So, lets look at some of the ways John Edwards stands out among the rest supporting the American worker. First we have this short video answering a question in Iowa:
http://johnedwards.com/...
Then we have this release:
http://johnedwards.com/...
I would like to share one paragraph:
"Instead of stubbornly pursuing policies that put Americans out of work, the Administration should focus on making sure new agreements include real labor and environmental protections and should enforce our rights under existing trade agreements. And the Congress should make it clear to the President that it will override any agreement that does not protect American jobs and American interests."
The American worker has repeatedly been shortchanged by trade agreements that tilt the playing field against them. More than anything else, American workers need a President who is on their side, not China's and South Korea's. Edwards would be this President.
Now we have this release on the House passing Card Check Neutrality:
http://johnedwards.com/...
And some statements from this release:
"Organized labor has been the most important anti-poverty movement in American history — strengthening the middle class and providing good-paying jobs for millions of Americans. We need to make it easier for workers to organize themselves into unions. If a Republican can join the Republican Party by signing their name to a card, any worker in America ought to be able to join a union by doing exactly the same thing.
"By protecting a worker's right to join a union, we give more Americans the opportunity to lift themselves out of poverty and into the middle class, which is why I have been all over this country the past few years, working with over 20 national unions to organize thousands of workers, walking picket lines and speaking out in support of workers' rights.
This again shows that Edwards is the leader who will help organized labor, hence the American worker. The fact of the matter is that the playing field has been stacked against labor for a long time. It is refreshing to see that Edwards understands this is a real problem, and wants to address it.
Next, we have another video. I will let Edwards speak for himself about his support of unions, and the Culinary workers:
http://johnedwards.com/...
I think this video speaks volumes. Edwards is the candidate who is serious about helping the American worker, and supporting our unions.
Next, he talks about fair wages for women:
http://johnedwards.com/...
And a quote:
"We must work to take Equal Pay Day off the national calendar, by putting real pay equity on the national agenda. Women earn 77 cents on the dollar earned by men; the disparity for African-American and Latina women is even more striking. While women make up less than half of the workforce, they are 60% of people working at or near minimum wage. These facts have serious consequences for families struggling to make ends meet.
"A fair and just society must reward work equally, without discrimination, and reflect the needs of women for greater flexibility in the workplace. As president, I will help parents balance work and family by expanding access to quality preschool and after-school programs and expanding family and medical leave. We must also strengthen the remedies for sex discrimination to deter wrongdoing. I was a sponsor of the Paycheck Fairness Act when I was in the Senate, and Congress should pass the law before another year goes by."
I think this pretty much speaks for itself. I have worked with many women who are just as dedicated and work just as hard as men. It is comforting to know that Edwards shares my disgust at their inequality in pay.
Now we have this story from New Hampshire:
http://johnedwards.com/...
And a quote:
"The New Hampshire State Senate has taken an important step today in the fight to end poverty in this country and reward the hard work of struggling New Hampshire families. By raising the minimum wage to $7.25 and ensuring that tipped workers, the backbone of the service industry, see a raise for the hard work they do day in and day out, New Hampshire leaders have made an unquestionable commitment to justice and increased prosperity for New Hampshire’s workers.
But we cannot stop here. We need to build a society that respects workers, and makes it possible for families to not only get by, but get ahead. I applaud New Hampshire leaders for taking a bold step today on behalf of working families and ask every American to join me in our fight for universal health care, a new energy economy, and a fairer tax code that rewards work."
Fair pay? What a bold new initiative!!
Lets not forget his support of fair pay for our troops too:
http://johnedwards.com/...
And this quote:
"The President should immediately revoke his decision to oppose the House version of the 2008 defense authorization bill. The White House's harsh statement that the House's improved benefits for soldiers and widows are 'unnecessary' is part and parcel of this Administration's neglect of our troops and their families. The Department of Defense has already extended tours in Iraq from 12 to 15 months — a decision that I have said borders on the unconscionable. I believe we need to do everything we can to better stand by those who stand by us — and we can start with improved pay and death benefits."
It is a disgrace that our current President can ask our troops to die for his idiocy. It is also disgraceful that he can waste hundreds of billions of dollars on his failed policies, but not one red cent for the troops that suffer from his failure. It is good that Edwards would end this disgrace, and show our troops real respect.
Now we have this on China currency:
http://johnedwards.com/...
And this quote:
"Because China is a member of the World Trade Organization, we have tools to use to hold China accountable for its currency manipulation. Once again, I call on President Bush to use his authority and end this unfair Chinese advantage. Simply pointing fingers at China cannot substitute for getting our own economy in order, but neither can we allow China to continue policies which harm American workers and the entire global trading system."
It is time we had a President who works as hard for the American worker as they do for the Chinese. Edwards would be that President.
Lastly, we have this release on the recent disgraceful Supreme Court decision:
http://johnedwards.com/...
And one final quote:
"Excluding home care workers from the protections of federal minimum wage and overtime laws is wrong. In a nation of our wealth, no one who works full-time should have to live in poverty. It's wrong for workers and it's wrong for the economy. The Bush Administration may not know the difference between professional home care workers and babysitters, but older Americans and people with disabilities who rely on them for quality care certainly do. Congress should do what's right and fix the law. If it doesn't, as president I will."
It is hard to believe the highest court in the land voted to totally leave behind such an essential group of professionals. Congress should take the action called for by Edwards, and hopefully the Democrats will wake up and see that we need a REAL friend for the American worker.
To me, John Edwards is second to none in this race when it comes to supporting American workers. He proposes to even the playing field for workers everywhere. We need Edwards in the White House to give our workers a fighting chance in the global market. Please join us in our campaign of change, and fairness for all workers!!
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