We all remember when Tom Buffenbarger, the head of my Union (The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) from when he launched into this memorable rant that ended up on national TV:
Channeling Howard Beale from the movie "Network," he yelled into the microphone, "Give me a break! I've got news for all the latte-drinking, Prius- driving, Birkenstock-wearing, trust fund babies crowding in to hear him speak! This guy won't last a round against the Republican attack machine. He's a poet, not a fighter."
MSNBC
Well Buffenbarger is at it again. This comes from an on-line letter to IAM members explaining why the Machinists Vote 'Present' in AFL-CIO Endorsement of Obama.
In the Machinists Union, a predominantly blue-collar union, the impression continues to grow that Senator Barack Obama could care less about folks like us.
PDF File
Buffenbarger claims to speak for the union brothers and sisters I work with.
Tom Buffenbarger has no clue how much support there is among the members for Obama. He claims to have done a telephone survey of members, but judging by Buffenbarger's earlier rants attacking Obama's supporters I suspect he is just one more embittered Clinton supporter who drank too much KoolAid.
Buffenbarger insulted the intelligence of his members when he called Obama supporters "trust fund babies". Now Buffenbarger insults our intelligence again by voting present on an endorsement of Obama, and then attempting to use Bushite lies about Obama to explain HIS vote.
I also think Buffenbarger's present vote was a slap at the AFLCIO's leadership. It would be nice to see more unity in the labor movement, not less.
Barack Obama supports a ban on replacement workers.
Barack Obama supports the Employee Free Choice Act.
Shame on you Mr. Buffenbarger, you do NOT speak for your members, or the labor movement on who should be the next President.
Mr. Buffenbarger you have become an embarassment.