Union President Defends Obama Against Racism (VIDEO)

AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka offers this moving defense of Obama against racial attacks. (h/t Sullivan)

Comments

[marm]

04:03 PM on 10/07/2008

Bravo, Trumka! This is what our country needs to hear. Make racists ashamed of themselves, not only for being racists, but for having so little sense they'd vote against their own best interests just because a man happened to be born in a skin over which he had no control. What Obama DID have control over was what he did with his life and to what use he put his excellent education. We are fortunate that finally someone of his character and ability is running for president, promising the prospect of lifting the standards of the office which have sunk to such abysmal depths.

[maggieblue]

07:11 PM on 10/06/2008

I cried listening to this.
This man truly embodies what American is: We are a country of diversity, ethnic/cultural/religious diversity, and we thrive as a nation, not as individual groups.
Kudos to Mr. Trumka -- he needs to go on the road to deliver his incredible message.
If he wants to run for office, he's got my vote.

[dmnewberg]

04:52 PM on 10/06/2008

An inspiring speech, and it certainly goes to a core reason for my support of Obama. Obama truly speaks a message of hope to ALL Americans, not just his "base." God, I am tired of hearing about the Republican "base" and all the hatred, selfishness and ignorance that implies.

Obviously, Richard Trumka believes those words he spoke -- I hope he will continue to have a voice on the national stage.

[cjgnew]

01:35 PM on 10/06/2008

Thank you Sir for this wonderful speech. It was incredible. It brought several tears to my eyes, but, at the same time, it gave me hope that a good part of America still stands for what is right. When I hear speeches like that, I am truly proud to be American.

The truth is American workers have gotten the short end of the stick for the past eight years. That fact cannot be contested. Also true is the fact that American workers, regardless how good they really are, cannot compete with Chinese workers in certain areas, not when the Chinese workers are willing to work for 1/10th of the salary that American workers need to earn in order to feed their family. That is why our country must invest heavily in areas like solar, wind, and clean coal technologies. If we do not do this for together for our country, the American worker runs the risk of becoming extinct, regardless of how valiant and courageous he or she is. In a nutshell, that is why American workers must vote in their own interest this time around, and realize that, irrespective of color, all American workers are in the same boat and share a common destiny.

Carlos Jean-Gilles
Saint Louis, MO

[bluesman49]

11:53 AM on 10/06/2008

The most cohesive argument I've heard to vote for Obama. Excellent.

[BassMent]

09:46 AM on 10/06/2008

I stumbled on a link to this last week (in a HuffPo comment thread, in fact). Thank you, HuffPo, for posting an article linking to this remarkable clip. I wish I knew of a way to push this up to the MSM, or Keith or Rachel. This deserves to be seen by everyone.

[portfoliogirl]

08:48 AM on 10/06/2008

I sent this link to people I know in PA steel mill areas who are sending me a rant about Obama and ACORN, I told them to please watch the entire piece and tell me what makes more sense, this man or the rantings in thier piece. Please send this link to all you know that need to see this. I think it really speaks to people.

[bridgeworker]

03:40 AM on 10/06/2008

Powerful stuff. Makes my heart sing and pound for the possibilities of what we can accomplish in an Obama administration! El pueblo - unido - jamás - será - vencido!!

[lesterfreeman]

02:49 AM on 10/06/2008

awesome.

[nubianprinc]

02:29 AM on 10/06/2008

Thank you so much for this. As an African American military veteran that has been involved in working with many elections in my past years, I am so inspired by the unity and resolve of the American people to help confront those things that divide us as a nation on this campaign. I have met many good people, white, molto, Indian, Asian, black, Hispanic, Jewish, Muslim , gay , straight, not to mention people of different religions and socio- economic backgrounds working together on this campaign and taking ownership over it.; it is our Campaign. We are all foot soldiers in this fight to take our country back and restore it as that "Shining City on a Hill". Barack Obama has rekindled in us unity, hope and the will to try and do, and do we must. We have been inspired to rise to our greater angels and do more and be more. We are our America and she needs us now. Thank you all.

[nubianprinc]

01:44 AM on 10/06/2008

Thank you so much for this. As an African American military veteran that has been involved in working with many elections in my past years, I am so inspired by the unity and resolve of the American people to help confront those things that divide us as a nation on this campaign. I have met many good people, white,maloto, indian, asian, black, hispanic, jewish, muslim , gay , straight, not to mention people of different religions and socio- economic backgrounds working together on this campaign and taking ownership over it.; it is our Campaign. We are all foot soilders in this fight to take our country back and restore it as that "Shining City on a Hill". Barack Obama has rekindled in us unity, hope and the will to try and do, and do we must. We have been inspired to rise to our greater angels and do more and be more. We are our America and she needs us now. Thank you all.

[SolarUpNote]

01:17 AM on 10/06/2008

That... was... awesome.

[Gary47]

01:13 AM on 10/06/2008

Awesome! Send this guy on a speaking tour, NOW! Have him follow Palin around, speaking in every venue she does, one day later. What a wonderful contrast that would be. He should spend the next four weeks in the toss up States firing up workers (and everybody else within hearing distance).

[scordsdu]

01:08 AM on 10/06/2008

There exists little to no Racism in this election. Unless, Jesse Jackson doesn't like whites like John McCain which isn't consistent with Rev. Jackson’s Record. Obama has a one sided cult of personality going on or the Huffington Post is blind.

[Hirnlego]

05:05 AM on 10/06/2008

Cult of personality? Have you folks stopped humping Palin's leg yet and are you still trying to raise Reagan from the dead?

[libratine]

09:03 AM on 10/06/2008

Beautiful Hirnlego!!!! LMAOROTF!!!!!!! Can I repeat it????? It's so perfect. (Yea, why are they going Reagan - like pandering to the 55 or older crowd I guess)

[fedupsquared]

08:16 AM on 10/06/2008

Genius, the clip you did not watch is not huffpost and huffpost is not the clip.

[buckdoctor]

12:56 AM on 10/06/2008

Fantastic!

[LorG]

12:56 PM on 10/19/2008

This is just great, finally someone who stands up and speaks the truth. I don't know where Mr. Trumka has been, but he should speak on Fox News to inform Shawn Hannity. Great job Mr. Trumka for standing for truth and speaking for MOST of the AMERICAN PEOPLE!