For Immediate Release
Monday, June 21, 2004
AFSCME President Tells Convention Delegates to Take Back the White House June 21
Anaheim, CA —President Gerald W. McEntee exhorted thousands of delegates from across the country to defeat George Bush, and elect John Kerry in November In his keynote address opening the 36th International Convention of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO.
"The war in Iraq is one of the many reasons we need a new President," McEntee said. "This President's war on working families is another." Since Bush took office, McEntee pointed out, the country has suffered the worst job loss since the Great Depression, skyrocketing health care costs and staggering budget deficits. "This is an outrage!" McEntee said. "This President has got to go."
To accomplish this, McEntee admonished the delegates to "work harder than ever before and smarter than ever before" and said victory could be accomplished by "putting boots on the ground, knocking on doors, making phone calls and visiting work sites." He also warned against voting for Ralph Nader because "a vote for Nader equals a vote for Bush."
But to ensure a victory for Kerry — "a pro-worker candidate who believes in America" — McEntee said that "we must mobilize for the fight of our lives. With AFSCME power, we can continue to grow and build our union and put America back to work."
Senator John Kerry will address the convention at 3:30 p.m. on June 24. Under the auspices of the AFL-CIO, more than 30,000 members will join AFSCME's largest convention ever to watch Senator Kerry's address live via satellite and webcast. Union members in 18 cities in battleground states will hold events with special guests to hear directly from the Senator about his plans to take back America for working families.
Throughout this week delegates will also hear from Former Iraq POW Shoshanna Johnson, New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, and Political Strategist Donna Brazile.
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, is the nation's fastest growing public service employees union with 1.4 million members. AFSCME organizes for social and economic justice in the workplace and through political action and legislative advocacy. AFSCME represents a diverse group of service and health care workers in the public and private sectors including nurses, EMTs, bus drivers, child care workers, custodians and librarians.
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