The executive council of the American Federation of Teachers voted on Saturday to endorse Hillary Clinton, the frontrunner for the Democratic Party’s 2016 presidential nomination.
The vote was overwhelming, according to a press release sent to The Daily Caller this weekend.
“In vision, in experience and in leadership, Hillary Clinton is the champion working families need in the White House,” the teachers union’s president, Randi Weingarten, said of Clinton, a resident of Chappaqua, N.Y. and who’s worth as much as $50 million.
Weingarten, a frequent critic of economic inequality, makes at least $360,000 per year — possibly much more. This salary puts her squarely in the top one percent of all Americans. (RELATED: Teachers Union Fat Cat Lives In America’s Top 1 Percent, Blames Baltimore Riots On INEQUALITY)
The union head honcho brings home at least $30,000 each month — or about $7,500 per week, or $1,500 per workday.
By way of comparison, a typical American elementary school teacher earns $56,130 annually.
“Hillary Clinton is a tested leader who shares our values, is supported by our members, and is prepared for a tough fight on behalf of students, families and communities,” Weingarten also said.
“Hillary Clinton, a product of public schools herself, believes in the promise of public education.”
After receiving a high school diploma from Maine East High School in the leafy suburbs of Chicago, Clinton spent her undergraduate years at private Wellesley College (current annual tuition, fees, room and board: $61,340). She later earned a law degree at Yale Law School (annual tuition alone: $55,800)
“Hillary understands that to reclaim the promise of public education, policymakers need to work with educators and their unions,” Weingarten declared. “She’s ready to work with us to confront the issues facing children and their families today, including poverty, wage stagnation, income inequality and lack of opportunity.”
Clinton responded by saying she is happy to have the endorsement of America’s second-largest teachers union.
“I’m honored to have the support of the AFT’s members and leaders,” Clinton said.
“I know from my own family that teachers have the power to change lives,” Clinton added. “We need to make sure every child has access to a quality public education and to teachers with the tools to help them succeed.”
Clinton’s daughter, Chelsea, attended and graduated from Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C. Tuition per student at the posh private school is $37,750 per year.
“Where I come from, teachers are the solution. And I strongly believe that unions are part of the solution, too,” Clinton stated.
AFT leadership explained that its “deliberative process” in choosing to endorse Clinton included “a scientific poll” of union members “on the candidates and key issues.”
The union’s totally scientific polling methodology included interaction through a “You Decide” website and town hall-style events held via telephone. (RELATED: Teachers Union Survey Shows Teachers Union MASSIVELY FAILS Teachers)
Rank-and-file union members showed a desire to support Clinton by a margin of over 3-to-1, the AFT leadership said.
The teachers union’s endorsement marks the first presidential endorsement pronounced by any national union for 2016.
Along with the National Education, Weingarten’s American Federation of Teachers is among the biggest spenders on U.S. elections. (RELATED: Teachers Union Wants To Amend Constitution To Limit EVERYONE ELSE’S Campaign Speech)
The $19,499,848 the AFT spent in 2014 included $2,089,720 the union contributed directly to candidates, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
Just $21,000 — 0.01 percent — went to Republicans.
The top recipient of the teachers union’s cash was its very own 527 group, AFT Solidarity, which received $13,300,173.
Other groups receiving AFT money include EMILY’s List and American Bridge 21st Century. EMILY’s List is a group dedicated to expanding abortion rights. American Bridge 21st Century specializes in digging dirt on Republican candidates for the benefit of Democratic candidates. (RELATED: Teachers Union Demands Free College For Teachers After Blowing $100 Million On Midterms)
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