Bill Clinton Bashes Unions; Calls Obama the “Establishment"Paul Hogarthbyline‚ Jan. 17‚ 2008When asking Nevada culinary workers on Tuesday to ignore their union’s endorsement of Barack Obama, former President Bill Clinton called his wife the “insurgent” in the race – and Obama the “establishment” candidate. It was an odd statement, for nobody can seriously dispute that Hillary Clinton is the Democratic Party’s establishment choice. And while UNITE-HERE, the Culinary Workers and Nevada SEIU have rallied behind Obama, hotel and casino executives are largely supporting Clinton. What the ex-President meant to say was that culinary workers should make up their own mind -- regardless of what their union recommends. But the Nevada teachers’ union (which supports Clinton) has ignored pleas from their own rank-and-file members to drop a lawsuit that, if successful, would prevent casino workers from voting in Saturday’s caucus. The party decided months ago to have “at-large” precincts inside Las Vegas casinos, but now some Clinton partisans – including Bubba – want them shut down because attendees are likely to support Obama. |