Clinton claims union intimidation by Obama backers

Source: Newsday

ELKO, Nev. - Hillary Rodham Clinton spent her final day of campaigning in Nevada launching blistering attacks on Barack Obama, culminating in a charge that his most powerful union backer is intimidating members who support her.

Speaking to supporters in this mile-high mining town, Clinton accused Obama's organizers from the 60,000-member Culinary Workers Union Local 226 of seeking to keep those in the union who support her from participating in Saturday's caucuses.

"We know there are some unions in the South who are telling people who to caucus for and if they're not going to caucus for who they choose, don't come at all," said Clinton, who offered no direct evidence. She cited press accounts, a phone-in caller to a local radio show, blogs and "anecdotes" from her campaign workers.

Read more: http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-usnev0119,0,3127594.story?coll=ny_home_rail_headlines

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Isn't the point of a union endorsement to advise people who to vote for?

this will tear up their membership because of the shortsightedness of the leadership.

but the story about the non-English speaking union rep telling the union member that they have to vote for Obama is ripe for the 'fraid of immigrants sect'.

...they'd have their schedules changed so they'd be working at caucus-time.

If this is true, it should result in some jail time, but at the same time I find it thoroughly unsurprising (a union using mob tactics in Vegas? Naw....).

Get off it. Hillary was all for the sites till they picked Obama.

In the General.

The Clinton's have never been friends of Labor...now to imply that union goons are interfering is just too much.
Frankly, I don't understand why any union would endorse Hillary anyway...but then, I have been around when my local and National union made such decisions and, I'm sad to say, it is often based on who they think will win and who will give them access to the Portals of Power. Sad thing is, the candidates all love the unions when its election time and then they don't respond to our issues when they win. The best they can expect to see is the fanning of the union leadership egos but no real commitment to the core values of the Labor movement.
Edwards only got 4%??? wow...and he had the most to say about labor and the two Americas. I'm depressed by it all.

works well for the next Clinton Whitehouse.

The weaker that Labor is in January 2009 the better for President Clinton II

Guess what? Clinton is very much the favorite in these states.

.... getting a bit fed up with the constant whining and complaining of the Clintons? As a long time supporter, I do not like the direction they've taken, and will say that they've definitely come down a few notches in my estimation.

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http://www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/early-line/2008/jan/16/
The pro-Obama newspaper ran an update: Obama quickly had a Union Head trotted out to announce the Union had investigated the Union and found the Union was Not Guilty.

NBC asked the campaign about Bill Clinton's original charge that when he went to casino a union official was threatening culinary workers that said they supported Hillary. The campaign response was "we'll get back to you later."

No evidence at all of what the Clintons alleged.

What a couple of scumbags the Clintons are. Is this the way they are going to run the country?

J

This routine will really endear Hillary to the fence sitter independents she needs to win the general election. <sarcasm>

And some from the union could have sounded a little demanding in requesting the pledge card for Obama be signed.

I am sure no union would ever ever attempt to intimidate its members. :sarcasm:

Her father said she was with him when they witnessed the suppression. I'd like to know if she is going to back him up in these allegations.