The American Federation of Teachers Issued this statement yesterday:
Press Release
American Federation of Teachers Passes Resolution to Encourage Support for 3 of the 2020 Democratic Primary Candidates
For Release:
Contact:
Oriana Korin
WASHINGTON—In a telephone town hall on Thursday night with thousands of American Federation of Teachers members and leaders who have been actively engaged in the union’s 2020 presidential endorsement process, AFT President Randi Weingarten, Scranton (Pa.) Federation of Teachers President Rosemary Boland, AFT Vermont President Deb Snell and Boston Teachers Union President Jessica Tang discussed the next steps in the AFT’s plan for supporting candidates as the 2020 Democratic presidential primary continues to unfold.
Weingarten reported on this week’s meeting of the AFT executive council, including the passage of a resolution outlining the next steps in the AFT’s 2020 endorsement process. The board voted to step up what is already unprecedented member engagement in the upcoming election by encouraging locals and state affiliates to support, be actively involved with, or endorse the candidacies of Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Bernie Sanders or Sen. Elizabeth Warren, ahead of the selection of more than 60 percent of the delegates by the end of March. The resolution signals to members and leaders that support for any of those three candidates is welcome at this stage of the process before the union makes a national endorsement.
This next phase of the union’s 2020 endorsement process follows record member engagement in the first stage of the presidential primary, with more than 300,000 members participating to date—including the public education forum in Pittsburgh that featured seven candidates, the 10 candidate town halls hosted with members around the country, numerous telephone town halls, several member surveys and polls, five regional meetings, and countless activities at the local and affiliate levels. Several AFT locals and state federations have already made candidate endorsements, as encouraged by the initial endorsement resolution(link is external), passed in March of 2019.
Weingarten said:
“We are fighting for working families and our communities to have the freedom to live, and a voice at work and in our democracy. Donald Trump has proven himself to be an existential threat to the values and aspirations of educators, healthcare professionals, public employees and the communities we serve every day. While several candidates in this race share our values, three in particular—Vice President Biden, Sen. Sanders and Sen. Warren have significant support within our membership. There is a real connection with these three candidates because of their record of working with us over the years on public education, higher education, healthcare, labor and civil rights.
“Given the stakes of this election, the enthusiasm among our membership to engage, and the nature of the democratic nomination process, our board felt strongly that until the AFT makes a national endorsement in the primary process or at the AFT convention, it is important that our affiliates, members and leaders, including the three national officers, be actively involved in supporting and helping Vice President Biden, Sen. Sanders and Sen. Warren.
“It was clear that the time to take this action was now, before all the delegates are chosen and before all of the primaries are over, so that AFT members and leaders can help shape the race and the narrative, ensure our voices are heard, and ensure one of these three candidates emerges as the nominee. Because, make no mistake: We are in the fight of our lives—for a better life for our members and the communities we serve, to preserve our democracy, and to defeat Donald Trump. Ultimately, we must be unified and support the eventual Democratic nominee.”
Boland said:
“As a native of Scranton, Vice President Biden knows firsthand about the economic, educational and social issues that matter to our community. He has been a lifelong advocate for strong public schools, labor rights, and access to quality and affordable healthcare—issues important to our members, working families and the students we teach. I, and my members, aren’t just supporting the vice president because of his past record, but also because of his vision for the future—a vision that is focused on strengthening the middle class and providing opportunity for everyone. We are committed to turning out for Joe Biden ahead of Pennsylvania’s April 28 primary, and we resolve to do the same for whomever the eventual Democratic nominee is, too. The stakes are too high to sit on the sidelines.”
Snell said:
“AFT Vermont has proudly endorsed Sen. Bernie Sanders’ campaign for president, and our members in higher education and healthcare are already engaged in his movement to bring universal healthcare to every person in this country, and an affordable college education. Sen. Sanders has shown he has the vision, the momentum and the diversity of support necessary to enact bold policy changes that will undo the corrupting influence of corporate power on our economy, and allow working people to access the better-life issues we fight for every day: decent wages, a secure retirement, good healthcare and an opportunity for our families to get ahead. We are committed to helping Sen. Sanders win delegates, and also committed to supporting whichever Democrat ends up taking on Donald Trump in November.”
Tang said:
“Sen. Elizabeth Warren is the true visionary in this race for president: Her plans for big, structural change make her the clear choice for the Boston Teachers Union and AFT Massachusetts. Sen. Warren’s values are aligned with ours. We strongly support her plans for public education, immigration justice and building an economy that works for all by making it easier for workers in all sectors to join a union and by tackling our nation’s student debt crisis. She has stood with us every step of the way in our ongoing efforts to win the necessary funding and policies to strengthen public education for all, particularly for the students and communities with the greatest needs. This is a critical time for us to show leadership, so we’re proud to stand behind her during the Massachusetts Democratic presidential primary. We look forward to supporting her or whomever is elected as the eventual Democratic nominee.”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
So, here’s a question: Will Donald Trump participate in Presidential debates? It’s one thing for him to read off a teleprompter a speech written by Propaganda Minister Stephen “Goebbels” Miller. His people can coach him beforehand, walk him through that over and over so that he can recognize and pronounce the words. And it’s one thing for him to ramble in an associative, stream-of-consciousness hallucination-like manner, from lie to lie at one of his neo-Nazi Make America Grate Again rallies. He can get away with saying anything at those. “China’s paying us billions in tariffs! Best economy ever! The blacks, they love me!” But Jabba the Trump’s handlers must know that given his now severely diminished cognitive capacity, which never was much, IQ45 simply will be unable to survive in a debate format.
As the shellacking of Mike Bloomberg in the last Democratic debate showed, any of the Democrats now running, even Status Quo Joe, is fully capable of going into attack mode and laying an opponent flat by marshaling facts, and Trump will have none of these at his command. All that he will be able to do is bluster about Fake News and “the phony witch hunt” and call his opponent names. “Commie Bernie” is sufficient for Trump on a stump in front of the chumps, but in a debate? Not going to cut it.
So, what’s a Jabba handler to do? Well, this is a President who has slimed across every political and ethical norm. Will he simply refuse to debate? This would not surprise me. The debate with Bloomberg is a wake-up call to Jabba’s handlers. Trump may be relishing, right now, being “off the chain.” But his handlers must know that there are limits to the slithering they can allow the great orange gastropod to do. Years ago, the right-wing caretakers of Ronald Reagan, who was suffering from profound dementia during the second half of his Presidency, realized that they had to put him on a script and couldn’t allow him to speak off the cuff because he would make an utter fool of himself. Do the Jabba handlers know this yet? Surely they do.
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OK, before someone attacks me for this, I hereby apologize to Gastropoda everywhere.
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If Trumpty Dumpty refuses to debate, then they should put up a full-sized wax replica of him standing behind a podium. Or they can create an active hologram that looks like him. I’m sure they’d let his replica wear his signature baggy suit, but I’d prefer the white outfit he wears to golf, the one that reveals his corpulent, blubbery body.
After the moderator has his or her list of questions, they Google the answers to all the questions from Trump’s Twitter stream, what he says at his hate rallies and any time he’s given speeches in front of world leaders or the press. Then a voice will issue from Trump’s wax replica or hologram to answer the questions using Trump’s own words.
To capture Trump’s voice, they should hire the best actor possible who can imitate Trump’s voice and style of gibberish but that actor will be kept out of sight when he/she reads Trump’s responses to each question based on his tweets, rallies, and press conferences.
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How about Clint Eastwood & an empty chair-?!
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Good idea, but … Clint Eastwood usually describes himself as a libertarian (the Koch brother variety) in interviews and in the spring of 1999, he told Premiere magazine that “I guess I was a social liberal and a fiscal conservative before it became fashionable.” In 2009, Eastwood said that he was now a registered Libertarian.
Eastwood’s net worth is listed at roughly $375 million. Does that mean he now thinks like the wealthiest one-tenth of one percent?
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Máté Wierdl: This is what beautiful women are supposed to be attracted to? Ewww. Trump has so much class.
Trump: “You know, it doesn’t really matter what [the media] write as long as you’ve got a young and beautiful piece of ass.” — from an interview with Esquire, 1991
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The beautiful women attracted to Trump are not attracted to “him”, but to his alleged wealth and the opulent lifestyle, it buys.
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Despite my amusing reply (well, I think it amusing!) to Lloyd, below,
even though we, here, do not take IQ45 seriously (hence the “IQ 45”),
indeed we must not underestimate him in the debates (& I am betting you all a donation to N.P.E. that he would refuse—absolutely–to debate Warren &, perhaps, Klobuchar {who is very quick on her feet, not to mention smart}). I think either would cut him to ribbons on the debate stage, esp. Warren (as would have Kamala Harris).
Let’s never forget that he got elected on his showmanship & continues to have his insulting, lie-filled, outrageous rallies well-covered by the msm. In fact, no arguments from me that the huge amount of press coverage (aside from the Russians) helped to get him elected in 2016.
Remember his stalking HRC about the stage? So many just loved it!
That having been said, I’m a Bernie fan, but I’m pretty certain that T feels confident that he can “take” him. Honestly, I don’t think he fears Bernie one bit insofar as debating him: I think he’d actually look forward to “baiting” him–“Socialist…how’re ya gonna pay for your health plan…” etc. I’ve always loved how Bernie sticks to message–you know, say the same thing over & over, & the message gets through (that’s how he pushed the Dem agenda more to a progressive stance). However, he needs to have better answers to ??: how’re ya gonna pay for it? Now, this is where his friend Robert Reich can help
(are you paying attention to this suggestion, Bernie Campaign Team? We’re getting reall* tired of contacting you & getting form e-mails back w/”Thank you for your suggestion.” **LISTEN to the people!!!–he needs to have a sit down w/Bernie & work out every single economic answer. It would be that simple. Was pleased to hear him, Wed., cite the Lancet study, which was a good, solid comeback.
Also, his rejoinder to Mayor Pete, when Pete foolishly brought up Denmark (yes, pointing to those countries that practice what B is talking about). &, finally, he did ask the ?–as an answer–giving examples, as well–as to how can all the other industrialized nations afford to have universal health care? Indeed! Keep it up, Bernie, but go the distance! &, especially, keep comparing us to Canada (where we have to go for cheaper drugs!), as that’s a country more like the U.S.–not homogeneous pops. like the Scandanavian countries–but more with a melting-pot population, more like the U.S.
&–really–don’t we have to give some props to Biden in this last debate? He came out swinging & made some good points.
(Of course, I’m still Just. No. as to hid being the Dem pick.)
As sure as I am of that, I think he’d be the #1 person T would like to face on the debate stage.
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I’ve yet to see Bernie do a great job of explaining, on a debate stage, why healthcare would be so much cheaper under a Medicare for All plan. It’s easy enough to do. I agree with you. He needs some coaching on this and many other matters.
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I agree. He’s not as verbally agile as Warren. More details would help people understand that Medicare for All is an opportunity, not a threat. Decoupling insurance from employers is a huge benefit providing people with many more options, even when moving from state to state. It will save money and lives.
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Neither Bernie nor Elizabeth has been able, in my opinion, to explain why Medicare for all would save everyone money. I am not sure it’s possible to explain it in a way that the average voter will understand. But the average voter definitely understands that Bernie is consistently honest and trustworthy. I hope that’s enough.
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John Oliver on his show Last Week Tonight tackled the topic this week.
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That was good. Thank you, Lloyd.
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#Warren2020
Sent from my iPhone
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Much better approach than last time😀
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agreed
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Definitely.
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Weingarten should abandon establishment Dems including CAP (DFER’s charter-loving sister) whose founder chaired Hillary’s 2016 campaign. And, teachers should fight against the Dem establishment’s friend, Republican Mike Bloomberg.
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CCEA (Clark County Education Association- Nevada) endorsed Bernie- 18,000 members.
A billionaire (former Goldman Sachs guy) pronounced it will be harder for him to vote for a progressive than for Trump. It’s a shame there’s no virus unique to billionaires that puts them down.
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Some day billionaires will be so inbred that they will suffer from all sorts of recessive maladies (like the English Royalty).
Unfortunately, that will take far too long to save the rest of us.
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Apparently, pedophilia is already a malady suffered by British royalty.
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Although they don’t seem to be suffering too much from it with the Queen’s protection and all.
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Lloyd–like your answer to me! Although I was kidding, of course, but always in favor of being educated!
After all, this IS “the site to discuss (better) education…”
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Also, Lloyd, thanks for the John Oliver clip. When I saw that show & all of the sensible points made (in such a fun way!), I thought that Bernie not only needs to huddle w/Robert Reich but also w/John Oliver (& his merry band of writers).
I watch every episode–his is one show I can’t miss: brilliant.
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I DuckDuckGo’s Joe Biden on education and came up with this. Most of what I saw looked good. Did he change his mind or is this idea still what he pushes?
……………………………………………
$500M for Race to the Top’s Early Learning Challenges
The Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge will reward states that create comprehensive plans to transform early learning systems with better coordination, clearer learning standards, and meaningful workforce development. Secretary Duncan and Secretary Sebelius also challenged the broader innovation community–leading researchers, high-tech entrepreneurs, foundations, non-profits and others–to engage with the early learning community and to close the school readiness gap. States applying for challenge grants will be encouraged to increase access to quality early learning programs for low income and disadvantaged children, design integrated and transparent systems that align their early care and education programs, bolster training and support for the early learning workforce, create robust evaluation systems to document and share effective practices and successful programs, and help parents make informed decisions about care for their children.
Source: Press release: $500 Million for Race to the Top , May 25, 2011
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Well, at least he isn’t Bloomberg.
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&, now–MORE crazy stuff!!! “Bernie warned that Russia plans to back him” (N.Y.T., *WaPo, NBC News, CNN, MSNBC). Where did this originate–IQ45? MSM? DNC?
Of course, RIGHT before Nevada Caucus Day…
Does this NEVER end?!
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This news wasn’t intended to be nefarious, merely something that was true. Bernie’s response was perfect — unlike Trump, Bernie didn’t claim that Russian interference was a big hoax put out by his “enemies” in the DNC to destroy his candidacy.
Bernie demonstrated what an honorable and upright candidate when that Russian interference is not something they welcome. THIS is what Bernie said:
“In a statement on Friday, Mr. Sanders denounced Russia, calling President Vladimir V. Putin an “autocratic thug” and warning Moscow to stay out of the election.
“Let’s be clear, the Russians want to undermine American democracy by dividing us up and, UNLIKE THE CURRENT PRESIDENT, I stand firmly against their efforts and any other foreign power that wants to interfere in our election,” Mr. Sanders said.”
Contrast Bernie’s response with Trump’s response and you can see what patriotic and honest candidates do in response to Russian interference, and what candidates’ who are entirely owned and operated by Putin do.
I noticed something during the debate that Bernie did that went unnoticed by everyone in the media. When Bernie was being criticized because his “supporters” were saying awful things about the other candidates, Bernie started referring to the possibility of them being Russian trolls, but he sort of held back and I actually thought it was a bit odd.
I now realize that Bernie had probably been briefed on this but could not talk about it, which left him in a very difficult position if he suspected that the attacks on other candidates by people who keep claiming to be Bernie supporters were not REAL Bernie supporters but Russian trolls who were fomenting hatred and anger at the other Democratic candidates and saying ugly and nasty things about the female union leader in Nevada.
In fact, it would be a GOOD thing for Bernie if the media considered ALL ugly and anonymous attacks on other candidates and their supporters by people who claim to be Bernie supporters as Russian trolls. I do suspect they are. I have very hard time believing that there are Bernie supporters repeating the ugly Trump attacks on Elizabeth Warren or trying to publicize a minor dispute between Bernie and Elizabeth that was settled long ago to stir up hatred and anger.
Contrast Bernie’s acknowledge of those hateful Russian trolls attacking his Democratic opponents and their supporters with the people who claim to be Bernie supporters and repeat Trump talking points about the entire Russia interference being a “big nothing burger”.
If there are posters who are disagreeing with Bernie about there being Russian influence to foment hatred against against other candidates, then they are likely trolls themselves. They have denied the findings in the Mueller Report — which Bernie has not. They have attacked the Democrats for impeaching Trump — which Bernie has not. And they claim to be Bernie supporters while repeating the same nasty slurs against other candidates that Trump uses. Which Bernie himself has disowned.
Rather than thinking Bernie supporters post hateful and nasty attacks on females who support other candidates or on the female candidates themselves, I feel positive that those are trolls pretending to be Bernie supporters doing that. Don’t you?
Bernie knows it is good to acknowledge that so his own campaign isn’t undermined by voters who believe his supporters are really that nasty and would post such lies. They are not. But there are certainly Russian trolls who would do that.
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seems to me that any endorsement of joe biden needs to reconcile whether he still believes Obama’s having bill gates and arne duncan was something good…….he needs to point in a different direction no matter what Obama says or thinks.
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A poll conducted in states with GOP senators, who are either vulnerable to ouster or in the pockets of the Koch’s, showed 56% to 60% of those polled thought the senators voted to politically protect Trump. The percent who thought Trump didn’t commit impeachable offenses was in the low 40’s.
Senators, McSally (Az.), Gardner (Colo.) , Ernst (Iowa), Collins (Maine) and Tillis (N.C.)
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Does Trump”s general approval in such places imply that a significant portion of his supporters know he committed offenses but are willing to accept this for some combination of reasons?
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Maybe they like white dictators who work for Putin and, they want to undermine the Constitution because money and bigotry drives them
instead of love of country, rule of law and decency.
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I think many people vote for Trump out of fear: fear of socialism, fear of what big corporations would do if their existence were threatened (like let go of workers, move money out of country), and they are afraid of Trump; what he would do to them if he was made angry.
I think, when people feel powerless and threatened, they support the most powerful looking person, thinking, if they are loyal, they won’t be harmed, and they may even get rewards for their loyalty. This is exactly what happened under dictators, emperors, in Auschwitz-Birkenau, in gangs.
Kissing to the boss, however ass he may be, appears like a sound survival strategy.
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Hear, hear…abso-friggin-lutely, joe. Well-said.
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The Daily Beast story about Trump and Bloomberg’s favorite women- their daughters, Ivanka and Georgina, exposes the men’s attitudes about women who stand up and express their views.
And, the Beast story provides further proof that Bloomberg has the Republican, shackling women, mindset.
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Why isn’t the AFT supporting Amy Klobuchar?
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