McCain Invited to Sit Down With Workers in Md., Fla., and Ariz. to Discuss Economic Crisis During Upcoming Campaign Stops

Working people struggling in the current economy today are inviting Sen. John McCain to meet with them at several stops on his “Service to America” tour. AFL-CIO working families are issuing the invitations to Sen. McCain’s campaign to further the dialogue about how to help families struggling in the economy and to give Sen. McCain an opportunity to hear how the economic crisis is impacting the real lives of America’s workers in communities in which McCain has longstanding ties. 

The roundtables in Annapolis, Md., Jacksonville, Fla., and Prescott, Ariz. will cover topics ranging from healthcare, jobs, and the foreclosure crisis, to senior issues such as Social Security and Medicare. Sen. McCain plans campaign stops in all three cities this week.

Local labor council leaders, who will moderate the roundtable discussions in those cities, sent invitations to Sen. McCain’s campaign this morning. Workers impacted by the economic crisis are hoping to hear Sen. McCain detail his plans for helping struggling families.

“As I’m sure you’ve heard frequently during the course of your campaign travels, many of America’s workers are struggling to provide the basic necessities for themselves and their families as our economy continues to slide into recession,” Md. AFL-CIO Pres. Fred Mason said in the invitation. “Here in Annapolis, home foreclosures have had a devastating impact on our community. We sincerely hope you can take an hour out of your busy schedule to meet with us to have an honest and forthright discussion about this issue and how to get our economy back on track.”

The roundtable discussions will take place immediately after Sen. McCain’s campaign speeches in the cities.

Wednesday, April 2, 11:45 a.m.
Maryland State and D.C. AFL-CIO
7 School Street
Annapolis, MD

Thursday, April 3
Jacksonville, FL
Time and Location TBD

Saturday, April 5
Prescott, AZ
Time and Location TBD

Since securing the Republican nomination, Sen. McCain has mostly limited his campaign stops to private, high dollar fundraisers with little opportunity for working people struggling economically to ask Sen. McCain about his economic policies.

“Every day, working families across the country are losing their homes and jobs, struggling with skyrocketing health care costs and failing to keep afloat in a worsening economy,” AFL-CIO Political Director Karen Ackerman. “Sen. McCain has yet to propose solutions that would help families in this growing economic crisis, instead offering the same failed policies as Pres. Bush.  Workers want to meet with Sen. McCain so he can hear firsthand how desperately help is needed and why they’re looking for something different from what the Bush Administration has offered.”

The AFL-CIO is in the midst of a major campaign to expose Sen. John McCain’s economic record and to encourage him to support policies that will help working people.  As part of this campaign, union families are confronting Sen. McCain on his economic policies and support of the failed Bush economic agenda as he travels the country.

Contact Steve Smith & Alison Omens 202-637-5018