AFL-CIO acknowledges that Obama’s skin color could be a factor in November.

Traditionally, Democratic presidential nominees can count on the vote of union workers in November. But even union brass admit that their members are less enthusiastic about a Black Democrat. “We feel there is a racial component for some union members,” AFL-CIO Political Director Karen Ackerman told Congressional Quarterly, noting that union leaders are doing all they can to limit the role that racism is plays in this election. “We feel confident we can overcome it.” The AFL-CIO has pumped $53.4 million into its effort to reel in members. This includes a million pieces of direct mail this week alone in the key battleground states of Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, CQ reports. During the primary elections earlier this year, Sen. Hillary Clinton helped stoke the racial fires, repeating her claims that White, working-class, non-college-educated voters – Democrats and Republicans alike – weren’t prepared to vote for a Black candidate, particularly Obama, whom she painted as elitist and out of touch. “There has never been an African-American candidate for president, and many folks around this country have never voted for an African-American candidate for any office,” she said. But Ackerman said that union leaders are stressing the importance of choosing Obama. “We’ve had a lot of discussions about how to talk to union voters . . . to identify closely what issue is preventing some union voters” casting a ballot for an African American. It’s also important to remember, say AFL-CIO officials, that union Whites are far more likely to vote for Obama than are non-union Whites. “Our goal is not just to elect Barack Obama but to build a progressive movement,” Ackerman said.

Looks like Barbie decided to pledge AKA. As BET.com reported earlier this year, Mattel created a limited-edition Barbie doll in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the nation’s oldest Black sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha. Now, she’s ready to make her debut. The doll, dressed in her salmon pink and apple green evening gown (the sorority’s official colors) and adorned with gold jewelry, will sell for $50 and will be introduced to the 35,000 members going to the sorority’s convention in Washington, D.C. starting this weekend, reports the Chicago Sun-Times. It will also be available through BarbieCollector.com, the Barbie Collector catalog and other outlets and partnerships with the sorority. The group will receive a portion of the proceeds. Since being founded on the campus of Howard University in 1908, 200,000 women have been inducted including poet Maya Angelou, author Toni Morrison and TV host Star Jones.

Judge rejects Black union members’ discrimination suit
A federal judge threw out a discrimination suit against a Kansas City construction union, ruling that the five Black union members didn’t prove their case. Robert G. Franklin, Steve Bailey, Edward W. Lewis, Glenn E. Steele and Leon Booker, active and retired members of Sheet Metal Workers Local 2 had argued that they had been discriminated against by the union’s jobs-referral list in January 2006, The Kansas City Star reports. “My only regrets in this matter are that the reputation of Local 2 has been challenged and that the resources of the hard-working men and women of all racial groups that make up the union have been used to defend allegations that were unfounded,” Ken Alexander, Local 2 business manager, said in a statement. “In my opinion, this case should never have been filed.”

Louisiana lawmaker is in another battle
Rep. William Jefferson, who has spent a good chunk of the past couple years fighting allegations that he has used his position as a national politician to swing fat-cat money deals for his wife and kids, is facing a barrage of challengers for his Louisiana congressional seat. Included in the suddenly crowded field of Democrats is Helena Moreno, a former TV news reporter; Troy Carter, a former New Orleans City Council member; Byron Lee, a member of the Jefferson Parish Council; and state Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-New Orleans, who see a chance to unseat the reeling lawmaker. “Obviously, the congressman has issues that he has to deal with,” Carter said, according to The Times Picayune newspaper. Jefferson, who is seeking his 10th term in the U.S. House of Representatives, has seen his power on the Hill evaporate in the wake of federal criminal investigations into alleged bribery and influence-peddling. He is accused of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars from representatives of a Nigerian telecommunications firm and promises of jobs for his wife and children in exchange for his support of favorable legislation.