Labor, Radicals, and a
Democratic President: Seeking
Social Change in 2012?
Martin Halpern
LMU Amerika-Institut, 14 November 2012
The Left
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Working-class orientation
Seeks social justice for oppressed at
home and abroad
Long-term goal of transforming society so
that caring and cooperation are the
organizing principles, socialism
Short-term goals: strengthening working
class organization and progressive change
1
Progressivism

that set of changes under discussion in
the body politic at a given moment that
would improve the lives of working
people and the oppressed and make
society as a whole more just.
2
Sustained Periods of Social
Progress Have Occurred When:
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Labor movement energized by
progressive activists
Significant left movements organizing
large numbers of working people.
Left-center coalitions effective at local
and national levels.
Democratic president strongly
influenced by liberalism
3
Twentieth Century Politics: The
New Deal Turning Point
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Roosevelt and New Deal coalition achieves
significant social reforms – Wagner Act, Social
Security Act, Fair Labor Standards Act
CIO industrial unions win a degree of power
Northern Democrats shift toward a policy of
inclusion of African Americans, begin supporting
civil rights actions
Democrats become normal majority party
4
Gradual Erosion of Democratic
Position
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1938: GOP picks up seats based on
opposition to sit-downs and communism
1940: GOP makes further gains based on
opposition to FDR foreign policy
Cold war anti-communism in both foreign and
domestic policy helps GOP
GOP gains among white Southerners and
others opposed to civil rights began in 1948
and accelerate as national Democrats ally
with civil rights movement in 1960s
5
Since the 1960s
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Democratic division on foreign policy begun
during the Vietnam war persists
South becomes normally Republican in
presidential politics
Republicans make gains on cultural issues,
but liberals and left deflect right-wing attacks;
most Americans tolerant
Democrats draw new strength from civil
rights, feminist and environmental
movements
6
Economic Crisis of 1970s
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New business activism in politics
Rapid decline of union density after 1975
weakens key Democratic constituency
Right-wing anti-tax campaigns
Democratic party leaders and financial
supporters shift away from liberalism
Carter administration’s failures weaken
Democrats among working class, depress
low-income voter turnout
7
Democratic Comeback began in
1990-1992
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1990 election gains
Minimum wage increase won
Civil Rights Act of 1991
Grass roots mobilizations for
reproductive rights
Bill Clinton’s election
8
March for Women’s Lives, April 5, 1992
Clintonite Centrism Again Erodes
Democratic Base
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Clinton governs from the center-right;
undermines New Deal liberalism with welfare
reform, accepting Reaganite budget and anti-big
government concepts
Clinton triangulation strategy weakens
Democratic effort to retake Congress after 1994
Republican victory
10
John Sweeney and New Voices
win leadership of AFL-CIO
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Greater diversity in leadership
Coalitions with students and rights groups
Aggressive political action campaigns
Organizing the unorganized
Against NAFTA and for Workplace Fairness
Support for undocumented workers’ rights
11
Left, Labor, and Progressive
Campaigns Grow
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Increase in minimum wage won in 1996,
Teamster victory in UPS strike in 1997
Marches for civil, abortion, and gay and
lesbian rights, children’s programs, and gun
control
Protests against School of Americas and
Yugoslav war
“Teamsters and Turtles” protest WTO in
Seattle
12
13
Progressives’ Search for Electoral
Alternative has limited success
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AFL-CIO calls for electing 2000
unionists in 2000
NOW calls for Twentieth Century Party
Supreme Court ends New Party’s fusion
tactic
Green Party elects candidates in
progressive enclaves, runs Nader in
2000
14
2000 Election: Nader
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Critiques corporate domination of politics
Mass rallies, support from youth, disaffected,
and some Perot backers
Endorsed by UE, California Nurses Association
Emphasizes criticism of Democrats, says they
need a cold shower
Pulls Gore to the left but his attacks on
Democrats helped Bush’s effort to appear as a
“compassionate conservative” whom centrists
could choose
15
2000 Election: Gore
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In wake of Clintonite centrist turn, Gore and
Bush are “shockingly alike” on major issues
Influenced by progressive allies and by Nader
campaign, Gore emphasizes populist themes
Major progressive groups, AFL-CIO, and CP
mobilize for Gore
Strong attacks against Nader as spoiler by
Gore partisans
Wins popular vote
16
2004 Election Campaign
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Mass left-led anti-war movement propelled
Dean to the forefront and shaped campaign
Democratic constituencies’ anger over
extremist administration, theft of 2000
election, jobs and health care crises
All Democratic candidates but one make
progressive appeals, Clintonite centrism
eclipsed
John Kerry runs an aggressive campaign with
progressive themes
17
Progressives and the Left in 2004
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Grass roots mobilization on a new scale,
increased voter registration
Effective independent campaigning by unions,
MoveOn.org, Michael Moore, ACT, etc.
Greens refuse to endorse Nader, emphasize
building party not damaging Democrats
Some on left focus on criticizing Kerry’s
shortcomings, most on beating Bush and
electing Kerry
18
Bush’s Second Term
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Incompetent and uncaring response to
Hurricane Katrina; corruption and scandals
Record federal deficit, slow economy,
mortgage and banking crises, collapse of
stock market, recession
Public shifts decisively against the war in Iraq
2006 election -- Democrats retake Congress,
hold 28 governorships
Bush’s approval level reached near-record
low even before economic collapse
2008 Election
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Breakthrough in opening up highest
office possibility to minorities and women
GOP ability to use cultural issues,
racism, and national security fears to win
presidential elections declines
Economic collapse shapes campaign
Barack Obama
67,066,915
52.7%
John McCain
58,421,377
45.9%
Obama 365 McCain 173
2008 Election
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Decisive victory by Obama and
Democratic Congressional gains pointed
to diminished racism and mandate for
changing direction of country
Obama’s support for bank bailout:
corporate domination continues
unabated
Obama’s Appointees
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Prominent political figures, headed by Hilary
Clinton as Secretary of State
Diversity similar to that of Clinton
Most economic appointees are big-business
oriented and overall a centrist cast
One progressive, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis,
and a couple of liberals
Pro-union appointees to NLRB
Two progressive women appointed to Supreme
Court
Obama’s Domestic Policies
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Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act
Economic Stimulus Package -- funds for
health care and green jobs but bank bailout
continued; limited assistance to homeowners
Expansion of Children’s Health Program
Significant health care reform, coverage for
all but no public option
Education program weakens public education
but improvement of college loan program
Obama’s Domestic Policies
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Action on greenhouse gases, climate change,
energy
Strengthening consumer and financial
regulation
Seeks Dream Act, stops deportation of youth
without documents
Supports marriage equality
High unemployment, the country’s biggest
problem, persists
Obama’s Foreign and Defense
Policies
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Repeal of Global Gag Rule, restored
international family planning
Executive orders to close down
Guantanamo Bay prison, ban use of
torture but Bagram prison continued in
Afghanistan and closing delayed
Military budget increased
Obama’s Foreign and Defense
Policies
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Gradual withdrawal from Iraq plan
slower than campaign promise, attempt
to keep troops there fails
More troops to Afghanistan; in 2011
embraces exit strategy from unpopular
war
Tiny steps away from embargo against
Cuba
Obama’s Foreign and Defense
Policies
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Significant arms reduction treaty with
Russia
Response to Arab Spring included
position to protect most conservative
regimes such as Bahrain, military
interventions
At Climate Conference in Durban, South
Africa, U.S. worked to prevent action
Politics of the Obama
Presidency
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Republican conservatives refuse to support their
party’s moderates
Some GOP and anti-gay victories in 2009 but
public opinion shifting toward tolerance; support
for gay marriage grows
Growing protests by students and university
employees over cuts and tuition hikes
Labor rally for One Nation and Jon Stewart Rally
to Restore Sanity on eve of 2010 election
National Equality March
October 11, 2009
2010 Election and its
aftermath
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Continuing high unemployment, low turnout of
Democratic voters shaped election
Republicans take House majority, Democratic
majority in Senate diminished
Obama sought compromise but Republicans
say chief goal is to defeat Obama
2011 Events
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Republicans in several states to take away
bargaining rights from public workers’
unions
Massive labor and student protests against
anti-union law in Wisconsin
Ohio labor with support of Obama
campaign succeeds in overturning antiunion law and forcing repeal of restrictive
voting law
Occupy Wall Street Movement
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Protests against unemployment, bank
profiteering, foreclosures, and corporate
domination of government spread
across the country
Movement succeeds in changing the
political debate
The 99% versus the 1% idea has
widespread support
2012 Election Campaigns
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Walker survives recall
Republican campaign dominates the
media
Romney prevails due to money and
willingness to embrace right-wing
Unlimited money gives rich increasing
dominance in framing of our political
discussions
Unions Influential but Weaker
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Membership base of 14.8 million
Continuing decline in union density
Split in AFL-CIO
Factional and jurisdictional battles
Benefit from new NLRB initiatives
Forced to fight defensive battles
37
38
Unions Back Obama . . .
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Support health care and regulatory
reforms and welcome pro-labor
measures
Despite dissatisfaction with Obama’s
economic policy and failure to act on
Employee Free Choice Act, pragmatic
decisions to oppose far right trend in
Republican Party
But maintain some independence
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AFL-CIO President Trumka speaks out
against “grand bargain,” defends Social
Security and Medicare
Labor activists take new initiatives
41
Chicago Teachers Win Strike
42
Labor Political Action 2012
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Unions and allied independent labor
groups (Working America) mobilizing
Get out vote for Democrats
Aim to put collective bargaining rights
in Michigan Constitution
Seek to stop California effort to prevent
union political contributions
43
Progressive and Left Groups
Backing Obama and Democrats
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Planned Parenthood
NAACP 300,000
NOW 500,000,
Sierra Club 1.3 million
AAUW 150,000
Alliance for Retired Americans 4 million
Institute for Policy Studies
Communist Party and Democratic Socialists of
America
44
Progressive and Left Groups Not
Backing Obama
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Peace Action 100,000
United for Peace and Justice – 1300
groups
Committees of Correspondence for
Peace and Democracy
Green Party, Calif. Peace and Freedom
Party, Socialist Party
45
Obama 62,306,898 votes 51% Romney 58,937,514 votes 48%
46
Democratic Constituencies in
2004, 2008, 2012
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African Americans
Democrats
liberals
Jews
No religious affilia.
Other faiths
gays and lesbians
unmarried women
Hispanics
18-29 year olds
Asian Americans
Union household
2004
88
89
85
75
67
74
77
62
53
54
56
59
2008
95
89
88
78
75
73
70
70
67
66
62
59
2012
93
92
86
69
70
74
76
67
71
60
73
58
47
2012 Referenda
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Gay marriage issue – wins in four states
Anti-union measure defeated in California
but so is pro-union measure in Michigan
GMO labeling in California defeated
Death penalty ban in California defeated
Easing restrictions on marijuana –passes
in 3 of 6 states
48
Why a Close Election?
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Shift of corporate interests like GE,
Goldman Sachs to GOP
Lid off spending by wealthy
Limited improvement on jobs, housing,
health care
Many who prefer Obama unlikely to vote
Obstacles to voting and fair count
49
Social Change Prospects?
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Grass roots initiatives will continue
Diverse left engaged in numerous social
movements but strategy and unity
lacking
Obama has sent conflicting signals –
support for worker initiatives but also
seeking grand compromise with GOP on
Social Security and Medicare
50
Best Campaign Video
51