AFL-CIO Endorses Obama; DC-Area Labor Pledges Historic GOTV Effort

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)Citing President Obama’s commitment to working families, the AFL-CIO General Board voted Tuesday to endorse the president for a second term. “The metro-area labor movement looks forward to building on our historic union voter turnout campaign in 2008 for President Obama in the months ahead,” said Metro Washington Council President Jos Williams. AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said that Obama has placed his faith in America’s working men and women to lead our country to economic recovery while Republican presidential candidates have pledged their loyalty to Wall Street and the 1%. “President Obama honors the values of hard work, of mutual respect and of solving problems together—not every person for himself or herself,” said Trumka. “He believes that together we will get through the most challenging economic crisis in memory and restore opportunity for all. Each of the Republican presidential candidates, on the other hand, has pledged to uphold the special privileges of Wall Street and the 1%—privileges that have produced historic economic inequality and drowned out the voices of working people in America.” - photo of Obama delivering remarks on economy to AFL-CIO Executive Council Meeting 8/3/2010 courtesy of Pool/Getty Images