Union leadership loses control in Iowa, influence diminished

[penny foolish]

Congrats to the big winners in Iowa, namely John Kerry and John Edwards.

It is becoming painfully obvious that the Union Leadership and the Union Man are not on the same page. Though Mr. Gephardt received the vast majority of the union leadership support, and though Dr. Dean received almost the entire remainder of the union leadership support, and though Iowa historically is a major union state, Gephardt and Dean finished a disappointing 4th and 3rd respectively. This signals the end to the union influence in modern national politics, in my opinion. What group will step up and provide the strength to fill that niche? In the short term, unions will still be a force in fund raising because of their organizational skills, but no longer can it be considered the determining factor in deciding a candidate. This could be good news. No longer can someone who is beholden to such a specific group be anointed the nominee before the primaries even begin. Each state will be up to the average Joe.

Anybody have an angle on this that would either prove me wrong or present an alternate opinion? I would like to know what the average union Joe thinks. My dad and grand dad were union men and they were in line with union leadership. Times have changed.

[snoochie]

1. I disagree with your premise

By that I mean that "this signals the end to the union influence in modern national politics". IF the unions had gone along with the needs of the rank and file in the past (look how they supported Clinton despite his pro-NAFTA stance) then they'd be more relevant.

Now they decided to support more pro-NAFTA candidates, and this time it didn't work. Go figure. If the unions want to be influential, they can, but not by playing footsie with those that sell out American workers.

[htuttle]

2. Never really thought of Iowa as a big union state

A farm state, sure, but Iowa is not part of the rust belt. I've been wondering why people thought that union backing would make a huge difference in Iowa?

[mac56]

3. Unions have a definite influence in Iowa

Especially in farm manufacturing (e.g., John Deere).

[snoochie]

4. Good point

We'll see what happens there, and then discuss. :)

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

5. Great.

Fact is, sparky, Unions are still quite large, despite all of the efforts by the repukes to marginalise them. While they are not, as the repukes would like all to think, a cult of one mind, unions are populated by people who do vote their interests. Just like everyone else.

Throughout this election cycle, the repukes will send a lot of time, money and hot air to marginalise unions. Once again. They will do so at their own peril. All over the country there is a growing sense that there is something very, very wrong with the basic economic and business structure and how it is being used to whipsaw those in the middle and lower classes. The Unions effectively give those people a voice. They also know organization, and I look for them to chew up a peck of repuke ass this cycle.

Any perception you might have that unions are dead as a political force could likely come from listening to Squawk Radio droolers. I suggest you eschew listening to that tripe. It will only destroy perfectly good braincells.

[slinkerwink]

6. it's true and Iowans no longer think of farm issues as an important issue

[Maddy McCall]

7. Yes they do...here's a thread started by an Iowa caucus goer

and he definitely cares about farm issues. If you watched the televised caucuses last night, you would have seen other caucus goers concerned about farm issues too, as farm issues were discussed as precinct candidate organizers emphasized candidates' positions on the issue.

Here's that thread. It was very informative:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=144884

Cut from that thread:

"Dean saw the Iowa farm vote as monolithic, which it is not -- he stereotyped the electorate and that to me was very, very bad. It reflects a failure of his machine to read and touch voters. Edwards is a "big pork" candidate with his North Carolina ties, and connections to Smithfield. His votes for big pork lost him the endoresement of Iowa Secretary of State Patty Judge. She is a wonderful person I have spoken with regarding Iowa Pork issues, and with whom I had an opportunity to speak for 15 minutes or so at the victory celebration. John Kerry to her was the only candidate able to understand the complexity of farm economics. For you Edwards supporters, I can simplify this issue for you as being equal to Bush being for big beef or big oil -- it boils down to anti food safety and pro pollution. What is interesting is that while Kerry people were aware of this hot button, they acknowledged it but did not push it -- they eye Edwards as a running mate."

[newyawker99]

8. Hi penny foolish!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast: