What distinguishes the two parties isn't often as obvious. For the most part, we see Republicans and Democrats operate as though they're joined at the hip. More often than not it's the political parties vs. the people. Perhaps that's no longer as obvious, not since labor has regained some power. Union members will actively support the Democratic party, coast to coast.
Labor leaders voice confidence that they can rally millions of blue-collar voters behind President Obama in battleground states like Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
“Look at what we’ve already seen this year — the super PACs have spent tens of millions of dollars,” Richard L. Trumka, the A.F.L.-C.I.O.’s president, said in an interview. “We’re going to counter that by getting people out. We’ll never be able to match them with money.”
The Service Employees International Union, with two million members, aims to mobilize 100,000 of its members this year — twice as many as in 2008 — to make phone calls and knock on doors.
“What’s different in our approach this year is massive investment in activating member volunteers,” said Brandon Davis, the service employees’ political director.
With unions representing 11.8 percent of all workers, labor volunteers canvassing in previous elections could often just knock on one in 10 doors. They might knock on a door and then have to walk two blocks to the next union household. But now they can knock on every door in a neighborhood.
“Their ability to be totally unified and focused on their message will make them ultimately the most decisive single player in the political landscape this year,” said Stephen J. Law, president of American Crossroads, a Republican super PAC whose founders include Karl Rove, President George W. Bush’s top political adviser. “Groups like us, we don’t have millions of members that we can readily deploy. We tend to be more active on the airwaves and mass communications.” ...NYT
Money and domination of the major popular communications has made the Republican party a powerful enemy of the people. Republicans have also tried to cut the power of the unions and prevent Americans' access to the vote. And they'll continue to do so. But they are having fewer successes.
All of rightwing talk radio has been wounded by Rush Limbaugh's latest statements and non-apology. That alone has shaken up those media which have been wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Republican party.
