(VOR News) – Reactions from several Democrats overnight followed the news that the Teamsters, under General President Sean O’Brien, had decided against receiving a presidential endorsement.
“Sadly, neither major candidate was able to make significant pledges to our union to guarantee that working people’s interests always come first,” O’Brien said in a statement.
Native Boston-area Congressman Jim McGovern, D-Mass., called former President Donald Trump the “most anti-labor president we have ever had.” O’Brien hails from the Boston area as well.
“It’s clear that these workers are misinformed or ignorant about Trump’s record on labour,” McGovern said to the Washington Times. “His loyalty isn’t to working people.”
Leading Democrat on the House Rules Committee McGovern said unequivocally that Trump supports “rich people” above the working class.
The Teamsters have never released a non-endorsement since the 1996 contest between Republican Kansas senator Bob Dole and former President Bill Clinton. Former President George H.W. Bush, who beat Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis, received last support from the GOP in 1988.
Democrat from Nevada Rep. Steven Horsford tweeted that Harris’ tie-breaking Senate vote was taken “to protect Teamsters’ pensions.”
Horsford said Nevada Teamsters councils backed Harris without national approval.
“She’s defending us,” said Horsford. Concurrent with Horsford, Sen. Catherine Cortez-Masto, D-Nev., said the Teamsters in the Silver State “know that Kamala Harris is a fighter for our union workers.”
“I learned it from my father, a Teamster in Las Vegas: when we stand together, we win,” Cortez-Masto said. Former Democratic California House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, meantime, called the Teamsters’ choice “disappointing.”
More Trump turned down backing a Teamsters pension bill. Biden- Harris and Democrats saved Teamsters pensions in the Butch Lewis Act of our American Rescue Plan without a single Republican vote, she said on X, the former Twitter platform.
Still, Trump called Harris’ lack of endorsement a “great honour” for him.
“They will not support the Democrats. It’s a significant matter,” Trump said in his campaign in New York City. The internal Teamsters ballot indicates that the GOP candidate has over 60% of the organization’s total membership supporting him.
Prominent progressive in Congress Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington called the non-endorsement “unfortunate” but pointed out that Harris is still backed by the Evergreen State’s sub-council.
“I think you’ll see more Teamsters nationwide,” she told the Times.
Democrat from New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez shot O’Brien more directly, saying that the national head has been “boosting Republicans all year while supporting anti-worker, anti-choice Senate candidates.”
The BBC claims that O’Brien has allegedly spoken with a couple Republican senators, including JD Vance (R-Ohio) and Sens. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.). Still, Hawley lately had support from the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail & Transportation union.
Still, the organization did endorse two candidates for U.S. Senate: D-Ariz. Representative Ruben Gallego and D-Calif. Representative Adam Schiff.
According to a statement taken from many sources, Harris “literally walked the picket line,” while Trump believes striking staff should be sacked.
Lauren Hitt said, “The Vice President’s strong union record is why Teamsters locals across the country have already endorsed her — alongside the overwhelming majority of organised labour.”
In response, a council in Pennsylvania, a pivotal swing state with 35,000 Teamsters, ignored O’Brien’s lack of support and backed Harris.
Harris was unanimously chosen by the Teamsters Joint Council 40 board, representing Pittsburgh, Erie, State College, and Washington, on a separate vote.
Council president Carl Bailey said Pittsburgh Tribune-Review “she is the best for our locals and the best for our unions.”
During a 2023 hearing, Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Oklahoma and O’Brien nearly got into a physical fight; Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., had to intervene after Mullin got up from his chair following the two men’s yells at each other to “stand your butt up.” This indicates O’Brien’s ease with sparring Republicans.
SOURCE: FN
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