This morning's delegate breakfast featured two outstanding speakers, Rep. Steve Cohen and special surprise guest Sen. Chris Dodd. They both delivered inspiring speeches, and I'll have more on that later.
One of the best moments, though, came at the end. Gray Sasser, saying organized labor is the backbone of the Democratic Party and that every time he asks them for anything they say "Where do you want us, when do you want us, and what can we do?", invited TN AFL-CIO president Jerry Lee to the podium.
Mr. Lee invited all the union people up on stage, and they introduced themselves and a few had some remarks. Harold Woods, husband of Knox Dem Chair Sylvia Woods, was one. Another was, I believe, Sydney Chism of Memphis. Some brief excerpts of their remarks in this video:
In other news, there is excitement in the air as Democrats in Denver prepare for tonight's event at INVESCO Field. Logistics will be a nightmare, though, so wish us luck...
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Looks like the TN delegation
Looks like the TN delegation did it up right this morning.
AFL-CIO friends?
From the News Sentinel today: "A lot of white workers ... and quite frankly a lot of union members believe he's the wrong race," AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka told a breakfast meeting of Michigan delegates."
WTF??? Perhaps Tennessee's AFL-CIO President Jerry Lee has a response? I hope so.
A lot happened during the
A lot happened during the Michigan breakfast meeting today.
They had Phil Bredesen, John Dingell, Howard Dean, Gov. Duval Patrick (MA), Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks-Kilpatrick, Congressman Barney Frank (MA), and more.
I hope there was more to the KNS article. Is there something out of context? Or is that the only thing the KNS (or you) picked up on?
Follow up
Yes, it was the bizarre sentence in a front page story on Thursday's News Sentinel, "Obama Makes History as Close Contest Looms." After the triumphant, transforming first few paragraphs comes, "But even as he won the nomination, there was open talk in the convention city that Obama's race remained a stumbling block to winning the White House." And that quote by Trumka about "the wrong race." I was stunned and felt not so kindly about my union friends. I hope he didn't say it, but it was written like a direct quote.