The SEIU wasn’t the only big union to put off endorsing a presidential candidate this year. Earlier this year, the Communications Workers of America (CWA) announced it too was passing on the question of candidate endorsements. Instead, they asked their members to vote for their preferred candidate in an online poll.

Members who already voted received an email yesterday asking them to spread the word to fellow members and ask them to participate in the poll, which is a reasonable way of continuing the outreach so that members can choose the candidate they wish to endorse.

But there’s one problem: the email is promoting a video from John Edwards.

The relevant text:

Just take a look at this video of John Edwards speaking about the issues that matter to you and me — issues like health care, trade, and the right to organize. Edwards has made these issues a priority because CWA members have spoken out about them.

Watch the video, and then tell other CWA members you know to get involved by voting in our e-Poll:

http://cwavotes.org/SpreadTheWord

In the video, Edwards is given the chance to heap praise on CWA and its leaders, and to expound on his pro-labor policies.

Members that haven't yet voted received a generic email with a link to a video from CWA President Larry Cohen.

But members that did vote all apparently received the Edwards email; it doesn't seem to have mattered who they voted for in the poll. With Edwards getting such a blatant nod from the CWA leadership, how can this email function as anything other than a wink-wink to its members, asking them to tell their friends to vote after watching John Edwards speak (the email form is on the same page as the video)?