President campaigns at labor picnic

In the midst of a 48-hour campaign-style sweep in Northern California, President Bill Clinton made a brief stop at the annual Alameda Labor Day Picnic in Pleasanton.

Appearing tanned after his recent trip to Hawaii to celebrate V-J Day, Clinton shed the conservative business suit he wore for the morning dedication of California State University's new Monterey campus in favor of a blue collared denim shirt and cowboy boots to address the largely pro-union crowd.

The crowd, restless after waiting in some cases up to five hours in 90 degree heat, welcomed Clinton with relief.

"We're so glad you came... three hours late," shouted one person from the back of the crowd.

As he took the podium to give his 15-minute speech he thanked the weary crowd repeatedly.

Flanked by Sen. Barbara Boxer, Former Speaker Willie Brown, Lt. Gov. Gray Davis and various labor leaders, Clinton told the audience that labor in America was going through "a sea-change."

"This period represents the biggest challenge and the biggest change in the way we live and work and raise our families than any period since 100 years ago when we changed from being a primarily agriculture and rural society, to being an industrial society and a more urban one," he told the heat-drenched crowd.

Clinton's appearance at the picnic was the second of three stop-overs in electoral-rich California. He planned to spend Tuesday afternoon meeting with farmers in the Central Valley.

According to Brown, now a candidate for mayor in San Francisco, Clinton needed to shore up his support in the Golden State. Clinton took California in the 1992 presidential elections, beating George Bush by nearly 1.5 million votes.

"He's got to have this state," Brown told the San Francisco Examiner. "It's almost certain he loses (the election) if he doesn't win California." One-fifth of the total U.S. electoral votes come from California.

Brown added that the president's push to implement the North American Fair Trade Agreement (NAFTA) may have cost him votes. According to labor leaders, the agreement to open markets between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico would cost many jobs.

"NAFTA still has a great resonance in the East Bay," Brown said. "It was a hotbed of anti-NAFTA sentiment because of the perceived loss of jobs," Brown added.

One union member in the crowd cited specific numbers. "We've lost 60,000 jobs since that thing (NAFTA) has been in place and that's according to their own (the government's) figures," he said.

While Clinton steered clear of NAFTA, he assured the crowd that his administration is making a strong effort to create jobs across the country.

"Our balanced budget plan would give working people who lose their jobs the right to a voucher worth $2,600 a year for two years to take to the nearest community college or other education or training institutions to get a better start in life," the president said.

Clinton also spoke about the effort to raise the minimum wage, declaring it too low. He said he would like it to be raised by the beginning of the next year.

"There is no evidence to support the claim, as opponents always make, that it would cost jobs," he said. "On January 1, 1996, if we do not raise the minimum wage this year, it will drop in terms of what the money will buy to a 40-year low."

"Two-thirds of the people making minimum wage are adults, 40 percent of people are the sole support of their families. We have children growing up on it," Clinton added.

Clinton never mentioned the 1996 elections or the would-be challengers lining up to oppose him, but he did seem to allude to California Gov. Pete Wilson's campaign when closing his speech.

"This crazy idea," the president said, "that by convincing hard working middle class people the reason they don't have a good income is because of welfare or affirmative action or immigration...that's not what holds your wages down."

"What's holding your wage down," he continued," is the inability to get a fair deal in a competitive global economy. And you know that in your heart of hearts. This country never got anywhere being divided against one another."

Dan Schnur, a spokesman for Wilson, brushed aside the president's visit while speaking with the Tri-Valley Herald in Pleasanton. He said Clinton's visit was a drag on the Democrats, and good for Wilson.

"We are thrilled to have the president out here," he said. "The only thing better than having Bill Clinton visit California would be having him stay."

Some of the crowd left disappointed. One woman in the crowd voiced her dissatisfaction. "Wait four hours for a 15 minute speech, what a deal," she said.

Still, many left satisfied.

"We just wanted to see a president," said one woman, waiting to see Clinton. "We brought our nine-year-old because, how often do you get to see him ?"

[ back to Golden Gater Online September 7, 1995 ]

[ back to top ]