NH Register: AFL-CIO backs DeStefano, Lieberman

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NH Register: AFL-CIO backs DeStefano, Lieberman

The New Haven Register June 28, 2006

By Mary E. O'Leary

New Haven - For the first time, the Connecticut AFL-CIO convention threw its weight and resources behind a gubernatorial contender in a primary, backing John DeStefano Jr. in his run for the Democratic Party endorsement.

It also backed U.S. Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman in his primary bid to return to Washington for a fourth term, but after listening to dissenting unions upset with Lieberman's stance on trade, the convention limited that support through the Aug. 8 Democratic Party primary vote.

Several weeks ago, the AFL-CIO's Committee on Political Education recommended open-ended backing for the state's junior senator, who hasn't ruled out running as an independent in the November election if he loses to his Democratic challenger, Greenwich businessman Ned Lamont.

But the teacher unions and machinists in Connecticut, who are backing Lamont, made the case that the labor organization, which represents some 190,000 workers in the state, should return to address the issue of support after the primary.

"The principal concern is that if Lieberman is not successful in the primary that he would run as an independent. Though we do not endorse a party, it says something about the candidate as a person.

"If he were to desert his party, how long would it be before he deserted labor," asked delegate Sharon Palmer, president of Local 871 of the American Federation of Teachers.

Those who backed Lieberman said he earned it with an 84 percent support record on labor issues, while those against him said he has consistently been wrong on trade, losing 7,710 machinists jobs since 1993.

Lieberman, in a statement released by his campaign, thanked the delegates and said he would "continue to stand up to the Bush administration and the big corporate interests who make life so difficult for middle class families."

John W. Olsen, president of the Connecticut AFL-CIO, said there hasn't been an endorsement in a primary previously because of the difficulty of getting agreement from two-thirds of the members.

Tom Swan, Lamont's campaign manager, said Lamont has growing support among the union rank and file.

The vote Tuesday allows the unions to coordinate support for a candidate as New Haven Mayor DeStefano and his challenger, Stamford Mayor Dannel P. Malloy, sprint over the next 42 days to the primary, with the winner facing GOP Gov. M. Jodi Rell in November.

"It's one of those endorsements that puts foot soldiers on the street and gives us just tremendous advantages as far as the field operation goes," said Derek Slap, DeStefano's campaign manager.

The separate motions to back DeStefano and Lieberman, by voice vote, also had loud nays from Malloy and Lamont supporters, but Olsen said the winners had "overwhelming" support given prior votes by individual unions in the AFL-CIO.

Olsen emphasized that the votes were pro-Lieberman and pro-DeStefano, rather than anti-Lamont or anti-Malloy and both losing camps predicted they would win in the primary and ultimately have labor unite behind them.

DeStefano addressed the unions Tuesday and blasted Rell, saying her "record only looks good when you compare it to who her predecessor was," referring to Gov. John Rowland, who was jailed for corruption. DeStefano was interrupted several times to sustained applause.

Malloy also was favorably received, with the crowd applauding as he touted his plans for affordable housing, jobs, infrastructure repairs and fighting crime.

"I know we are divided. ... I wish we were all together now, ... but I want you to know we will be together on Aug. 9," said Malloy, who was endorsed by the party at its convention in May by four votes, and said there were many delegates in the room who voted for him at the convention.

But the split in the party in the Senate race was clear as about a dozen speakers for the candidates explained their preferences.

James Parent, president of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, said, "We have been unable to change Joe's position on trade" since 1993 and as a Vietnam veteran, he said Lieberman was wrong on the Iraq war and should support an exit plan.

On the other side, Bob Proto, chairman of the Greater New Haven Labor Council, said support for Lieberman was a "no brainer. We should stand by those, who stand by us," and Lieberman has always been there when he was needed, Proto said.