The AFL-CIO endorsed Barack Obama today…

   Weren’t you holding your breathe in anticipaton? From the press release:

Calling Sen. Barack Obama a champion for working families, the top leaders of AFL-CIO unions today voted without opposition to endorse him for president of the United States, thrusting the labor federation’s largest ever grassroots mobilization effort into high gear. 

"In so many ways?on jobs, health care, gas prices and the war in Iraq?our country is headed in the wrong direction," AFL-CIO President John Sweeney said.  "Barack Obama has proven from his days as an organizer, to his time in the Senate and his historic run for the presidency, that he’s leading the fight to turn around America.  He’s a champion for working families who knows what it’s going to take to create an economy that works for everyone, not just Big Oil, Big Pharma, the insurance companies, the giant mortgage lenders, speculators and the very wealthy.  We’re proud to stand with Sen. Obama to help our nation chart a course that will improve life for generations of working people and our children."

In its endorsement statement, the AFL-CIO General Board cited Obama’s strong support of working families on issues such as health care reform, fair trade that will lift up workers here and around the world, retirement security and the freedom to form unions and bargain for middle-class living standards.  Obama has a 98 percent voting record on working families’ issues, compared to just 16 percent for Sen. John McCain.

"Senator Barack Obama has secured the nomination of his party in a campaign that has energized millions of Americans and spoken to the hopes and dreams of people from every corner of our nation," read the AFL-CIO General Board’s statement to endorse Obama.  "His leadership can re-engage disenfranchised Americans and bring our country together."  The General Board, which includes presidents of all 56 unions in the federation as well as Executive Council members and representatives of state and local federations, trade departments and constituency groups, votes by per capita membership.

"Senator Obama has advocated a change of direction for our nation that mirrors the priorities of the labor movement," the statement continued.

    Next news: the sun rises tomorrow from the east.