For all the hubbub about the nasty and hard fought slog that has become the Democratic party’s nominating process, one thing is apparent when seeing the two candidates back to back -- their policy differences are slim indeed.
Both Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama addressed the Communication Workers of America union this morning and both were received enthusiastically. The 700,000-member national union has not formally endorsed either candidate, though local chapters have chosen sides.
On the issues, Clinton and Obama both say they oppose NAFTA and the free trade pact with Colombia, which President George Bush has fast-tracked, giving Congress 90 days to act on the legislation.
Clinton repeatedly stated her opposition to the pact, in the wake of . . .
. . .one of her top advisers, Mark Penn, meeting with Colombian officials who back the deal. Penn was pushed out of the Clinton chief strategist job after looking like he was contradicting the boss.
Both candidates also support broadband Internet service for all and the Employee Free Choice Act, which would allow employees to form, join or assist unions.
The major difference between Clinton and Obama, as has been the case throughout the campaign, is their language.
Clinton, who has made toughness a centerpiece of her campaign, repeatedly used the word “fight” to characterize her approach to supporting America’s workers. But Obama, who has made bringing parties together a campaign theme, said he would “play offense” for America’s workers.
Nia-Malika Henderson