DENVER -- At age 94, his powerful, penetrating speaking voice still dominates a crowded theater, his memory remains near detail perfect, and his signature oath, "lower than a snake’s belly in a wagon rut," has not been abandoned.

For sure, former UTU President Al Chesser remains a guiding spirit and conscience of the union he led as president from 1971-1980, and served as first national legislative director.

When Chesser took to the luncheon podium at the UTU regional meeting here July 8, he wasted precious little time shaming anti-union right-wing politicians -- "lower than a snake's belly in a wagon rut" -- and urging a vote in November for Barack Obama and other union-friendly candidates.

"We may be facing the most important election of our time," Chesser told more than 700 UTU members in attendance. "I’ve never seen our country in the shape it is in, and I’m 94 years old – and I’ll soon be a senior citizen."

Chesser cited growing unemployment, soaring energy and food costs, lost pensions, 47 million Americans without healthcare insurance, an epidemic of home foreclosures, and growing economic pessimism among America’s middle class as a reason to embrace change.

"Today, we have government by the corporations, for the corporations and of the corporations," Chesser said. He urged union members to vote their paychecks in November and avoid any siren song from John McCain, whom Chesser characterized as someone given to outbursts of temper and unable to maintain a position or deliver on a promise.

"We have to look at our own pocketbooks" when voting, Chesser said. "Yes, we have friends in the Republican Party, but the right-wing has put a knife in our backs.

"We have a choice" in November, Chesser said. "We can vote for the right-winger, John McCain," or for Barack Obama, who represents what "you and I have fought for all our lives.

"Hasn’t the labor movement had enough of George Bush?" asked Chesser rhetorically, in linking McCain to Bush. "Barack Obama pulled himself up by his bootstraps. He is a man for the people," Chesser said, in observing that Obama has made his campaign promises to the UTU "in writing."

Chesser quoted from the letter Obama sent UTU International President Mike Futhey: "I am proud to stand with UTU in our joint efforts to build an America that values the labor of every American and rewards it with a few basic guarantees --  wages that can raise a family, health care if we get sick, and a retirement that’s dignified."

John McCain "would never say, 'I’ll stand with labor,'" Chesser said. Honor him for his military service, but we have military heroes in the Democratic Party, also.

"I ask you, I plead with you, to join me and many of the other labor leaders and union members and vote for Barack Obama for president," Chesser said. "We can make a difference."