Labor, Radicals, and a Democratic President:

Seeking Social Change in 2012?

Martin Halpern

LMU Amerika-Institut, 14 November 2012

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The Left 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

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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.

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Sustained Periods of Social Progress Have Occurred When: 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

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Twentieth Century Politics: The New Deal Turning Point

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

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Gradual Erosion of Democratic Position 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

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Since the 1960s 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

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Economic Crisis of 1970s 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

Democratic Comeback began in 1990-1992

1990 election gains Minimum wage increase won Civil Rights Act of 1991 Grass roots mobilizations for repro

ductive rights Bill Clinton’s election

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March for Women’s Lives, April 5, 1992

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Clintonite Centrism Again Erodes Democratic Base

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

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John Sweeney and New Voices win leadership of AFL-CIO

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

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Left, Labor, and Progressive Campaigns Grow 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

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Progressives’ Search for Electoral Alternative has limited success 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

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2000 Election: Nader 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

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2000 Election: Gore 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

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2004 Election Campaign 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

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Progressives and the Left in 2004 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

Bush’s Second Term 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 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

Obama 365   McCain 173Barack Obama 67,066,91552.7%

John McCain58,421,37745.9%

2008 Election 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 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 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 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 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 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 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

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 MarchOctober 11, 2009

2010 Election and its aftermath 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 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 anti-union law and forcing repeal of restrictive voting law

Occupy Wall Street Movement 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 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 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

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Unions Back Obama . . . 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

AFL-CIO President Trumka speaks out against “grand bargain,” defends Social Security and Medicare

Labor activists take new initiatives

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Chicago Teachers Win Strike 43

Labor Political Action 2012 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 44

Progressive and Left Groups Backing Obama and Democrats 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 America45

Progressive and Left Groups Not Backing Obama

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

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Obama 62,306,898 votes 51% Romney 58,937,514 votes 48%

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Democratic Constituencies in 2004, 2008, 2012

2004 2008 2012 African Americans 88 95 93 Democrats 89 89 92 liberals 85 88 86 Jews 75 78 69 No religious affilia. 67 75 70 Other faiths 74 73 74 gays and lesbians 77 70 76 unmarried women 62 70 67 Hispanics 53 67 71 18-29 year olds 54 66 60 Asian Americans 56 62 73 Union household 59 59 58

2012 Referenda

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

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Why a Close Election? 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

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Social Change Prospects? 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

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Best Campaign Video

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