AFSCME and UNITE Here Need To Cut It Out

Though John Edwards got quite a bit of union support, his backers never crossed the line in terms of advocating for their candidate. Two unions - one for Clinton, one for Obama - are doing so, and are really sullying the union name. And they need to stop.

AFSCME and UNITE Here are both responsible for some of the lower moments in this campaign. AFSCME dropped ugly mailers unfairly questioning Obama's record on abortion in New Hampshire. Their organizers pushed very hard against the line of union rules in Nevada. They dropped mailers in Florida, against DNC rules (Gerald McEntee was in the state for a few days, I understand). And UNITE Here is no better. They intimidated their workers in Nevada, trying to force them to vote for Obama (AFSCME ended up organizing inside their union, and were more successful). They ran the Spanish-language ad that basically said "Hillary doesn't care about Hispanic voters." They ALSO dropped literature in Florida.

90% of the lowball tactics in this primary have been carried out by these two unions. I think it's wrong for Clinton, particularly Bill Clinton, to ascribe these "union boss" stereotypes in describing them. But if the show fits...

There's advocacy and there's harm, and that's what AFSCME and UNITE Here are engaging in, harming their candidates and harming the union movement. In a time where the movement is finally starting to grow again, this is a real turn-off.