President Obama may not want to get his own hands dirty by actively supporting the Occupy Wall Street movement, but not to worry. The Service Employees International Union is there to vouch for him to their fellow Occupy activists. The union gave the president an early endorsement today, promising that he “side[s] with us, the 99 percent.”
The SEIU’s first effort to generate enthusiasm for Obama is an “Occupy the Bridges” rally in various Michigan cities on Bridge Action Day. Coincidentally enough, it turns out that the annual “Bridge Action Day” is on the same day as Occupy Wall Street’s “Day of Action.”
Here’s the Michigan SEIU’s description of the rally, which will probably be totally peaceful and in no way cause massive traffic disruptions like previous Occupy Bridge events:
Support President Obama’s American Jobs Act
NATIONAL OCCUPY BRIDGE DAY
President Obama [sic] American Jobs Act would bring over $900 million and thousands of good jobs to Michigan – including repairing our bridges and roads. But politicians are playing games, not passing the bill and not creating jobs. Join us in sending a clear message to Congress – Pass the AJA now! …
On Nov. 17th, We Will Declare an Economic Emergency for the 99%:
– 25 million Americans are looking for work – but Congress can’t pass a jobs bill
– Super-Committee budget cuts could kill millions of jobs
– The economy works for the richest 1% – not the 99%
If the Democratic Party wants to exert any influence over OWS, this is the way they’re going to have to do it. By now, the Occupy movement has become too toxic for the White House to continue to praise. And many of the Occupy activists appear to be disillusioned with the president. But unions like the SEIU can still help rally support for the Obama campaign and try to steer the movement’s goals to align with the political objectives of the White House.
