The President of the Teamsters union, Sean O’Brien, recently lifted the lid on his surprising encounter with Kamala Harris, disclosing an alarming degree of arrogance on her part. He recounted that Harris, rather audaciously, affirmed to him that she didn’t need the support of the union to triumph in the election. Her haughty remark ‘win with you or without you’, that followed her abrupt exit from the meeting, was a direct affront to the union and its members.
This marked the first time in history when Teamsters, with its robust membership, opted not to favor any presidential candidates with their endorsement. The backstory that led to this extraordinary deviation involved a roundtable session where Harris was invited to answer questions posed by the union, but the interaction was far from satisfying.
While being at the roundtable, Harris exhibited her contempt for the union by answering a mere four out of the sixteen questions proposed. In an act of brazen disregard for the conversation, her staff interjected just at the fourth question, signaling an abrupt conclusion to the Q&A session. This insult to one of the traditionally Democratic supporting unions was a clear testimony that Harris prioritized her own interests over the worker’s concerns.
Following this audacious interaction, O’Brien contacted Biden’s former labor secretary voicing his dismay with the vice presidential candidate. His consternation was reflected in his words, ‘Who does this lady think she is?’ A valid question, considering the manner she had taken for granted the support of one of the largest and influential labor unions in the United States.
However, O’Brien’s withering opinion wasn’t exclusive to Harris. He also brought Joe Biden, the then-presidential candidate, under scrutiny. The Teamsters President expressed his discomfort of what he opined to be ‘kind of elderly abuse’, probably in reference to Biden’s decision to undertake the strain of running for President.
Based on his past interactions with Biden, O’Brien seemed to notice a concerning decline in the man. With a tone filled with regret, he observed that Biden appeared to be a far cry from the man he was before. While he conceded that Biden might have been a good president for the workers, it seemed more of a dwindling echo from the past than a solid hope for the future.
An occurrence worth noting was Teamsters’ extraordinary decision to stay neutral during the most recent presidential election. For over two decades, since 1996 to be precise, the usually Democratic-leaning workers saw no candidate worthy of their endorsement, a momentous shift in their stance.
Nonetheless, this decision did not mean that the members of Teamsters were devoid of any political alignment. As revealed by the union, out of its 1.3 million members, a staggering 59.6 per cent preferred Trump over Harris, who could only muster 34 per cent support. This discrepancy points towards a palpable dissatisfaction with Harris among the Teamster’s members.
Consequently, it appeared that Teamsters’ members were inclined towards Trump who, notwithstanding strategic differences, seemed to have struck a chord with a majority of them. Harris’ lack of interest and commitment to the issues plaguing the union possibly led to her dismal ratings as reflected in the surveys.
This gravitation towards Trump, and by extension, their detachment from the Democratic ticket, could potentially be a symptom of deeper issues that the union members felt weren’t acknowledged or addressed correctly by Harris or Biden. The fact that the Teamsters were ready to distance themselves from the iconic Democratic alliance signals significant disconnect that demands immediate attention.
All things considered, this expose of insider dealings from the Teamsters President has brought to light a concerning hubris in Kamala Harris. Her casual dismissal of one of the country’s most influential labor unions is a sobering reminder that politicians must respect the people they serve. Regularly interacting with unions should be seen as an opportunity, not a chore or an inconvenience.
This episode has also shed light on the popular discomfort regarding Biden. His perceived decline in vitality and the notable reservation from a seasoned leader like O’Brien is a point of concern. Older, yes, but the question begging to be asked is whether Biden is truly up for the task at hand or if the responsibility is too heavy a burden for him.
In the end, both Biden’s and Harris’ standing with the Teamsters is a testament of the misalignment between their campaign rhetoric and the actual sentiments of the American working class. While the future course of these alliances remains uncertain, one thing is clear: the discourse is changing, and the traditional allies of the Democratic party are beginning to question their longstanding loyalties.