Posted on 03/31/2016 7:33:56 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
The usual question surrounding presidential campaign endorsements from labor unions this year is whether they will go the “safe” route and stick with Hillary Clinton or buck the trends and take their chances with Bernie Sanders. One union, however, made a different choice this week, endorsing Manhattan business mogul Donald Trump. (Keeping in mind that this decision was made before the tumultuous events of the past 48 hours.) But it likely won’t come as much of a surprise to learn which specific union it was. (Government Executive)
A federal employee union representing more than 16,000 workers on Wednesday became the first such group to endorse Donald Trump for president, breaking from both its own tradition and the support offered by its parent organization.
The National Border Patrol Council gave Trump its first-ever endorsement of a presidential candidate, saying the controversial frontrunner has shown the leadership the country needs by shunning political correctness and making border security a centerpiece of his campaign…
“We need a person in the White House who doesn’t fear the media, who doesn’t embrace political correctness, who doesn’t need the money, who is familiar with success, who won’t bow to foreign dictators, who is pro-military and values law enforcement, and who is angry for America and NOT subservient to the interests of other nations,” the council wrote in a statement announcing the endorsement. “Donald Trump is such a man.”
There are a couple of aspects of this endorsement which are notable. The first is that the NBPC isn’t a nation-wide federal employees union. They are a specific sub-set of the American Federation of Government Employees, who already endorsed Hillary Clinton several months ago.
Also, their concerns are far more specific than the general pool of unionized government workers. Their job is entirely focused on securing the border and it’s obviously one of the marquee issues which Trump has focused on from the moment he announced his candidacy. But in some ways, this seems to be a signal which is less about Trump himself than it is about Barack Obama and the policies pushed down the chain from the Department of Homeland Security. (Border Patrol falls under their larger umbrella.) It’s been no secret that both Border Patrol and ICE officers are unhappy with the directives they have received, the failure to deliver requested resources and the catch and release theory which seems to drive the current management. Morale among Border Patrol agents is at an all time low and has been there for a couple of years now.
Is it really shocking that they would buck their parent organization and choose not to endorse a candidate who constantly sings Obama’s praises and promises to deliver four more years of the same? And turning to Bernie Sanders doesn’t buy them anything because, if anything, he’s offering up an even more porous border as part of his plans. So if you’re going to jump ship, why not go whole hog and endorse the guy who drives the current management crazy on a daily basis?
I don’t expect any of the Democrats to take this endorsement to heart, modify their positions or look at ways to improve the situation on the border in response to the announcement. But they really should.
I believe someone on another thread outed him for only posting every four years.
There is only one person running who is used to earning revenue and making a profit instead of living off of the taxpayer. And that’s Trump.
Keep in mind Reagan and the air traffic controllers. They endorsed Reagan but when they went on strike, RR fired them all. He was not beholden to them and I doubt Trump will be beholden either.
This is good news for Trump!
I was reacting to the employee union endorsing him.
I know. I'm just focused on the distortion of the article. A border patrol union endorsing Trump is very favorable. A federal employee union endorsing Trump can go either way but the author used it as a slam.
The truth is the border patrol union endorsed him which is a very significant endorsement and should be the focus.
“Government employee unions are the last group that should be endorsing a candidate who will make the necessary changes for this country.”
Thing is (and bizarre for me to say anything good thereof) government employee unions DO have a valid role in speaking up when their employer gets really out of line - in this case, the border agents who are being completely neutered by the Administration, being responsible to secure the border yet prohibited from doing anything necessary to actually do their jobs. At best, they’ll soon be unemployed as there is no need for their service because their “top boss” is ordering them to not do their job; at worst, they’ll be individually prosecuted both for disobeying orders and for not doing their jobs.
Ahh. I see. I did not have time to read the full thing. So, I was correct, in a way, they were trying to paint Trump in a way to make him less palatable than he is.
Yes. I'm trying to get in touch with the editor to give him a ration. Very deceptive.
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