Stuart Appelbaum
Union President Defends Clinton From Attack Over Wal-Mart Ties
Although Hillary Clinton severed her ties with Wal-Mart years ago (she sat on the board when Bill Clinton was Governor of Arkansas, but now refuses to accept contributions from the company), Barack Obama raised the issue of Clinton's past relationship with retail giant during the debate in South Carolina.
Now, hours before another Democratic debate, Clinton supporter Stuart Appelbaum, who is also President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, has sent out a public statement defending her record: read more »
Mondale and Applebaum in Iowa
A union spokesperson sent over this photo of former Vice President Walter Mondale campaigning for Hillary Clinton with R.W.D.S.U. President Stuart Appelbaum and members of the union in Cedar Rapids, Iowa last weekend. read more »
Silver's Show of Labor Strength
Last night it was Eliot Spitzer. Now, it's Sheldon Silver's turn to show off his support heading into the upcoming legislative session.
A group of influential labor leaders are hosting a breakfast reception with the Assembly speaker on Thursday, December 6.
A partial list of attendees is after the jump. read more »
As Labor Cheers Bloomberg’s Move, So Does a Friend of Rudy
Last night, just 24 hours after fueling speculation that he was planning an independent candidacy by announcing that he had dropped his Republican affiliation, Bloomberg exited the Sheraton hotel in midtown after giving a well-received speech to the Jewish Labor Committee.
It was only a floor below the ballroom where Rudy Giuliani held a fund-raiser for his presidential campaign.
On his way out, Bloomberg ran into longtime Giuliani supporter (and former roommate) Howard Koeppel. Or, more accurately, Koeppel almost physically ran into Bloomberg -- who basically owes the start of his political career in large part to Giuliani -- and promptly told him why he thought an independent candidacy was such a great idea.
“I told him that if he runs, he’ll help Rudy, because he’ll take votes away from the Democrats,” said Howard Koeppel, a longtime Giuliani supporter.
“‘Don’t worry,” Bloomberg responded, according to Koeppel, who had slung his arm around the mayor. “I’m not running.”
The mayor told Koeppel that he was running late as he made for the black SUV waiting for him on the street. Koeppel, an acquaintance of Bloomberg’s going back to the mayor’s first campaign in 2000, offered the mayor a friendly smack on the back of the head. read more »
Cliff-Hanger
Here are Eliot Spitzer and Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, at 72nd Street and Broadway, where at least one union supporter showed just how excited he was to be helping out. read more »
-- Azi PaybarahCarl's Big Day
We wonder if this show of institutional strength is aimed at the public or at the other contestants -- amid continuing pressure from some black leaders to unite behind a single black candidate -- and whether any of the VIP's at tomorrow's event will wade into the race issue.
—Nicole Brydson
