By Billy House
Media General News Service
Media General News Service
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WASHINGTON – Union members from Florida upset with the stalemate over the state’s presidential delegates picketed outside of Democratic National Committee headquarters today – and then were invited inside to meet with officials.
After the meeting with DNC Executive Director Tom McMahon and Political Director David Boundy, several of the picketers said they appreciated the time and attention, but remained unsatisfied with what they were being told.
DNC officials refused a reporter’s request to sit in on that meeting.
“My opinion is we were treated like a bunch of kids,” said Ed Dees a member of Ironworkers Local Union No. 397, and a resident of Plant City.
“It was the same thing we’ve been hearing all along – everything is going to be worked out eventually,” Dees said.
“We understand that.”
But Dees said he and the about 50 other union members from Florida and Michigan were hoping for something more definite and immediate. In Florida, he said, the ongoing controversy is alienating voters from the party.
“We spend a lot of money to get people out to vote. I’m wonder if it’s going to be worth it,” said Dees.
Mike Williams, president of the Florida Building & Construction Trades Council, was similarly disappointed.
“Their response was basically that they are still in the mode of trying to get something done,” said Williams.” “Frankly they did not have any more to tell us than the feel-good press releases of (DNC Chairman Howard) Dean and the congressional delegation.”
The picketers interviewed described themselves as including supporters of both Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton. And most of the Floridians interviewed said they weren’t pushing for any particular approach to resolving the issue of the state’s delegates – just a speedy one.
But John Parker, business manager of the sheet metal workers Local 435 out of Jacksonville and president of the North Florida Building Trades Council, is a Clinton delegate from the 4th Congressional District.
He said he won’t be satisfied with any plan to cut delegate voting power in half and also believes the delegate seating should reflect the state’s Jan. 29 primary voting.
“But at the end of the meeting there was basically an understanding that nothing is going to be worked out until all the states have gotten to vote (in their primaries) … they’re hoping one candidate can duke the other out,” said Parker.
DNC spokesman Luis Miranda called the meeting a “good converstion.”
“This is an important issue for us. That’s why they got invited in,” said Miranda.
Those participating are in the nation’s capital for this week’s Building and Construction Trades Department Legislative Conference.
Reporter Billy House can be reached at bhouse@mediageneral.com or at 1 (202) 662-7673.
After the meeting with DNC Executive Director Tom McMahon and Political Director David Boundy, several of the picketers said they appreciated the time and attention, but remained unsatisfied with what they were being told.
DNC officials refused a reporter’s request to sit in on that meeting.
“My opinion is we were treated like a bunch of kids,” said Ed Dees a member of Ironworkers Local Union No. 397, and a resident of Plant City.
“It was the same thing we’ve been hearing all along – everything is going to be worked out eventually,” Dees said.
“We understand that.”
But Dees said he and the about 50 other union members from Florida and Michigan were hoping for something more definite and immediate. In Florida, he said, the ongoing controversy is alienating voters from the party.
“We spend a lot of money to get people out to vote. I’m wonder if it’s going to be worth it,” said Dees.
Mike Williams, president of the Florida Building & Construction Trades Council, was similarly disappointed.
“Their response was basically that they are still in the mode of trying to get something done,” said Williams.” “Frankly they did not have any more to tell us than the feel-good press releases of (DNC Chairman Howard) Dean and the congressional delegation.”
The picketers interviewed described themselves as including supporters of both Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton. And most of the Floridians interviewed said they weren’t pushing for any particular approach to resolving the issue of the state’s delegates – just a speedy one.
But John Parker, business manager of the sheet metal workers Local 435 out of Jacksonville and president of the North Florida Building Trades Council, is a Clinton delegate from the 4th Congressional District.
He said he won’t be satisfied with any plan to cut delegate voting power in half and also believes the delegate seating should reflect the state’s Jan. 29 primary voting.
“But at the end of the meeting there was basically an understanding that nothing is going to be worked out until all the states have gotten to vote (in their primaries) … they’re hoping one candidate can duke the other out,” said Parker.
DNC spokesman Luis Miranda called the meeting a “good converstion.”
“This is an important issue for us. That’s why they got invited in,” said Miranda.
Those participating are in the nation’s capital for this week’s Building and Construction Trades Department Legislative Conference.
Reporter Billy House can be reached at bhouse@mediageneral.com or at 1 (202) 662-7673.