Staff Reports
The Biden re-election circus is in full swing with Sleepy Joe desperately clinging to his political career through the almighty union lifeline. At 81, President Biden is trying to divert attention from his age and track record by courting the AFL-CIO’s executive council, a gathering of America’s most influential trade unions.
In a plot twist that could rival a daytime soap opera, Biden’s meeting with the union bigwigs has supposedly been on the books for over a year. Funny how the timing coincides with Biden’s abysmal debate performance against Donald Trump. The man could barely keep his thoughts straight, yet he’s now expected to impress a bunch of union leaders without a teleprompter at his side. As if that’s not a recipe for comedic gold.
Biden will meet Wednesday with top union leaders as he seeks to reassure worried Democrats https://t.co/L48xLuUy3g pic.twitter.com/WIRR9BfUCW
— ABC7 News (@abc7newsbayarea) July 10, 2024
Whispers from the White House suggest that Biden’s plan involves a heartfelt thank-you session with the union honchos while promising more of the same failed policies for the future. These union leaders are supposedly Biden’s buddies, with AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler touted as a personal friend. One hopes their loyalty runs deeper than mere friendships, especially given Biden’s age and evident cognitive decline.
The unions, representing a whopping 12.5 million members, are sticking by Biden, at least for now. Their official statements are so carefully worded they might as well be auditioning for a diplomatic posting. Some of them can’t let go of their support for Biden-Harris, as if clinging to the hope that if Sleepy Joe keels over, Kamala’s boundless charisma will save the day. Even AFL-CIO’s Shuler felt the need to reassure that they’ve got the backs of both Biden and Harris, no mention of Biden solo.
The usual suspects in the union crowd like Randi Weingarten of the American Federation of Teachers and David McCall of the United Steelworkers have pledged their undying support. Or so they say. Meanwhile, Kenneth Cooper of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers sings Biden’s praises, claiming that his members couldn’t ask for a stronger advocate. Stronger advocate, maybe. Strong leader? Debatable.
Biden’s charm offensive has seen him chase union endorsements like a reality TV star chasing Instagram likes. He’s aligned himself with unions on everything from walking picket lines to meddling in corporate disputes. All this while Trump, the man Biden supposedly defeated, picks up union endorsements left and right. Trump’s already made inroads with the Teamsters, proving himself a genuine supporter of blue-collar workers rather than just a feckless career politician.
The AFL-CIO’s laundry list of Trump’s so-called infractions during his presidency sounds like a comedy skit. They whine about everything from tax policies to tip rules, all while glossing over Biden’s failures. They conveniently forget that Trump’s direct engagement with union workers still resonates more than Biden’s hallmark back-patting approach.
In the battleground states, the union vote helped Biden by a thread, but with Trump’s unwavering support among working-class Americans, the Democrats might find themselves stumbling without the union crutch. Trump’s competitive edge and genuine blue-collar appeal threaten to derail the Biden-Harris express yet again. The only real question is, will Sleepy Joe make it to November without hitting the snooze button one too many times? Stay tuned.
