PoliticalChic
Diamond Member
In a huge public blow to the electoral fortunes of both President Obama and the Democratic Party, the president of the AFL-CIO said Thursday that organized labor is preparing to ditch Democrats and go it alone in building up its own grassroots structure.
Specifically, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka told reporters that the nations largest labor federation will scale back their involvement with the Democratic Party in advance of the 2012 elections.
In 2008, unions spent over $400 million for Obama's election. Asked if the AFLs move is a huge blow to Obama, Democratic pollster Doug Schoen told Newsmax.TV: Absolutely. Obama needs to get labor back and I think hell be courting them furiously in the weeks and months to come."
While Trumka had nothing but scathing words for the tea party movement, he laid out a scenario that very much mirrored the tea partys grassroots structure and its clout in the GOP. The vision is for big labor to wield the clout that it once had inside the Democratic Party and on the liberal end of the spectrum in American politics.
Trumka made it clear that his plan will cost the Democrats both contributions and labor volunteers in many districts almost immediately. That would cripple key Democratic get-out-the-vote efforts in many swing districts on Election Day.
Were going to use a lot of our money to build structures that work for working people Trumka said, according to Politico.Youre going to see us give less money to build structures for others, and more of our money will be used to build our own structure.
Trumkas remarks came after the news earlier this week that the AFL-CIO will set up a so-called super PAC to spend unlimited amounts of money on political activity for next years elections and beyond. Trumka confirmed Thursday that the union is moving forward with plans to create the PAC.
The AFL-CIOs outside effort will help keep union-backed candidates more accountable for promises made on the campaign trail, Trumka said.
Lets assume we spent $100 in the last election, he said, explaining the unions position.
The day after Election Day, we were no stronger than we were the day before, said Trumka. If we had spent that [$100] on creating a structure for working people that would be there year round, then we are stronger.
Trumka also said that many labor leaders are weighing whether to skip the partys 2012 convention.
Angry Unions Sever Ties With Democrats, Obama
I just can't believe it took this long for unions to server ties with Obama. This is the most anti-business administration in a 150 years--
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At Last!! This marks the beginning of the Socialist Workers Party in America. I said beginning, in the first seed toward that end. As the two party's alienate workers, they will gather for self-preservation and to gain power to fight corporations agenda. This final phase will lead to the SWP of America. This is good news.
"...they will gather for self-preservation and to gain power to fight corporations agenda..."
Oh, man. This is funny stuff....
...do you have an inkling of an idea of where unions invest their pension funds?
Fill in the missing blank:
_ orporations' stocks.