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JOHN J. FLYNN
President
International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers
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Issue 2 - 2008
In a recent speech Senator Hillary Clinton said that she and Senator Obama have been going through the “longest job interview in American history.” For the candidates and those of us watching from the sidelines that statement rings true. The downside of this lengthy “interview” process is that reporters, political pundits and bloggers become desperate for a sound-bite or 30 second video-clip that they can then turn into “news” to analyze and recycle for hours and days on TV, radio, in print, and on the web. A few of these sound-bites are worth our notice, but most do little but distract us from the issues at the heart of this campaign – and this year, more than any in recent past, the issues really do matter for every single one of us.
The fact is that all of the candidates love this country and are patriots. One of the candidates, Senator John McCain, a former prisoner of war, is a war hero. For that he deserves our respect and gratitude. Just as the attacks made on Silver Star Medal recipient and war hero Senator John Kerry’s patriotism during the last election were deplorable, we have no tolerance for similar attacks on Senator McCain.
That being said, there are very real and significant differences between how the presumptive Republican presidential candidate, Senator McCain, and the two Democratic candidates, Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, would address issues of great concern to BAC members: the economy, rising fuel prices, attacks on your right to belong to a union, the need to fix our health care system, retirement security, and the war. These are all issues that have a direct impact on you and your family’s well-being, and should be the focus of the campaign and debates in the months ahead.
This issue of the Journal presents Senator McCain’s positions on these key issues, based on his voting record and public statements. A future issue of the Journal will include the same information for the Democratic candidate. I urge you to avoid the rhetoric and sound-bites, and stay focused on the issues in the remaining months leading up to the election. Whether you are a U.S. or Canadian member, what happens in November will impact us all.
This issue also puts the spotlight on Locals serving their communities, members reaching key milestones both personally and professionally, updates on programs and services, and a request to send us pictures and stories of how you and your family spend your free hours (see the Sporting Life box on the back cover). Remember, union members like you gave all workers the 8-hour workday and the weekend!
McCain Out of Touch with Construction Workers – BAC Sets the Record Straight
Excerpts from a posting on TPM Blog by BAC Government Relations Director Kevin Flynn, in response to the article Livin’ Large in the Lettuce Field.
I was at the [2006 Building & Construction Trades Department] legislative conference when McCain lost his cool and began this tirade. Your readers are correct, [McCain’s] assertion was that no American would be willing to [pick lettuce in Yuma, AZ] for $50 an hour. [At the conference, McCain responded to a question about immigrant workers by saying they were taking jobs nobody else wanted. He then offered anyone in the crowd $50 an hour to pick lettuce in Arizona. “You can’t do it, my friends,” McCain said.] There are those who will argue that offering such a wage to American workers would not be adequate incentive, but clearly to an audience of construction workers this is not the case…Our president was struck because our members (not unlike those of the other trades represented in the crowd) work each day throughout the country laying concrete block, stone, marble, and brick... [in] conditions worse than the Arizona summer. [The] original point was correct; John McCain is clueless when it comes to the economy or the experiences of ordinary people who work for a living…
If you have ideas for stories or issues of concern, let us know by emailing us at askbac@bacweb.org or writing to:
International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers
Attention: Communications Department
620 F Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20004
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