Obama Accepts Endorsement From Labor Union He Attacked As "Shadowy," "Negative ... Deceptive ... Special Interests" Just Weeks Ago ______________________________________________________________________
The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Endorsed Barack Obama's Presidential Campaign:
Today, "Sen. Barack Obama Won The Support ... Of The 1.9-Million Member Service Employees International Union..." (Jesse J. Holland, "SEIU Endorses Obama," The Associated Press, 2/15/08)
"SEIU Will Mobilize Thousands To Go Door-To-Door, Work The Phones, And Will Send Mail About Their Support For Obama." "SEIU members are supporting Obama with an aggressive political effort. With more than 150,000 members in the upcoming primary states, including Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Texas, SEIU will mobilize thousands to go door-to-door, work the phones, and will send mail about their support for Obama. SEIU also will have a substantial presence on television and radio in every critical state." (Service Employees International Union, "SEIU Members Endorse Sen. Barack Obama," Press Release, 2/15/08)
But Several Weeks Ago, Obama Attacked SEIU For Campaign Activity As Among "Shadowy, Washington-Based Organizations" And "Special Interests":
Leading Up To The Iowa Democratic Primary Caucuses, Obama Attacked SEIU-Backed Ads Supporting Former Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) As "Negative And Even Deceptive ... Paid For By Huge, Unregulated Contributions From Special Interests." Obama: "Right now groups supporting Hillary Clinton and John Edwards are flooding Iowa and the other early states with millions of dollars in paid ads, phone calls, and mailings. Some of it is negative and even deceptive, and a lot of it is paid for by huge, unregulated contributions from special interests. Taking on these groups isn't just a matter of setting the record straight about me or my positions. It's about proving that a new kind of campaign - funded by ordinary people who want something better for all of us - can defeat the same tired, old politi cal textbook that so many Americans just don't trust anymore. ... For John Edwards ... Alliance for a New America (SEIU): $760,801.00." (Mark Halperin, "Memo From Obama Campaign," Time's "The Page" Blog, thepage.time.com, 12/20/07)
"A Powerpoint Presentation Released By The Campaign This Morning Includes A Slide Titled 'Special Interest Spending On Behalf Of Edwards And Clinton,' Along With An Itemized Accounting Of What The Unions Have Spent." (Matt Bai, "Whose Interests Are Special?" The New York Times' "The Caucus" Blog, thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com, 12/31/07)
Obama Campaign Attacked SEIU As Among "Shadowy, Washington-Based Organizations..." "Obama campaign manager David Plouffe has called such groups 'shadowy, Washington-based organizations.'" (Jim Morrill, "Iowa Win Would Bring Edwards Big Bucks," The [Raleigh] News & Observer, 1/3/08)
Media Noted Obama's Attacks On SEIU And Even Wondered "If Making This Argument ... Could Haunt Him Later":
"Before The Iowa Caucuses, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, Repeatedly Disparaged The Independent 527 Groups Backing Former Sen. John Edwards, D-NC, And Running Ads On Edwards' Behalf -- The Most Prominent Of Which Was Largely Funded By State Chapters Of The Service Employees International Union, Which Tonight Announced It Is Backing Obama." (Jake Tapper, "Obama Wins Endorsement Of Union He Once Slammed," ABC News' "Political Punch" Blog, blogs.abcnews.com, 2/14/08)
"As For Mr. Obama, You Have To Wonder If Making This Argument, Right Or Wrong, Could Haunt Him Later..." (Matt Bai, "Whose Interests Are Special?" The New York Times' "The Caucus" Blog, thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com, 12/31/07)
A Product Of The RNC Research Department
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