Democratic National Convention Opens with AFSCME in the House

by Joye Barksdale  |  September 04, 2012

AFSCME Pres. Lee Saunders with U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, chair of the Democratic National Committee. (Photo by Fred Watkins)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Clint Eastwood’s empty chair made headlines at the Republican National Convention last week, when the actor/director did a routine with an empty chair he pretended held President Obama. The shtick had people talking – not because it was edgy, but because it was over the edge.

AFSCME Pres. Lee Saunders used an empty chair on stage as a prop when he spoke to AFSCME delegates to the Democratic National Convention on Sunday. But this time, the chair was occupied by Eastwood.

“Look who’s here! It’s Clint Eastwood,” Saunders joked. “Clint, do you have something to say?” (Clint was silent.)

“Just as I thought – Dirty Harry has nothing to say, just like Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan have nothing to say. But they will hear our voices loud and clear on Election Day! Go ahead, Clint. Make my day!” And with that, Saunders kicked the chair off the stage.

Saunders told the more than 180 AFSCME delegates that the convention is not only about nominating President Obama to a second term, but also about protecting the nation “from a hostile takeover by the ultimate corporate raider: Mitt Romney.”

He warned them about the many anti-union planks in the Republican Party platform, including a national right-to-work-for-less law and an end to dues check-off.  “At least in past conventions, they’ve given a little respect to American workers….But this time, they said to hell with all that,” Saunders said. “They dropped any pretense of compassion and appreciation. They not only took the gloves off, they threw them away.”

Guest speakers included U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-FL, chair of the Democratic National Committee, who challenged the AFSCME delegates to make sure President Obama is “carried back into the White House on the shoulders of the sisters and brothers of the labor movement.”

Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley also encouraged the delegates’ activism, previewing the speech he’ll give at the Democratic convention this week. He invited the delegates to join in the refrain: “President Obama is moving us forward, not back!” 

This year’s Democratic convention is the most open in history, with many events open to the public.