Nurse Hillary? Clinton to Accept Union Challenge By Kristin Jensen
Feb. 23 (Bloomberg) -- Andrew Stern, whose union offers one of the most sought-after endorsements for Democratic presidential candidates, said Senator Hillary Clinton will accept the group's challenge to "walk" in a member's shoes, perhaps as a nurse or a highway worker.
Stern's Service Employees International Union is asking every candidate to spend time with a union family and work alongside a member. Former North Carolina Senator John Edwards has already agreed, and other candidates including Illinois Senator Barack Obama will probably follow course, Stern said.
"All of them will do it because they want to understand what's going on with working people," Stern said in an interview with Bloomberg TV's "Political Capital with Al Hunt," scheduled to air this weekend. "And nurses, you're going to learn a lot."
The union, which represents 1.8 million health-care workers, janitors, security guards and other service employees, recently hosted the candidates for private talks. Obama was "a rock star," while Clinton "exceeded expectations" and Edwards won points for his "incredible" support of unions, Stern said.
Clinton will accept the SEIU offer, campaign spokesman Phil Singer said.
Stern's members will be evaluating the Democratic presidential candidates through the lens of two battles - one in the Middle East and one at home, he said.
"There are two wars we keep paying attention to -- the war in Iraq and the war on the middle class," Stern said.
Iraq, Health
On Iraq, Stern said he doesn't see a significant difference between the Democrats vying to become president in 2008. That sets him apart from many party activists, who are focused on the varying explanations that presidential candidates hailing from the Senate are offering for their vote to go to war.
Clinton, who represents New York, has refused to apologize for her 2002 vote giving President George W. Bush authority to invade Iraq, while Edwards has renounced his previous support. Obama wasn't yet in the Senate in 2002 and has opposed the war in Iraq from the start.
Iraq is a critical issue for SEIU members because many of them have children in the armed forces, and the union wants a definite timetable for withdrawal, Stern said.
"I appreciate that people are now getting very specific," Stern said. "We're all talking about when the end date is."
'Huge Step Forward'
On his top issue of health care, Stern said Edwards's universal coverage plan is "a huge step forward" and he's looking forward to hearing from others. Stern has forged a coalition between his union and companies from retailer Wal-Mart Stores Inc. to semiconductor maker Intel Corp. That may pave the way for an overhaul of the U.S. health-care system that the SEIU is advocating, he said.
"We can't be the only country on earth that puts the price of health care on the cost of our products," Stern said. "We have both a moral and economic problem, and I think that means change."
Stern's union is working with a coalition that also includes the telephone company AT&T Inc. and staffing provider Kelly Services Inc. to push for universal coverage by 2012. The group wants the current system, in which most Americans rely on their employers for health- care coverage, replaced by a system paid for by a mix of government, businesses and workers.
Health Care
The SEIU is helping focus attention on the issue by co-sponsoring a health-care forum on March 24. Clinton, Edwards and Obama have all agreed to come, and their policies seem to be moving in the direction that the SEIU wants, Stern said.
"It's not just them -- it's the insurance industry, it's the hospital industry," Stern said. "America is ready for change."
The participation of Bentonville, Arkansas-based Wal-Mart in the coalition is particularly noteworthy because the company and the SEIU have often been on the opposite side of issues. The union funds Wal- Mart Watch, a group that's waged a public relations campaign against the retailer.
Stern said that he hopes the common ground the company and union have found on health care is the start of a new relationship. He and Wal- Mart Chief Executive Officer H. Lee Scott met in person to discuss formation of the alliance, which also includes the Communication Workers of America union, former Republican Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker of Tennessee and John Podesta, who heads the Center for American Progress, a Washington research group that supports Democratic policies.
"There's a number of things we don't agree on," Stern said of the Wal- Mart chief executive. "I wouldn't say we're making any progress yet. The good news is when you're talking together, that's the basis of change."