Articles from Various Newspapers from Across the Nation

News articles from the 2000 Election Campaign when Mr. Baron ran as the Republican Nominee against Representative Sander Levin, Carl's brother.

New York Times- June 23, 2000

Not only has the union decided against endorsing the longtime ally, Representative Sander M. Levin, Democrat of Michigan, but it has thrown its support behind his Republican opponent, Bart Baron.  In addition, the U.A.W. and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters persuaded the Michigan A.F.L-C.I.O. to remain neutral in the race, instead of supporting Mr. Levin.

Detroit Free Press- June 26, 2000

UAW lends rare support to GOP-

There are several possible explanations for the decision, leaked to the media last week, that the most powerful and partisan interest group in Michigan Democratic politics, the UAW, plans to endorse the Republican candidate for Congress in the 12^th district straddling Oakland and Macomb counties.  Union officials are furious with the incumbent, Democrat and longtime ally Rep. Sander Levin, for his role in the passage of the china trade bill.  They know and like the Republican challenger; 57 year-old business consultant Bart Baron, an opponent of China Trade.  They’re furious with Levin.  But they know he can’t lose, so the endorsement has little downside risk.  We hazard no guess, beyond the observation that it is weird (no GOP candidate in recent memory has even tried to get the UAW endorsement)-an event along the lines of Newt Gingrich coming into town to endorse David Bonior.

Detroit News- June 27, 2000

Gore has already been endorsed by the AFL-CIO, but two large and significant members of the AFL-CIO, the United Auto Workers (UAW) and Teamsters, have threatened to endorse Nader.  That would be folly.  Especially for the UAW, whose clout is second to none in the state Democratic Party.

Mitchell disagrees.  He says labor would be “making a sound decision for the long run” by underscoring that it “rewards its friends and punishes its enemies,” and there are consequences for crossing it.  That’s what Gore did in supporting normalization of trade relations with China.

For that, Solidarity House would help elect Bush?

Labor also is upset with U.S. Rep. Sandy Levin, D-Royal Oak, for his role in crafting the compromise that led to passage of the China trade bill.  Pollster Mitchell, a longtime observer of Oakland County politics, says Levin’s Republican challenger, Bart Baron, is confident of getting broad union support beyond the UAW.

Oakland Press June 29, 2000

Politics and policy sometimes make for strange bedfellows and the year 2000 is no exception. For the first time in recent memory and perhaps at any point in the United Auto Workers’ 64-year history, the union has endorsed a Republican for Congress.

Although UAW Region I has supported U.S. Rep. Sander Levin, D-Royal Oak, in all of his many runs for different offices, it has chosen his opponent-Troy Republican Bart Baron- for the November elections.

The autoworkers’ break with Levin came after the Democrat shepherded legislation through the U.S. House of Representatives that granted permanent normal trade relations to China.

“We’re certainly not a single issue organization, but this is a key issue,” said Paul Krell, spokesman for the UAW.  “And Levin’s was not just another vote for the issue. He was very instrumental in the passage of the legislation.”

Levin was the only Michigan Democrat to vote for the bill in May.  The U.S. Senate is expected to take up the legislation later this month.

The trade proposal would eliminate the annual congressional review of U.S. trade with China and also open more markets in China to imports of goods and services.

The Big Three automakers supported the bill as a means to open up the Chinese market to U.S. made automobiles. But the UAW opposed the measure because of Human Rights violations in China and projections that the bill could result in the loss of 800,000 American jobs to China, said Krell.

“By granting China permanent normal trade status, we excused horrific abuses that are going on in that country,” he added.  “We felt this vote was tantamount to saying that’s OK.”

But Levin said he feels comfortable with his decision and the language he inserted into the bill that would address human rights concerns in China.

“I think the people of the 12^th district respect that I did what I think is right and, in the end, that is what will count most with voters,” Levin said.  “ I would prefer to have the endorsement, but endorsements don’t determine elections. Endorsements don’t vote.”

But Baron, who opposed the China trade bill, is hoping the nod from the UAW will launch his campaign into to high gear.  He said he won’t start raising money for his congressional battle until after July 1.

“I wanted to come to the unions with clean hands.  If I came in with $100,000 or $200,000, they could say you’re bought and paid for,” he said. “After seeing Leslie Touma (who ran against Levin in 1998) spent $1.5 million dollars and get only 42 percent of the vote, I realized money isn’t the most important thing.

“Once people start understanding that I have better than 50 percent shot at winning the money will follow.”

In the other 15 congressional races in Michigan, the UAW has endorsed the Democrats running for those seats.

Macomb Daily June 30, 2000

If Sander Levin loses his bid for re-election to Congress in November; he may be remembered as the first American to lose his job because of the China trade deal

For the first time in more than 30 years, the Democratic congressman has lost the endorsement of Michigan’s top labor leaders.

In retaliation for Levin’s key role on the China Trade issue, the United Auto Workers has endorsed Levin’s Republican opponent and the Teamsters appears ready to follow suit.

The state AFL-CIO, the 700,000-member umbrella organization consisting of numerous unions, has decided to make no endorsement in the 12^th district, which includes Warren, Sterling Heights, Utica, Centerline and part of Eastpointe.

“We are certainly not a single issue union. But this is not just any issue, and Sander Levin’s vote was not just any vote,” said Paul Krell, a U.A.W. spokesman.

Levin played a pivotal role in securing House approval May 23 for permanent, normalized trade relations between the United States and China.  The Royal Oak Democrat crafted a compromise that creates an U.S. commission to monitor human rights in China.

Labor leaders have predicted that opening up trade with China will wipe out high paying U.S. jobs and perpetuate a tyrannical regime in Beijing that mistreats Chinese workers.

Mark Gaffney, president of the state AFL-CIO, said he fears the China trade deal will cost 440,000 U.S. jobs.

“China trade is not a small issue,” Gaffney said.  “It’s the vote that harmed working families the most in Sandy’s whole career.”

Led by U.A.W. and Teamsters members, the AFL-CIO board voted not to endorse Levin.  The U.A.W.’S Region 1 went one step further by endorsing Republican candidate Bart Baron of Troy, who opposes increased trade with China.

Levin,  68, first elected to Congress in 1982, said his longtime pro-labor stances, including opposition to other trade deals , will help him win backing from union households.

“The vast majority of the unions support my candidacy,” Levin said.  I’m very comfortable with my position on China and with my standing with working families.  They’re comfortable with me, and I’m comfortable with myself.”

Baron, a long shot candidate for Congress, called the U.A.W. endorsement a big boost for him that “Levels the playing field.” While Baron has yet to conduct any fundraising, Levin is expected to raise up to $1 million  for his re-election effort.

“My first contact with (U.A.W. officials) was in 1999.  This has been a process of getting to know one another,” said Baron, a management consultant. “We came together on China.”

The unions’ actions mark the first time since Levin’s initial run for partisan office, a 1964 state Senate bid, that he has not received the AFL-CIO and U.A.W. endorsements.

In the 13 Michigan congressional races where the UAW made an endorsement this year, Levin was the only Democrat who failed to win the union’s nod.

U.A.W. endorsements of Republicans are rare, but not unheard of.  In 1998, five GOP congressional candidates across the nation were backed by the U.A.W., Krell said.