Dems won’t cross CBS picket line
Clinton and Edwards will miss a debate, if necessary, to honor the Hollywood writers strike.
WASHINGTON (CNN) – Three of the contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination said Wednesday that they would not participate in a Democratic National Committee sanctioned debate next month if workers for CBS go on strike.
CBS is the broadcast partner for this final DNC debate, and the network’s news writers are threatening to walk out unless an agreement on a contract can be reached. Sen. Hillary Clinton, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, and former Sen. John Edwards said they will not cross the picket line.
“The workers at CBS News have been without a contract for close to two and a half years,” Clinton said in a statement. “It is my hope that both sides will reach an agreement that results in a secure contract for the workers at CBS News but let me be clear: ‘I will honor the picket line if the workers at CBS News decide to strike.’”
Edwards expressed a similar sentiment on the eve of Thanksgiving saying he will “honor any picket lines at CBS News, up to and including the CBS presidential debate.”
He also announced that he and his wife, Elizabeth, will cancel a scheduled appearance the ABC daytime talk show, “The View” as a direct result of the current strike by the Writer’s Guild of Amerca.
The debate is scheduled to be held December 10 in Los Angeles, California. CBS news writers authorized their union leaders Thursday to commence a national strike if a contract could not be negotiated.
- CNN Political Producer Xuan Thai
Guess what, this is another example to show that Obama DOES NOT have a good judgement. As always, he always wait for the right wind. He will not go to that debate either, just wait and see. Shame on him. Shame on those who he used and not even realized.
The American union movement was at its strongest from 1945 through the sixties. The impact of unions on employers was powerful. Union actions caused most employers to provide health insurance, vacation time, higher wages, and other benefits that we all want our employers to provide. More Americans, percentage-wise, had health insurance forty years ago than have it today. Striking workers are trying to get what we all want: good salary, good benefits, good retirement, and respect at work.
The time-honored tradition among working men and women is not to cross a picket line and do business with an employer that will not settle employee grievances. A candidate who crosses a picket line is going to get a bad grade in my gradebook.
Not all employees feel this way. They have been persuaded that their own self-interest is not important and that respectable people do not want health insurance of good wages – only Liberals want that, and God knows we don't want to be thought of as Liberal, do we?
Hillary probably has learned that it is best for her to stay away from from debates anyway.It probably would just be more unanswered questions.
Good choice you two! About time politicans are showing respect for American workers. Corporate America has reduced American citizens to the status of idiots who believe only what Corporate America tells them to believe. In the meantime, our jobs have been sent out of our country in the name of the almighty dollar...Corporate America bottom line! And what is America getting in return....lead tainted toys for our children, toothpaste with antifreeze , our pets have died because of cheap labor in China and elsewhere, etc...the list goes on and on. BRING BACK THE UNIONS....we need checks and balances not only in government, but, obviously in Corporate America. Corporate America, in some instances, is getting away with murder!
The cowardice displayed by the Democrats in not crossing a picket line displays their suck up to anyone, anywhere, anytime attitude for the whole world to see and shows the lack of guts necessary to run this country.
I am glad that they did not cross the picket line. It's not about gutts, Its about respect for blue-coller workers. all the republican candidates suck-butt with the big corporations and then PRETEND to care about god while they take bribes from company's that use children over seas as personel slaves. And sign free trade agreements that have reduced our dollar to nothing more then green toilet paper, and you right-winged fanatics just believe everything your boss and the republicans tell you. go ahed and keep voting republican, but don't complain when they create a 50 hour strait-time work week. and dis-mantle O.S.H.A. and the labor board. And raise YOUR taxes AGAIN but give more tax cuts to their billionaire buddy's, and $10.00 per gallon gas. Just google your questions along with a candidates name and see the facts for yourself. Do these kind of people sound like they care about god? or you and me? I don't think so.
Real good guys WALK the line, They don't cross it! No matter WHAT!