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MSU trustee speaks at Wednesday morning's breakfast

By Jacob Carpenter

Created:
08/27/08 4:33pm

Last updated:
08/27/08 4:34pm

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At the next to last delegation breakfast before the convention’s close, a slow arriving crowd heard from familiar faces,including Michigan House Speaker Andy Dillon and MSU Trustee Joel Ferguson. Some highlights from Wednesday’s gathering:

— Two mornings had passed and there didn’t appear to be many outward
signs of the partying atmosphere among delegates in the morning.
Wednesday morning, however, was different. Michigan Sen. Buzz Thomas,
D-Detroit, commented on a few delegates who had “a little too much
fun” Tuesday night and U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow attributed the
late-arriving crowd to more than a few hangovers. I have yet to
venture out to downtown during the late night (sleep is already at a
premium), but politicians don’t seem to shy away from the alcohol in
Denver.

— Ferguson, wearing a green shirt with the “State” logo, told the audience
about how Stabenow got her start in politics as the person in charge of carrying his yard signs during a run for Lansing mayor. He proceeded to thank workers who
united the Clinton and Obama camps once it became clear that Obama
would garner the presidential nominee. “We’re certainly not sore
losers, and they certainly have not been sore winners.”

— The only person to receive a standing ovation Wednesday, AFL-CIO
Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka, became the first morning speaker
this week to take on the race issue. He recounted a conversation with
a laborer about her decision not to vote for Obama because she
wouldn’t vote for a black man. Trumka used the experience as a
springboard for talking about educating laborers and others about
Obama’s experience and the lack of relevance that race plays in voting
for a candidate. “A lot of white voters think he’s of the wrong race,”
Trumka said. “Racism is a tool that’s used as a tool to divide working
people.”

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