Last Tuesday, the Democratic candidates for president squared off for their debate before an audience of 12,000 union members, their friends and families. What ensued was an extraordinary amount of anti-business pandering. Each candidate is hungry for an endorsement from the 10-million member AFL-CIO. In order to win that endorsement some of the candidates issued outrageous statements about pulling out of NAFTA and the WTO.
It was, of course, ironic to see those who voted for NAFTA choosing to decry its effects simply because the AFL-CIO thinks it was a disaster.
The 12,000 attendees whooped and hollered when the candidates offered their unrealistic prescriptions, which - if enacted - would significantly damage Corporate America and the economy. It’s a shame that such obvious pandering passes for political debate. If one had wanted to discuss labor relations in a thoughtful manner, the debate last Tuesday did not provide such a forum.
AFL-CIO leaders and members obviously feel that the candidates are in their debt, for the union believes that it was instrumental in helping the Democrats win majorities in the House and Senate.
In order to further enhance their self-proclaimed king-making power, the union will no doubt wait until a front runner emerges before issuing an endorsement. It’s called a self-fulfilling prophecy.
