Does Obama Still Support the Employee Free Choice Act?

Posted by Steve Benen, Washington Monthly at 10:06 AM on December 3, 2008.

"An aide to Barack Obama reaffirmed the President-elect's support for the labor movement's chief legislative priority in a one-word statement."

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Rahm Emanuel recently spoke at a Wall Street Journal CEO Council conference, and explained that Barack Obama would pursue an ambitious agenda, and planned to "throw long and deep." A member of the business audience asked about Obama's support for the Employee Free Choice Act, which would make it easier for workers to form unions through a "card check" process. Emanuel responded, "Let me take your question and go somewhere else."

The obviously evasive response drew chuckles, but generated some doubts. Was Emanuel signaling wavering support for EFCA, or was he simply trying to emphasize areas of agreement between Obama and the business crowd, trying to lighten the mood on a contentious issue?

This helps bring some clarity.

An aide to Barack Obama reaffirmed the President-elect's support for the labor movement's chief legislative priority in a one-word statement issued to the Huffington Post on late Tuesday.

Asked if Obama's support for the Employee Free Choice Act remained as strong as his public proclamations suggested on the campaign trail, transition spokesman Dan Pfeiffer responded, succinctly, "Yes."

The reaffirmation may not seem like a political breakthrough on its surface. But in the current political climate, in which the Obama team has steadfastly refused to comment on various legislative priorities, it does signal that the President-elect is not shying away from progressive pledges made during his campaign.

It sounds encouraging to me.

Tagged as: labor, obama, unions, barack obama, employee free choice act, labor movement, president-elect

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I doubt it. [Report this comment] Posted by: leTerrassier on Dec 3, 2008 1:09 PM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] I don't think Obama gives a damn about working people. It's sad, but it seems he is just another politician playing the populist card to get elected, then destroying the very people who elected him. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » RE: I doubt it. Posted by: QuestionAuthority ATH [Report this comment] Posted by: ATH on Dec 4, 2008 9:22 AM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] How many promises has Obama already broken? Even before he was elected, he broke his promise to filibuster the Telecom Immunity Bill, but instead he did the EXACT opposite. Now, he's broken his promise to implement a windfall profits tax on big oil, and has decided not to repeal Bush's tax cuts for the wealthy. If you want change, vote with your money--at least while our unbacked paper money has any value left, before it is completely worthless due to the FED trying to print our way out of this, which only causes inflation--which is NOT prices going up but the purchasing power of our dollar going down. Consumers should be cancelling any contracts with AT&T and Verizon, and writing them and tellimg them the reason is because they spied on the American people, and continue to do so! Don't buy anything made by GE. Avoid as many of these corporations that support endless war, as GE does. Our biggest export are American jobs and weapons. When will we march in the millions to put a damn stop to this ? [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

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» RE: I doubt it. Posted by: QuestionAuthority