Yes, We Did–Barack Obama Elected President
November 7, 2008
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Union voters played a key role in the historic victory November 4 of President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden. “TCU members joined millions of others who last night voted for change,” observes International President Bob Scardelletti. “To paraphrase Barack Obama, our votes won for democracy, liberty, opportunity and hope. After eight years of callous anti-worker policies under George W. Bush, TCU members understood that in this election their jobs, livelihoods and futures were at stake. Now begins the hard work of reversing the damage of these past years and bringing the positive changes this nation needs—hard work that there can be no doubt Obama and Biden are ready to dig into.”
The victory in the presidential race and the expansion of the majorities in the House and Senate amount to a working families’ mandate for broad-based economic reform. Says AFL-CIO President John Sweeney, “Led by a candidate with an uncommon ability to inspire hope, we reclaimed our country from those who are serving corporate interests and the privileged at the expense of everyone else. We have taken the first crucial steps to build a better future for our children and grandchildren. And what we’ve seen—the stunning voter participation and the common call for change—is an indication of the history we can continue to make together.”
High turnout among working-class union voters in states like Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan formed a foundation of support for Obama. Find out more facts about the union vote and see key findings of the election night survey conducted for the AFL-CIO by Peter D. Hart Research Associaties.
Posted November 5, 2008
