AP News, November 27th, 2007
Democrat John Edwards voiced his support Tuesday for striking television writers, telling a boisterous rally that he would work to protect the rights of union members if elected president next year.
"Stay strong, stay together," Edwards implored members of the Writers Guild of America, whose strike has entered its fourth week. "It's about making sure these big corporations, these big media conglomerates don't step on your rights — that you have a real opportunity to share in the work that you've been producing."
The union and Hollywood studios were expected to resume negotiations in Hollywood Tuesday. Writers have been on strike since Nov. 5 over payment for television shows streamed over the Internet, claiming they are entitled to a share of the revenue generated online.
Studios, networks and producers, represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, say it is too early to know which business model will succeed on the Web.
David Chase, the creator of the hit crime series "The Sopranos," was among the union writers attending the rally in Manhattan's Washington Square Park.
"The people here at this rally and this union come up with the ideas that make large, large amounts of money. Those ideas have value every time they're used," Chase said in an interview. "With all due respect, we're not serving steaks at Outback. People at Outback don't come up with the ideas for that steak."
Chase said he was pleased Edwards had spoken to the striking writers. "He said some very important things," Chase said.
The strike has already affected presidential politics. Edwards has canceled planned appearances on "Ellen" and "The View" until the strike is resolved, as has Barack Obama's wife Michelle, who was set to be a guest host on "The View" next week.
All the major Democratic candidates, including Hillary Rodham Clinton, have said they will not participate in a televised debate Dec. 10 in Los Angeles if CBS news writers go out on strike.
The writers voted last week to authorize their union to call a national strike. About 500 of the network's television and radio news writers in New York, Los Angeles and other cities have been working under an expired contract since April 2005.
Speaking to reporters after the New York rally, Edwards announced several proposals he said would strengthen middle class economic conditions.
Among other things, he called for reforming the credit card industry. He said he would create a "Borrowers Security Act" as president to protect consumers from making large, unfair interest payments on credit card balances. He also pledged to raise the capital gains rate on investment income from 15 to 28 percent for families making above $250,000 a year.
"We value work, not just wealth in this country," Edwards said.
