Shipyard union claims presidential endorsement (Edwards) silenced

http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071231/GJNEWS_01/143189756

By ADAM D. KRAUSS
akrauss@fosters.com
Article Date: Monday, December 31, 2007

KITTERY, Maine -- The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Metal Trades Council was finalizing plans to announce a presidential candidate earlier this month when “DC leadership” stopped the process, according to the local union president.

“We were about to embark on the process that would not favor the beltway candidate,” MTC President Paul O'Connor said Monday, referring to Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.

Earlier today, Somersworth resident John Joyal, who belongs to another Shipyard union, fired off a letter to newspapers saying shipyard workers did their homework and “the endorsement has taken place, however word has it the BIG shots in DC wouldn't let the message be heard publicly.”

Joyal, a member of the American Federation of Government Employees, also offered up his personal endorsement of former. Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C.

“I have a sneaking suspicion that people inside the beltway are trying to pick our candidate, and I'm offended by it,” he said in an interview.

O'Connor, who personally backs Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., would not say who the MTC was poised to endorse, but he made it clear it was not going to be Clinton.

FULL story at link.