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Obama: Teamsters' New Ally?
The Wall Street Journal reports today that Obama won the endorsement from the organization of James P. Hoffa's (son of former Teamster's President Jimmy Hoffa, whose 1975 disappearance is still fodder for lore and mystery) in February after the Democratic presidential hopeful said privately he was in favor of ending the strict government oversight of the group to root out corruption. Monitoring of the union has largely been left to the Justice Department. Hoffa - who has been campaigning for Obama in Pennsylvania and Indiana, the latter of which has its primary tomorrow - has been advocating for an easing of oversight since he became union president in 1999.
Hoffa says it's Obama's criticism of the North American Free Trade Agreement that won the group's support.
Both camps say there was no quid pro quo between the endorsement and oversight issue. Obama today denied any sort of agreement between the two.
"I wouldn't make any blanket commitments," Obama said this morning on "Good Morning America." "What I've said is I would examine what is going on in terms of the federal oversight that's been taking place.
"The union has done a terrific job cleaning house. The question is whether they're going to be able to get treated like every other union. Whether that time has come is something I'll absolutely examine when I'm president of the United States."
But John Coli, vice president for the Teamsters central region, told the Journal that in a series of phone conversations and meetings with Teamsters officials last year, Obama was "pretty definitive that the time had come to start the beginning of the end" of the three-member independent review board that investigates suspect activity in the union. An Obama spokesman confirmed the senator's position to the Journal. A Teamsters spokesman said only the courts can get rid of oversight, not the president. But the president can appoint people to the Justice Department and the courts who favor ending the oversight.
As for Hillary Clinton, Coli said was more "wishy washy" on lifting the consent decree during discussions with the organization. Politico's Ben Smith obtained audio of Clinton's endorsement meeting with the Teamsters, in which she may have also suggested that the decree should be lifted.
Recent Comments
(Page 1 of 2)JOHN4:34PMMay 5th 2008
During a Michelle Obama appearance at Carnegie Mellon University, the school paper The Tartan reported the attention-getting phrase:
The Tartan's correspondents observed one event coordinator say to another, "Get me more white people, we need more white people." To an Asian girl sitting in the back row, one coordinator said, "We're moving you, sorry. It's going to look so pretty, though."
"I didn't know they would say, 'We need a white person here,' " said attendee and senior psychology major Shayna Watson, who sat in the crowd behind Mrs. Obama. "I understood they would want a show of diversity, but to pick up people and to reseat them, I didn't know it would be so outright."
tzada4:37PMMay 5th 2008
Could this be why some Union Members want him?
In Obama's own words, following his defeat in Ohio. His speech begins, “Change the world“ “ He grins, the grim reaper lying beneath, “It was stated by members of the BLACK UNION that now is time for REVENGE through CHANGE.”
tedman184:45PMMay 5th 2008
News is big - big scandal - too late for NC and IN
Thank god for superdelegates
This will play larger then REV Wright - and is uglee
All if true --- and it sure seems true
I do not think BO will be able to say he is a little pregnant on this one
And it will be one more skeleton in the closet and shed negative light on the change agent of clean health -- supers will do the job -
This if shown to be more true then false is the type that can make some supers switch back to the devil they know from this growing devil
NO matter what - short of muders charges against both HRC and BO - I vote either DEM
tedman184:45PMMay 5th 2008
GAME Changer if true
M2D54:59PMMay 5th 2008
The Teamsters obviously want Obama because, like they said, and like it is being reported, Obama made a promise that he would get rid of federal scrutiny on their(likely) mafia-esque dealings.
Please explain "their(likely) mafia-esque dealings"
As a one time member of Local #25, Charlestown, MA.,
I would appreciate your expounding on this statement.
Or is that all you have where a labor organization has backed a candidate based upon some statement he made.
Katherine5:21PMMay 5th 2008
M2D5:
Oh, I'm sorry, I don't know what on earth I was talking about, the Teamsters don't have that sort of reputation AT ALL...noooo.
tedman185:25PMMay 5th 2008
WOW
The Ben Smith's transcription (if accurate) shows HRC also toyed and hinted and had overcourse
But -- if her words are on tape - I am sure that Obama's words are on tape
I WONDER WHY THE TEAMSTER DUDE SAID THAT BO MADE THE DEAL (OR GOT MUCH CLOSER) AND DID NOT SAY HRC ALSO FLIRTED
I have a feeling everyone plays a game - but the teamsters were able to somehow get more of a committment from BO --- the WSJ is not a newspaper to report bullsheet
(Oh and there is a poster at Barack Huffington who is saying he has the definitve answer on whites and any shift etc. It is nice stuff - nice analysis.
Only problem is as scientists say -- it is a single cell experiment and as such not worth much.
The math was done on the NYT only - one newspaper - one poll.
Given how the polls have been wrong - especially wrong on racial issue questions - and how the polls differ so much (NYT vs Gallup vs USA vs Fox etc) - using one poll is not scientific no matter how nicely you do the math
But it gets interesing - and the news is moving faster then internet speed
Oh well - we will see the vote - IN and NC
Oh well - we will see if one is indeed dirty on Teamsters
And boy I am glad I am not a super
Vote DEM and DEM and DEM
Goldbraid5:54PMMay 5th 2008
This is the United States of America, we are one Nation under GOD. If the racist inspired blacks and muslims want to RIOT we will kick their ass. America will never be held hostage to THREATS OF VIOLENCE and OUR ELECTION will definitely NOT BE FIXED by fear of intimidation or violence.
VOTE HILLARY FOR PRESIDENT. OUR ONLY SANE CHOICE
ChaChaCha6:06PMMay 5th 2008
OH WONDERFUL, "Hillary was wishy-washy" just NOT what we need and on top of all the other reasons we do NOT need Hillary, she easily adds another one. Maybe the longer she talks the more who WANT a wishy-washy president WILL FINALLY GET IT!!!
OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT 2008 and 2012
PRESIDENT BARRACK OBAMA
ChaChaCha6:07PMMay 5th 2008
Hillary is INSANE and so is Katherine who likes someone who is wishy washy.
DUMB DUCKS FOR HILLARY.
CANNOT SEE THE FOREST FOR THE TREES.
ChaChaCha6:15PMMay 5th 2008
OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT.
INDIANA GO VOTE OBAMA!! He IS OUR HOPE to getting things turned around.
Iran pulled out of the talks with the USA since BIG MOUTH HILLARY said we would obliterate IRAN if they touched Israel with a nuclear weapon. SHE IS NUTS.
OBAMA OUR ONLY HOPE. Hillary doesn't know gunfire from bananas. I am a woman and I wouldn't let this woman in my home, EVER. Why put her in the WHITE HOUSE again. She and her husband already stole when they left the White House, STEALING< LYING, CHEATING, IMPEACHED PEOPLE !!!! KEEP THEM OUT. We are lucky to have OBAMA. One decent human being as President.
One YOU CAN trust. One who tells it like it is. One who will BE PRESIDENT and NOT HAND IT OVER TO the LOBBYIST, etc. etc. SAY NO TO HILLARY. HAVE COURAGE TO STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT!!!!!!!
ChaChaCha6:25PMMay 5th 2008
AND NOT ONE PIECE OF EVIDENCE showing OBAMA as being corrupt in any way but your own brain!!! lol
Another DUMB DUCK for Hillary!! Well, if she gets it folks, YOU will be sitting in her BS, and YOURS, with her.
ChaChaCha6:26PMMay 5th 2008
AND Hillary doesn't SET THE STAGE with BLACKS? lol
TOO FUNNY.
ChaChaCha6:35PMMay 5th 2008
TO INDIANA!!!
SAY NO TO HILLARY CLINTON!! (you don't have to tell anybody--noone will know) Vote with COURAGE and VOTE FOR CHANGE in this system or we will be sitting here with EXACTLY the same old, SAME OLD. THE CLINTONS ARE KNOWN LIARS, KNOWN THIEVES, KNOWN WEALTHY AND WELL CONNECTED and NOT GOOD FOR THE PEOPLE of this USA. VOTE OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT. WE NEED HIM AND HE NEEDS US.
Bob Olear6:42PMMay 5th 2008
This man is fluent in his speech only when it is prepared in advance- He stumbles, mumbles, repeats, he`s and haw`s and still has problems communicating. I like the guy but he needs more seasoning. Can you imagine him with world leaders. What a farce. It`s got to be Clinton/Obama for the first 8, then reverse it. Do it! or lose it.
ChaChaCha6:47PMMay 5th 2008
What is the matter with you people?? Scared to read the TRUTH about Hillary and Hillary DITTO HEADS??
LOL
DUMB DUCKS FOR PRESIDENT to be? HILLARY!!!
bet you are eating your chicken dinners to keep up your dumb duck chickens courage....sad lot you all are.
Diane7:17PMMay 5th 2008
Obama rants every 6 minutes he is above the old politics. Yet, every time you turn around, Obama is playing the dirty political game.
cat7:38PMMay 5th 2008
I've been wondering what's putting so much money into Obama's pockets, why he's so hooked up with San Francisco billionaires, and why certain groups are flocking to endorse a man with no proven record. Clearly, something is being promised, more than just "hope and change and improved race relations".
Must be nice to have a neophyte patsy president in your pocket, whether you're a grasping pol like Richardson, or a shady union boss, or a corporate megamillionaire.
I guess those people looked at the three contenders for president and figured out who was easiest to turn towards corruption, and easiest to manipulate once in office.
Look for a lot of people to get their payoffs, if Obama gets into the White House.
smc8:06PMMay 5th 2008
Diane Sawyer raised this so-called promise on Good Morning America today. Obama squirmed all over, denying he had made such a promise...just that he would look into it!!!!!!
This guy is a phoney folks....he is another George W..."tell them anything" then do what you want"
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Katherine3:53PMMay 5th 2008
Oh gawd, look at Obama in the video trying to reverse and distort what he said again.
The Teamsters obviously want Obama because, like they said, and like it is being reported, Obama made a promise that he would get rid of federal scrutiny on their(likely) mafia-esque dealings.
Good thing Hillary was "wishy washy," GOOD. So "wishy washy" the Teamsters realized she wouldn't help them to carry out any illegal crap.
Obama is so corrupt. Does this surprise anyone? Rezko and their Chicago mafia are Obama's 20 year + close associates.