Chicago Labor Federation President Dennis Gannon On Race: It's Time To Move Forward Together - 08/27/08

Submitted by Doug Cunningham on August 26, 2008 - 3:10pm
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One labor leader wasn’t afraid to talk about the impact of race on the labor vote during this week’s Democratic National Convention. Jesse Russell reports:

Labor leaders from all over the country are in Denver this week for the Democratic National Convention and one leader from Senator Barack Obama’s backyard is Chicago Federation of Labor
President Dennis Gannon. Gannon told Chicago’s South Side newspaper, The Southtown Star on Monday that union members need to get beyond the issue of race.

[Gannon1]: "I'm sure our members understand and get the message and do a balancing act. There’s a thousand reasons to be with Barack Obama and there’s one reason to be against him and it is time for all us to unite, get behind Obama and the best thing we can do for our members and that’s make a change in Washington, D.C. and that's what we're about."

Gannon explained what exactly he believed union members who have a hang up regarding Obama.

[Gannon2]: Barack Obama’s African-American, get over it, let’s move on together, he is our candidate.