The GMP has joined with the rest of the Labor Movement in endorsing Barack Obama for President. Obama is far and away the better of the two major candidates with respect to issues that affect working people.

“In so many ways - on jobs, health care, gas prices and the war in Iraq - our country is headed in the wrong direction,” AFL-CIO President John Sweeney said when the labor federation endorsed Obama. Sweeney went on to say that Barack Obama had proven his commitment to working people in his service as a community organizer, a U.S. Senator from Illinois and his campaign for the presidency.

“A champion for working people who knows what it’s going to take to create an economy that works for everyone, not just Big Oil, Big Pharmaceuticals, the insurance companies, the giant mortgage lenders, speculators and the very wealthy” is how Sweeney characterized Obama.

By contrast, John McCain, the GOP candidate, reveals at every turn his devotion to the failed policies of the Bush administration. His campaign managers are largely corporate lobbyists, guaranteeing the corporate favoritism of his platform.

Briefly, to name but a few of Mc-Cain’s worst notions, just consider:

• He thinks we’re better off now than eight years ago.
• He wants to tax corporations less while cutting key working family programs.
• He voted to eliminate the minimum wage.
• He proposes taxing health benefi ts.
• He voted for Nafta, Cafta, and other rotten trade agreements and voted for giving Bush “Fast Track” authority to sign more bad trade deals.
• He voted against the Employee Free Choice Act.
• He wants to replace Social Security with privatized accounts.
• He supported George W. Bush 89 percent of the time and 97 per cent in 2007 when he curried favor with Bush.

This is a long list, but unfortunately, it is not exhaustive. Plenty more negatives can be attached to McCain.

In contrast, Labor’s candidate is a man of the people who knows how average Americans are struggling. He has developed a program to address the problems facing our country.

Barack Obama has voted against Bush tax cuts for the rich while supporting relief for homeowners facing foreclosure. He proposes larger tax cuts for working people than McCain.

Obama plans to strengthen the renewable energy sector to create new jobs. Unlike McCain, he voted against privatizing federal jobs. He supports Davis-Bacon and Project Labor Agreements. He voted to raise the minimum wage.

Obama has called for universal health care and pledged that the 45 million Americans without health insurance will have it after his plan is implemented.

Obama opposes tax breaks for companies that export jobs. He voted against Cafta and will support only those trade agreements with strong labor and environmental protections. He wants to renegotiate Nafta or opt out of it. He wants to extend trade adjustment assistance for displaced workers.

Obama voted for the Employee Free Choice Act, and if elected president, he will sign the measure.

Obama supports the Social Security System. He has pledged not to cut benefits or raise the retirement age. He opposed steep increases in Medicare premiums.

One could go on, but the facts are already plain, Obama is the best choice for working people. I encourage every GMP member to learn all he or she can about both Barack Obama and his opponent. Then go out and convince family and friends to vote for Barack Obama, the best choice for Labor, working families and the United States of America.

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