Unions Take the Lead

For a long time, I have said that Democrats need to take a more grass roots approach to politics, putting quality progressives in office locally, at the state level, and federally, effectively taking control of the entire party away from corporate DINOs.  While in national elections, even the worst Democrats are an improvement over the best Republicans, most of our work and dollars need to be directed at those Democrats who will best represent us.  The AFL-CIO is taking the lead to do these very things.

Faced with hostility from Democrats and Republicans alike, as well as scant hope that his organizational objectives can be accomplished, one of the most powerful union officials in the country is pledging to fundamentally revamp the way his outfit conducts political business.

In an interview with The Huffington Post, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka called the current climate "absolutely" the worst he has seen during the course of his 40-year career in organized labor. His 11-million-plus federation has been forced to adjust, he said, and is making a concerted push to expand their campaign operation so the organization can better pressure lawmakers while in office, and not just on the campaign trail.

"In the past we’ve spent a significant amount of resources on candidates and party structures, and the day after election, workers were no stronger then they were the day before," Trumka said, during a sit down at his Washington D.C. office slightly more than a week ago.

"What we are now focused on is doing a couple of things differently," Trumka said. "In the past, we would build our structure six to eight months before the election," he added. "Now we’re not going to do that. We’re going to focus our resources on building a structure that has total fidelity towards America’s working people, both union and non-union working people. We’ll do it 12 months a year, so they’ll be able to transition from electoral politics, to advocacy, to accountability with no effort. And it will continue to build greater strength for workers after the election and in between elections."

The comments from the AFL-CIO chief provide a detailed outline of the vision he has in store for a tinkered — but still-powerful — campaign apparatus. To execute that vision, the union federation is outfitting itself with some new tools, including a super PAC that will allow it to raise unlimited funds from corporations, individuals and other unions… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Huffington Post>

Trumka fleshes out his intentions in an interview with Keith Olbermann on Countdown.

I like this, because the interests of Labor and the interests of Main Street America converge.  The Democratic party potentially has a winning coalition including progressives, labor, minorities, environmentalists, LGBT, human rights advocates, people who oppose theocracy, legitimate small business,  and more.  What we have failed to do is bend the party to represent us.  That remains our best way forward.