Unions See Specter Opening, Dangle Electoral Help For EFCA Vote

With poll numbers showing Sen. Arlen Specter in dangerous electoral water, union officials have begun presenting what amounts to a "get-out-of-jail-free" card for the Pennsylvania Republican: Recant your opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act, pledge to support the labor-backed bill, and we might be able to carry you to reelection.

On Friday, Rasmussen polling released a survey of 490 likely Pennsylvania Republican voters showing Specter trailing his primary challenger Pat Toomey by a margin of 30 percent to 51 percent. Adding a bit of salt to the wound, the 21-point margin had gone up seven points from the poll conducted last month by Quinnipiac, when Specter trailed Toomey by 27 percent to 41 percent.

The senator's abruptly-declared opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act was supposed to stop the bleeding he was experiencing among more conservative Pennsylvanians. Now, with evidence suggesting the opposite, union officials see an opening to win his vote back.

"Last time the unions supported Arlen Specter," said SEIU executive director Andy Stern in an interview with the Huffington Post. "So it is hard to imagine that without a shift in policy on the Employee Free Choice Act that that will happen this time. And when you add that on top of what the polling numbers are showing right now, I think he has a steep climb here and his decision on the Employee Free Choice Act has made things harder."

Asked whether local, state or even national unions would actually consider backing the Senator again on the condition that he voted for the Employee Free Choice Act, Stern responded:

"Our members make decisions on issues. We have clearly said the most important issue is the Employee Free Choice Act. When we endorsed him in the last race he promised that he would be a supporter or vote for cloture. And if that doesn't occur... it won't be much of a debate about what to do."

The new poll numbers, Stern noted, came before many of the 170,000 Republican union households in Pennsylvania had time to digest Specter's "change of heart." And they reflect, he added, what the labor community is seeing in its own surveys. Stern said that he has internal polling numbers similar to the Rasmussen survey that has Barack Obama and Democratic Senator Bob Casey with favorability ratings higher than Specter among Pennsylvania Republicans. An official at a different union confirmed those findings.

Whether the dangling of union help in the primary is a shrewd political ploy on Stern's part or a real chance for Specter to regain electoral turf remains to be seen. What seems more certain is that the senator's roll of the dice on the Employee Free Choice Act has not yet proven fruitful.

"In this bad economy, selling out America's workers is going to get you one thing -- a spot in the unemployment line," proclaimed one union official. "Anyone running for election in 2010 would be wise to learn that lesson from Specter."

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Comments

[rlglst]

Arlen Spector is nothing more than a Career Political Opportunist. He knows he cannot win as a Republican because the base in Pennsylvania has had enough of him. Perhaps Dodd and Franks will become Republicans; how pathetic would that be. I am disgusted with Career Politicians who have corrupted our Democratic system beyond recognition. I founding fathers must vomit in their graves. America is on a slippery slope to destruction from within our own system.

[truthglow]

During his press conference today, Specter said he was against this. He should be defeated. Joe Sestack should run, and ALL PA Democrats should get behind him (a REAL Democrat, not a PHONY!)

[Okieborn]

Sam Stein !!
Thank You For The Great Article !!!

[rocketman69]

Why do union members want the EFCA? They managed to join without it.

[Horus45]

Because it will make them stronger when more members join the union because it just got easier to join.

[RevRick]

For the same reasons we fight for the minimum wage and universal health care:

A rising tide lifts all boats. At the negotiating table our wages and benefits are constantly compared to other workers, if we can raise wages and benefits for other workers by helping them organize, and by passing pro-worker legislation we ultimately help ourselves.

Union members follow the ideal that an injury to one is an injury to all out of a sense of enlightened self interest. We stick up for others so that there will be others to stick up for us when we need it.

"Als sie die Gewerkschafter holten,
habe ich nicht protestiert;
ich war ja kein Gewerkscha­fter." - Martin Niemoller

Translation:

"Then they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist."

The Nazi party viewed the Unions as a threat because they have a long history of sticking up for others.

[jordan3189]

Socialism in other words.

[PaiaGirl]

So that all the Walmart employees can finally unionize and get decent wages and benefits instead of being intimidated, fired etc whenever they try to unionize.

[MichaelDeane]

Spector is done. Let this play out the way the moronic neo cons want it unfold. Spector WILL lose the primary to Toomey. The Democratic candidate will win the November election and we can have a real Democrat to join Bob Casey in Washington, not some guy who plays both ends against the middle.

If Spector had any sense, he'd run as an independent but he is listening and reciting the Republican talking points: banana republic anyone? How pathetic is that?

Time for him and Joe Lieberman to leave. Both need to be kicked in the ass on the way out the door.

[Graywolf48]

I don't trust Spector. Never have, never will. It looks like he might get a very conservative Republican to challenge him in the primary, that's already been threatened by his party's leadership. If Spector is not the GOP candidate and a conservative Republican is the nominee, the seat will go to the Democrats. Unless Spector votes in favor of EFCA before the election season heats up, I wouldn't trust his word to the union voters. I'd rather see the seat go to a Democrat, the more Dems in the Senate, the merrier.

[TheIndependenceParty]

I am Independent, ... and for my part Specter can hang. Toomey will never be elected, and the Democrats can run anyone they like, although I prefer Allyson Schwartz.

Arlen Specter is finished, ... cooked, a memory. Sorry. He is pathetic in these times,and must be retired.

[Rangergirl]

Can Penn. Democrats cross over in the Primary to vote Republican like in some states? I don't know if I'd trust Spector to follow thru on that promise..

[dkelly35]

no

[theone718]

Ohh please keep your stance Specter. What the unions might not be realizing is that if Specter loses, a Democrat is GURANTEED to win the seat, and if a Dem wins they woun't have to persuade her/him to vote for EFCA because the person would.

[faceplant]

When it comes to our politicians, the watchword probably should be, "Trust no one." Surely you've heard the term, "blue dog"? Last I heard Dianne Sweinstein was on the fence about EFCA. I'm sure there are others who will let the Chamber of Commerce and the big money dictate their votes. Don't forget, the Clintons pushed NAFTA, a tremendous betrayal of the labor movement, and working people generally. Obama so far has shown zero interest in abrogating this egregious treaty.

[RofWH]

How can the unions influence the Republican primary? This story is a laughable bunch of BS.

[tel8034]

Specter needs the numbers, and if the republican union members back him in his primary race, he could win round #1.

Now it's another story when it comes to him winning round # 2 in his senate race against the democrat front runner....­..........­... In that race he probably will lose.

[truth2008]

Thats it Sam Stein, I will never read another post by you.

[truth2008]

Stein, why do all my post's go into moderation?

[Horus45]

Obviously it is because you are using words that trigger moderation.
If no cross words are used there is no moderation.

[Horus45]

You don't actually believe that Sam Stein is the person moderating his column do you?

You are truly delusional if you believe that!

[MaryanneAZ]

If the Repub.lica­ns have not figured out that President Obama plays to win and that he is going to get his agenda done come what may, then they are in for a big surprise. EFCA will eventually come to pass. President Obama is a very savvy chess player and he is playing to win.

[rich3324]

The GOP does know that if Specter is not running they will lose the seat?

[JakeMontero]

EFCA is dead regardless of what the unions think. :truth:

[TheIndependenceParty]

Never joined a union but By God I will fight for the EFCA.

[Horus45]

Just keep thinking like that!