OK but why would Hillary be telling people today to vote for Obama if this was true. I think not only is she on the list but she will be the next VP
of the U.S. of A
Hillary Clinton rouses union workers in S.F.
Carla Marinucci, Chronicle Political Writer
Thursday, July 31, 2008
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More... (07-31) 15:57 PDT -- Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton delivered a rousing call to thousands of union workers in San Francisco on Thursday to
put Sen. Barack Obama in the White House come fall - but it was a bittersweet moment for some of her most loyal supporters, particularly women, who
said they are still deeply pained she's not the Democratic candidate.
"I'm having a hard time," said an emotional Cheryl Reynolds, a retired union librarian from Pennsylvania, after watching Clinton's address, which
was met with cheers and a prolonged standing ovation from a crowd of 3,000 at the international convention of the American Federation of State, County
and Municipal Employees at Moscone Center.
For both Reynolds and her husband, Dean, who spent more than six weeks on the road in states like Iowa and Indiana working for Clinton during the
primaries, the New York senator's appearance to boost Obama was hard to take.
"I'll vote for Obama, because we need a Democrat in the White House," said Dean Reynolds, who stood and applauded at length for Clinton's address.
"But, God, I wish it was her."
The powerhouse labor union of public employees, which has promised to mobilize 40,000 workers in the campaign, endorsed Obama after Clinton had left
the race, and its members gave him an ecstatic reception when he delivered a speech to them by satellite while on the campaign trail.
But with less than 100 days to go before the general election, Clinton's appearance in San Francisco underscored her continued appeal to many
grassroots Democrats who were her supporters, many of whom say they are clinging to the hope that she may get the nod as Obama's running mate.
Clinton - who earlier in the day visited a San Francisco fundraiser to help retire her campaign debt and was to attend another on the Peninsula on
Thursday evening - exhorted the union members to put their muscle and their money behind Obama.
"The best way that we can stand up for you ... is to make sure we have a Democratic president taking the oath of office on Jan. 20, 2009," she
said.
She insisted she was "proud to get more votes than anyone has gotten" in a U.S. presidential primary campaign - a contention some Obama backers
dispute - she said it is now "time for us to unite and stand together."
She delivered high praise for Obama, saying that throughout her often-contentious race against him, she had "seen his passion, his determination, his
grace and his grit."
"There are a lot of folks still on the sidelines, trying to make up their minds," Clinton said. But she said that labor activists like the army of
municipal workers must get behind him "if we're going to have a president that respects unions."
Joan Hernandez, a unionized traffic signal technician from San Diego and a strong supporter of Clinton, said that despite the calls for unity,
"there's quite a few of us on the fence. ... I'm not the only one. A lot of her supporters are there."
She said she was extremely disappointed when Clinton's presidential bid died - and Obama still doesn't completely excite her. He's too green, and
"he still doesn't answer questions directly," she said.
Hernandez is hoping for the VP slot for her candidate, but "right now, Obama is saying she's low on the list. ... we'll decide what to do if he
doesn't choose her," she said.
Tamara Hummel, a retired worker with the Pennsylvania state police, said she was "100 percent" behind Clinton. "I was thinking she would win, and
she slid back, and I was really disappointed," she said.
She just shakes her head when asked who will get her vote as president. "I'm not quite sure yet," she said.
But other Clintonista Democrats said they've come around - and they urge others to do likewise.
"I definitely want to see a Democrat in the White House," said John Faust, another union member from Pennsylvania.
As the father of a daughter who has become a doctor, he said Clinton and the historic message of her candidacy - "that women can do anything" -
impressed him.
Now, he said, he has turned to Obama. "He wasn't my first choice - but that's the choice now," he said.
Jackie Rowe-Adams of New York called herself one of the "staunchest Hillary supporters" in the hall.
"She stood strong and tall - and I'm glad she's supporting Barack Obama," Rowe-Adams said. "She has integrity, and she's a lady of her
word."
She said Obama should pick her as the vice presidential candidate only if that best serves his White House bid.
And Rowe-Adams, who heads AFSCME Local 299 in her home state, said it's time to look forward, and offered some words to those who still are looking
back.
"They have to focus on electing a Democrat. McCain is not union-friendly," she said. "If you're electing him, you're putting Bush back in the
White House."
So, "my advice to them," she said, "is - get over it."
E-mail Carla Marinucci at
[email protected]