Is Labor pretty much Democratic?

[Robb]

Realizing yet another thing about which I'm woefully ignorant....I'm trying to educate myself today about Labor, the FTAA, free/fair trade, etc. I was curious if it's a foregone conclusion that if you're Labor, you're a Democrat -- or not?

[knight_of_the_star]

1. Not exactly

There are some pro-labor people I know that are moderate Republicans.

[bobbieinok]

2. from what I have been told by those who apparently know

'Labor' and union members often vote republican for 2 reasons

---'the dems are immoral' .... anti-abortion constantly preached in church

---'the dems want to take away our guns'

This is what union people in OK dem circles say: dems are losing their natural constituency on the issues of guns and abortion.

And then there's a big argument over what to do about it.

[JohnKleeb]

4. My grandfather a retired bricklayer/lifelong dem

is different than most in the party are on guns and he is against abortion as well, but hes not an evanglical christian, those are the ones that you hear about telling people to vote republican. He is from sorta rural PA originally. I say Dems got labor but could do better.

[Kayla]

5. Sorry, but that's a very broad brush

you are using!

My father was in the UAW all his life and voted democratic since he turned 21; very very progressive man.

My mother was in a government workers' union (social worker) and also very progressive.

All of our friends were as well.

I don't know who those who apparently know are...teamsters?

[Kayla]

3. Labor USED to be about 100% dem,

then the Teamsters sold out to the Repukes.

Now, there's so little of it left, I'm sure the rank and file are not a monolith.

I understand that Dean got some good labor endorsements, but that is from the leadership of those unions.

If things get much worse, however, I believe we will need a new labor movement and there is no way that will not be democratic ... unless it's a 3rd progressive/labor/farmer type party.

[Bandit]

6. How can someone support a Union and be a Republican?

You either support Unions or you don't. Republicans do not support Unions and feel they are the cause for all of the decay in America. There are people who want good paying jobs so they are forced to join the Union for the money but they don't like or support the Union in any other way. :shrug: The whole concept is anti-Republican. Workers demanding fairness from employers. What a horrible concept.

[ButterflyBlood]

7. not as much as before, but still for the most part

about 60% of union members voted for Gore, so we still have a strong advantage.

[Yupster]

8. Last exit poll

Are you a Union member?

of those who said yes, they voted

Gore 62 %
Bush 34 %

so a strong adantage for Gore, almost 2x1.

However, the votes are not the only advantage. Union phone banks, issue ads and precinct walkers are a vital part of the Democratic Party get-out-the-vote effort.