BREAKING: United Farm Workers Support Hillary

It's official, the union begun by Cesar Chavez has given full support to HRC.

I checked to see if this has been reported here, but couldn't find any mention so I'm posting this. Don't know if I'm going against dKos rules. Sorry, if so.

CBS News site and others reporting this information.

http://www.cbsnews.com/...

For a full history of Chavez and the farm workers movement:

http://www.ufw.org/

•  This IS big news n/t

  I love their movement.  And I hope a bunch of the workers join ours of hope.

  by CupofTea on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 07:36:18 PM PDT

  •  You may want to make this

    a little more of a diary to get attention.

    by CupofTea on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 07:37:10 PM PDT

    •  Let's build a diary: Here's the UFW's history

      http://www.ufw.org/...

      A noble story every American ought to know. . . .

      by Cream City on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 07:44:51 PM PDT

    •  In a hurry and just wanted to alert everyone.

      Sorry I don't have time for more. I did add the UFW link.

      by auapplemac on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 08:04:41 PM PDT

    •  Plenty enough for me.

      best diary of the day in my estimation.

      by JamesBrown4ever on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 09:10:25 PM PDT

•  this is big news for Hillary --

  Cesar Chavez is a historical figure in California and elsewhere.  

  Let's see if it gets even half the media attention that Local 226 union's endorsement in Nevada received.

  by historyrocks on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 07:38:30 PM PDT

  •  we'll see if it does them any good

    The Culinary Union didn't come through in Nevada, and its tactics actually backfired.

    Also, union members aren't following their bosses.  I'm not sure if this will have much of an effect--especially since Hispanics are so likely to be Hillary voters anyway.

    by thereisnospoon on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 07:46:01 PM PDT

    •  Sounds like sour grapes

      Just because Obama lost Nevada doesn't mean the endorsement was worthless.  And while she already has most Hispanics, it's the margin that matters.

      by Partially Impartial on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 07:50:44 PM PDT

      •  will you cut it with the sour grapes already?

        the culinaries didn't come through.  The casinos actually underperformed for Obama versus much of the rest of the state.

        I admit that their tactics were unacceptable.  They were a little dirty--and I don't like that.  And it backfired on them--just like Hillary's dirty and cheating tactics will backfire on her with all the Obama supporters who saw them and will stay home rather than work for her.

        Meanwhile, with 60-20 margins with Hispanics as it is, it's not going to be much worse than that.

        Finally, the unions are not nearly as influential as you might think.  Low-information voters--even Hispanics--have no idea who Dolores Huerta is.

        by thereisnospoon on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 07:58:53 PM PDT

    •  Totally different situation

      Aside from the Culinary Union's [alleged] strong-arm tactics, the problem with their endorsement was that it came a bit late, and they failed to adequately train their members regarding the intricacies of Nevada's caucusing process (or so I read).

      by Trix on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 08:12:25 PM PDT

      •  that was part of it

        the other part was that AFSCME was organizing within the Culinaries, and that the Clintons did everything in their power to blow them up from the inside.

        by thereisnospoon on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 08:44:33 PM PDT

        •  Link? (nt)

          by Cream City on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 08:48:50 PM PDT

          •  no link

            just a lot of info from folks on the ground.  I was in Nevada and I talked to a lot of people.

            by thereisnospoon on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 08:49:41 PM PDT

        •  What do you mean...

          organizing within the Culinaries?

          Are there people who are members of both unions?

          I'm not quite sure that I understand what you're getting at.

          by Trix on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 08:53:15 PM PDT

          •  all I know is what I was told

            by three different people in a good position to know in the Obama campaign.

            I can't prove any of it, and it could be BS.  But it's what I was told.

            by thereisnospoon on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 08:55:08 PM PDT

            •  Fair enough, but...

              I still don't know what you mean about the AFSCME "organizing within the Culinaries".

              Could you possibly elaborate on that a little.

              Thanks.

              by Trix on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 08:57:04 PM PDT

              •  i don't know the details

                Just that AFSCME bosses supposedly went straight to Culinary workers--who don't necessarily or particularly like their hard-nose union bosses--and organized them for Hillary (especially the Hispanics) out from under the Culinary bosses.

                It could all be BS for all I know.

                by thereisnospoon on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 09:06:20 PM PDT

                •  Thanks for trying to clarify that

                  I guess what I'm really asking is if there's any connection between the Culinary Union and the AFSCME... are they under the same umbrella organization or something?

                  If not, what possible sway could AFSCME bosses have over Culinary Union workers?

                  I don't really know much about unions or how they're structured, having never been a member of one myself.

                  Again, I appreciate your trying to answer my questions.

                  :-)

                  by Trix on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 09:10:56 PM PDT

                  •  sure thing

                    i'm no expert myself.

                    by thereisnospoon on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 09:13:29 PM PDT

                    •  I also appreciated...

                      your repeatedly saying "it could all be BS".

                      As you may have noticed, in my original comment I referred to the "[alleged] strong-arm tactics".

                      There's not enough of that sort of qualification around here, IMO.

                      by Trix on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 09:16:21 PM PDT

                      •  meh--i'm told even by people low in the Obama

                        campaign that some strongarm tactics were probably used--and that they neither condoned nor supported such things.

                        by thereisnospoon on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 09:18:11 PM PDT

                        •  Well...

                          I'm just glad that you and I are able to carry on a civil conversation, despite our respective candidate preferences.

                          ;-)

                          by Trix on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 09:19:49 PM PDT

                          •  oh sure--me too

                            i can handle honest conversation and debate.  I won't deny my own candidate's faults, either.

                            by thereisnospoon on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 09:20:40 PM PDT

                            •  I try not to get into heated exchanges...

                              But when I do, if it's someone I know/respect, I always try to let them know afterwards that it's not personal and whatnot.

                              And I don't deny Hillary's faults either... nor do I defend them.

                              I also don't mind calling out fellow Hillary supporters when I see them doing stuff like calling Obama "BHO"... I don't like that one bit.

                              by Trix on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 09:26:49 PM PDT

                              •  I don't mean to imply that..

                                I thought our exchange was heated... I obviously didn't.

                                :-)

                                by Trix on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 09:28:36 PM PDT

                                •  oh course! ;-)

                                  all the best to you.

                                  by thereisnospoon on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 09:29:34 PM PDT

                                  •  Cheers :) n/t

                                    by Trix on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 09:31:19 PM PDT

                              •  and thanks, btw

                                I just about blew a gasket when I started to see the "BHO" stuff...

                                by thereisnospoon on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 09:30:04 PM PDT

                •  That's what campaigns do

                  and hardly, as you implied, blowing up the union from the inside.

                  Jeesh.

                  by Cream City on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 09:13:33 PM PDT

                  •  oh, i didn't denigrate it

                    and honestly, i have no problem with them doing it.  The Culinary Workers Union isn't exactly angelic.

                    See, I don't like people who play dirty and strongarm.  The Culinaries can go to hell for all I care.  They overpromised, underdelivered and played dirty.  Screw 'em.

                    I hate assholes who cheat, smear and play dirty.  That means I detest the Clintons for sure, but they're not the only ones.

                    by thereisnospoon on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 09:17:08 PM PDT

            •  Oh, okay, "according to the Obama campaign"

              Any impartial sources?

              by Cream City on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 09:12:29 PM PDT

              •  jesus, no

                which impartial source could I possibly have asked, hm?

                And I don't even care.  The Culinaries can go to hell as far as I am concerned.

                by thereisnospoon on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 09:51:05 PM PDT

    •  Sour grapes

      trying to deflate Hillary hope bubble, But I still love and respect you, just a little surprised.

      by JamesBrown4ever on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 09:13:34 PM PDT

•  Opps, can I get a tip?

  Thanks if yes, otherwise, have a nice evening.

  by auapplemac on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 07:40:29 PM PDT

  •  Diary's a little thin

    but it's very nice news.  You could always edit it to put more of your own thoughts into it.

    by Montague on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 07:43:48 PM PDT

    •  Agreed

      The diary could definitely use some more content.

      by Trix on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 08:13:12 PM PDT

•  Battered Wife Syndrome n/t

  by Calprof on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 07:42:23 PM PDT

  •  That's offensive on so many levels - - -

    shame on you.

    by Barry in MIA on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 07:58:54 PM PDT

    •  But typically sexist !

      by Barry in MIA on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 08:03:45 PM PDT

    •  Uhh.. But It's Accurate On So Many Levels n/t

      by bincbom on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 09:07:46 PM PDT

  •  That's what Tweety finally had to apologize for

    And now it's getting recs on Kos...

    by Partially Impartial on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 08:34:46 PM PDT

•  Quite A Lot Of Irony With This One...

  somebody's making a lot of money on this.. sheesh..

  by bincbom on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 07:43:07 PM PDT

  •  Yup

    And those thousands of ordinary Latino voters who voted overwhelmingly for Hillary in Nevada are part of the conspiracy.  

    After all, anyone who does not support Obama is part of a conspiracy or a dirty trick.

    by absalom2 on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 07:57:41 PM PDT

    •  Endorse HRC + get slimed by paranoids

      Simply shameful.  Now, they're attacking the UFW!

      by Barry in MIA on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 08:00:11 PM PDT

•  Cesar Chavez Is Rolling Over In His Grave n/t

  by bincbom on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 07:44:40 PM PDT

  •  His brother already endorsed Clinton, so

    we can suspect that he knows more about what Cesar Chavez would want.  Be respectful of the family, if you can't be respectful of a Dem candidate.

    by Cream City on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 07:46:23 PM PDT

    •  Touche, Cream City!

      by Barry in MIA on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 07:58:07 PM PDT

    •  A Little DLC Money Goes A Long Way, I Guess..

      by bincbom on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 09:08:37 PM PDT

•  This is great news for her.

  She received the endorsement of Dolores Huerta back in May:

  Washington, DC -- Hillary Clinton received today the endorsement of human rights leader and community activist Dolores Huerta, the co-founder and President Emeritus of the United Farm Workers of America. Huerta will serve as co-chair of the campaign's Hispanic outreach efforts.

  "Throughout her life Hillary has been a strong leader, working for issues that make a difference in every family's life, like education, health care and good paying jobs," said Huerta. "I believe she is the best qualified candidate and the one that's ready to put our country back on track."

  Huerta worked with Cesar Chavez for over thirty years until his death in 1993. She helped him fight for fair wages, medical coverage, pension benefits and basic human living conditions for farm workers. She was also among the first voices to speak against the use of toxic pesticides that threaten workers, consumers, and the environment.

  This should go a long way toward not only winning California, but winning convincingly.  She was already polling about 60% support among Hispanics.

  by Partially Impartial on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 07:44:53 PM PDT

•  They're obviously a bunch of trolls - - -

  without Obama's long record of commitment to economic justice (snark)!

  by Barry in MIA on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 07:56:45 PM PDT

•  Huh....

  ...bet Johnny's pissed he didn't get the nod....being that he's for the poor and all....

  by bic momma on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 08:08:17 PM PDT

•  they've become a shell of their former selves

  they were exposed a year or so ago in the LA times; very corrupt, and constantly undercutting both other unions AND the workers they used to represent (Napa Valley winery workers have voted to de-certify UFW ever since the Eighties; others have fired their UFW members, and the union was unable to do anything about it).

  by laurenc on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 08:42:49 PM PDT

•  I posted the KSBW of the event

  here: KSBW Salinas video links.

  I diaried it earlier here.

  The KSBW video notes a detail of today's Field Poll: Clinton leads the CA youth vote 43/34 over Obama.

  This is in part due to Chelsea, Bill and Hillary visiting a lot of CA colleges... something we'd know about from endless diaries if it was the Obama campaign doing it. So this is under the radar. Hillary is going to kick ass in the biggest state in the union.

  by Pacific John on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 09:19:05 PM PDT