In a recent interview with SiriusXM's Megyn Kelly, Sean O'Brien, the President of the Teamsters Union, expressed his members' dissatisfaction with former Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Tim Walz.
O'Brien's comments come after the union's decision not to endorse any presidential candidate for the 2024 elections, a move that was announced last September.
According to the Daily Caller, O'Brien's criticism of Harris and Walz was rooted in their perceived arrogance and lack of connection with the union members. He described the Democratic Party's attitude as one of entitlement, believing that their support from the union was a foregone conclusion.
"For so long, the party has, and I can speak for the Teamsters union, in my own opinion, weve given the Democratic Party millions upon millions of dollars. I think they just thought it was like 10th grade geometry. It was a given, O'Brien stated.
O'Brien further elaborated on this sentiment, suggesting that the Democrats' approach was condescending and dismissive. "They were just going to get it, tell us what we wanted to hear and that they were going to win. Look, our members are sophisticated, O'Brien added. I think the American people are a lot more sophisticated, and they pay attention. The arrogance, I think, was a downfall. They talk to people like we were schoolchildren, you know, telling us what we should do, what we shouldnt do. Shes just not a good candidate.
The Teamsters Union, in its quest to ensure the best representation for its members, conducted interviews with each presidential candidate, posing questions that addressed their concerns. However, during a December 2024 interview with Tucker Carlson, co-founder of the Daily Caller News Foundation, O'Brien revealed that Harris had been less than cooperative. She reportedly answered only four of the 16 questions and left the meeting 20 minutes early.
O'Brien also criticized Harris's policy stance, stating, The funny thing is when she talked about her intention, she embraced technology. She embraced a lot of things that will destroy American jobs. She was actually reflecting upon what the Republicans used to say 20 years ago. So it was like a script was flipped, and she just wasnt resonating with us.
Harris's running mate, Tim Walz, did not escape O'Brien's critique. He described Walz's comments about union leaders who did not endorse their ticket as laughable. Her running mate, I mean, really this was hilarious. [He] calls me out saying all the courageous union leaders that endorsed our ticket, they should be applauded. And the ones that didnt have the courage, basically, you know, screw [them], O'Brien said.
O'Brien's comments reflect a broader dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party among key voting blocs. As the party began losing support from Hispanic and black men, Harris attempted to win them back through policy pledges and appearances with fellow Democrats, including former President Barack Obama.
However, these efforts appear to have fallen short, with O'Brien's comments suggesting a disconnect between the party and its traditional supporters.
Adding to the controversy surrounding the Democratic ticket, allegations of "stolen valor" were leveled against Walz after his selection as Harris's running mate. Reports suggest that Walz left his battalion in 2005 upon learning of its deployment to Iraq, leading to accusations of betrayal from two veterans who reportedly served alongside him.
These allegations, coupled with the union's dissatisfaction with the Democratic ticket, underscore the challenges facing the party as it seeks to regain lost ground.
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