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Cross-posted from TeamstersForObama.org, find out how to get your Members-Only Password
The Teamsters Union was dragged into the ugliness of Democratic primary politics on Monday after a Wall Street Journal story inferred that Sen. Barack Obama made a secret quid pro quo promise to lift the federal consent decree on the union in exchange for its endorsement.
The article read:
Sen. Barack Obama won the endorsement of the Teamsters earlier this year after privately telling the union he supported ending the strict federal oversight imposed to root out corruption, according to officials from the union and the Obama campaign.
It's an unusual stance for a presidential candidate. Policy makers have largely treated monitoring of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters as a legal matter left to the Justice Department since an independent review board was set up in 1992 to eliminate mob influence in the union.
Sen. Obama's rival for the Democratic nomination, Sen. Hillary Clinton, has declined to take a stance on Teamsters oversight. During his eight years in office, President Bill Clinton took no action to end the special board. Democratic presidential nominees in 2000 and 2004 -- Al Gore and John Kerry -- didn't address the issue, according to Teamsters officials.Neither Sen. Obama nor Teamsters President James P. Hoffa has spoken publicly about easing up federal oversight, a top priority for Mr. Hoffa since he became union president in 1999. On the campaign trail, Mr. Hoffa stresses Sen. Obama's criticism of the North American Free Trade Agreement as the big factor in winning the 1.4-million member union's support.
During a campaign conference call with reporters, the Clinton campaign was quick to paint Obama as saying one thing in private and another in public.
However, the Clinton camp's accusations quickly backfired when we released audio clips of her and Sen. John Edwards essentially agreeing with Obama.
Here's the IBT statement on the matter:
Statement of Bret Caldwell, Director of Communications
"The Wall Street Journal's story on Senator Barack Obama's position on the Teamsters’ consent decree draws inferences that are simply incorrect.
"On March 27, 2007, Senators Obama, Clinton and Edwards each made statements to the union’s General Executive Board supporting the Teamsters Union's efforts to bring an end to the consent decree that has been in effect for nearly 20 years. Though the union appreciates each candidate's support for its efforts, the Teamsters Union knows that closure to the consent decree will come through the legal process, not politics.
"Though the Clinton campaign has tried to state that Senator Obama's position changed during an appearance on ABC this morning, nothing could be further from the truth. This is clearly a political ploy with no substance.
"The Teamsters Union endorsed Senator Obama because of his support of fair trade, the Employee Free Choice Act, the creation of a striker replacement law as well as his sponsorship of legislation on the misclassification of workers and the Employer Patriot Act – among many, many other issues. He is the one candidate who can bring America together and get the job done.
"Further, the Teamsters endorsement followed a lengthy process that included the scientific polling of our membership and surveys of our local union leadership. Senator Obama was the clear choice.
"Senator Obama is the one candidate who will stand up for all workers."
Here are the clips themselves, as well as transcripts. Judge for yourselves:
"Well look, this, under President Hoffa's leadership, I think the union has been transformed. I think that's the assessment, generally. And the problem is you have an administration that hasn't been particularly friendly to the union spirit and this union in particular. And I think that if you've got somebody in the White House that you know and you trust and you've got history with, then you are going to see a change in terms of how we evaluate these consent decrees. Now obviously, there is a legal aspect to it. It's got to run through the paces to make sure all the t's are crossed and the i's are dotted. And so, I don't want to talk as if I snap my fingers and suddenly it happens, but as president with the authority to appoint an attorney general who actually *understands* the law..." (laughter/applause).
"You know, I am of the opinion that based on what I’ve seen over years of observation, this union has really done a tremendous job in turning itself around. That’s my observation. At some point the past has to be opened. If you screw up in the future, that’ll be a new day, right? That’s the way the system works. But you gotta – you can’t go around dragging the ball and chain of the past. And I think that’s true for anybody, any organization, any individual, you know, and so I would be very open to looking at that and to saying, what is it we’re trying to accomplish here? And seeing what the answers were because at some point turn the page and go on."
"Well, I know you have spent millions of dollars on this very issue. I know that the problems that were there originally have been eliminated. I don't know precisely what you have to do to proceed, belive it I want to work with you to help you to get out from under the consent decree."
Where to find your Members-Only TeamstersForObama.com Password
Look on the Contents page of the March/April issue of Teamster magazine. For more options, visit the TeamstersForObama.com.
