Joe Biden Joins Tens of Auto Union Workers on Picket Line Rallying for Economic and Social Justice
Don’t pretend. The media are pitching this with full pretense. Instead, look at the data carefully. Tens of thousands of UAW members are on strike for better pay and benefits. The installed occupant of the oval office makes a “historic” visit to the picket line. About two dozen workers are there. Think about it.
Look at the optics. Do you think for one second that Team Obama would let their principal appear in such a smattering of support? Not a chance. This “crowd” might as well have had circles around their place to stand. Joe Biden spent about an hour in Michigan before tripping back onto the plane and heading to meet Gavin Newsom in California.
Michigan – […] The move also appeared to be a clear counter to former President Donald Trump, who plans to visit Michigan on Wednesday instead of participating in the second Republican primary debate — the latest sign that both candidates have moved beyond the primary phase of the election and are focused on November 2024.
But for Biden, too, Tuesday’s trip suggested that he can’t take labor support for granted. Union leadership has already rallied behind the president’s reelection bid, but that hasn’t necessarily translated into support from rank-and-file members who have slowly been drifting away from the Democratic Party and who make up an important part of the electorate in must-win states for Biden. The UAW has held off on endorsing Biden, although it has made clear they will not support Trump.
After Biden’s remarks, Fain grabbed the bull horn and the president stepped back into the crowd. Biden put his arm around one striker as Fain thanked him for joining the picket line. The crowd cheered.
“Thank you for coming to stand up with us in our generation’s defining moment. And we know the president will do right by the working class,” Fain said. “And when we do right by the working class, you can leave the rest to us because we’re going to take care of this business.”
Reporters later asked the president if he supported a 40 percent wage increase for the auto workers. The union members surrounding him shouted “yes,” and after waiting a moment, Biden, too, said yes. (read more)