introduced his running mate Sarah Palin to the country, he mentioned that both she and her husband were union members, and it's something either Palin or McCain bring up at almost every event.

But McCain has had some harsh words for organized labor on the campaign trail, railing against teacher's unions and being a vocal advocate for both NAFTA and the Colombian Free Trade Agreement, which are two trade issues labor unions have long opposed. So why does he bring it up?

Simple politics. It's not hard to see why, politically, McCain and Palin are touting their union connections. Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan are crucial swing states in this election, and many of the working class voters that both Democrats and Republicans are fighting over belong to labor unions.

But most unions are vocal backers of Democratic candidates, and despite McCain's receiving a few union endorsements, the majority of organized labor is lined up behind Barack Obama. The AFL-CIO, the country's largest labor federation, is spending over $50 million in grassroots efforts to criticize McCain on the internet, through robo-calls, and pamphleteering.

"Gov. Palin was quick to note her husband's membership in the United Steelworkers," said John Sweeney, president of the AFL-CIO. "Ironically, she has joined the ticket of a staunch opponent of restoring the freedom of other working men and women to form unions and bargain for a better life."

McCain has argued that some unions misuse their members' dues, and that teacher's unions have been an impediment to public education. "Sen. Obama wants our schools to answer to unions and entrenched bureaucrats," McCain said during his acceptance speech in St. Paul last week. "I want schools to answer to parents and students. And when I'm president, they will."

The McCain campaign did not respond to requests to clarify McCain's stance on organized labor or to respond to the AFL-CIO's criticism. But they should not count on the support of the labor union the candidates tout at their campaign rallies – the union that that Todd Palin belongs to, the United Steelworkers, is opposing the McCain-Palin ticket.

7 Comments Have Your Say
Email Story Send to a Friend
Share This Tell Your Friends
Tweet This Tweet This
More Share It

Add a Comment


by starleo146 September 10, 2008 7:57 PM EDT: Mc Same is for nothing, he hasn''t told me anything he is for. He is for being President at any and all costs. The man is just a nut and he should just go to bed. Karl Rove can you imagine is in his campaign Rick Davis is his campaign manager said just don''t say anything this will be about personalities not issues and the fools are going to there rally''s. with the country in a state it is in, wouldn''t you think he would tell us something, This is a election that will tell us where we are going up or down.; Reply to this comment


by starleo146 September 10, 2008 7:46 PM EDT: Gosh Sarah has a 5 month old baby, her daughter will be having a baby by election time, and she is the running mate with Mc Same. Here is my question with a 72 year old man, a 5 month old baby and a grandmother of a newborn,how many diapers will she change in a day. I bet that is the change Mc Same is talking about; Reply to this comment


by holdenlitgo September 10, 2008 4:27 AM EDT: The Republicans suddenly claiming to support unions, workers rights and collective bargaining is like the black widow spider suddenly saying she doesn''t much like to eat her husband after all so you''ll vote for her as most compassionate spider. You can put a pig (the lie) in lipstick (another lie) but it''ll still be a pig (a lie). Oink away, John Bush.; Reply to this comment


by claydowner September 10, 2008 2:20 AM EDT: We need more union organizing efforts in this country. America was a better country when we had a good 30% of workers in unions. Nowdays we barely have 12%. If McCain gets in we can expect to go backwards. I have never been in a union but I would if I had the chance. These right to work states that I have lived in are "right to starve" states. I want to see outsourcing stopped forever because I believe it is unpatriotic of American companies to do it. These companies enjoy the privileges of being in America so they can pay American wages and taxes. We also have to go after tax shelters in the Cayman Islands that hide $500 billion from federal corporate income taxes. This is disgraceful and shifts the tax burden to American families. Please vote for Obama and tell a friend to do so too.; Reply to this comment


by ibzjem September 9, 2008 8:55 PM EDT: Should Wal-Mart be worried? We should all be worried.; Reply to this comment


by mattcat25 September 9, 2008 5:02 PM EDT: you cannot trust the Republican Party, the economy is exactly the way they have worked so hard to make it. and, if re-elected it will get worse for the Average Working Class American.; Reply to this comment


by apostasyusa September 9, 2008 4:24 PM EDT: The Republicans want to change?
What did the Republican Party do when they were in power?

The GOP is moving on from what?
They have yet to admit any mistakes so, why do they need to hide from the last 8 years?

Did the White House make mistakes? Is that why Bush and Cheney can%u2019t be seen at any McCain/Republican events? Not even at the Republican National Convention?

Is the Republican Party John McCain''s now?
What do the Republicans do to "move forward"?

Which way were Republicans moving our country before?

See the GOP doesn''t want to talk about their record of the last 8 years, so instead they change the subject. The Republicans elects a doffus TWICE for President (Bush)and now I''m supposed to trust them to tell me the truth.

After a decade of endless lies and corruption from Republicans, I''m not going to trust them as far as I can spit.; Reply to this comment