Americans Oppose Republican Attack on Unions in Poll

[ProSense]

Source: Bloomberg

Americans reject Republican efforts to curb bargaining rights of unions whose power they say is dwarfed by corporations, a Bloomberg National Poll finds.

As battles rage between state workers and Republican governors in Wisconsin and Ohio, 63 percent don’t think states should be able to break their promises to retirees, and respondents split over whether governors aim to balance their budgets or weaken unions that back Democratic foes, according to the poll conducted March 4-7.

The poll shows that political challenges to government workers are failing to draw broad support from a public more concerned about unemployment than government deficits. Respondents are divided over whether public employees should sacrifice to help states ease their fiscal crises: About half say governors are unfairly targeting unions and 46 percent say public employees should be willing to accept benefit cuts. The fracture largely reflects party lines.

“The Republican Party sees an opportunity to attack and possibly destroy the base of their opponents’ political power,” says poll respondent Dale Palmer, 59, a Democrat and retired teacher from Zephyrhills, Florida.



Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-09/americans-oppose-republican-attack-on-unions-in-poll-divided-over-benefits.html

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Speaking of special interests attacks on unions, The Atlantic: Rove-Affiliated Group Airs Nationwide Ad on Unions

The Republican-aligned group Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies (better known as Crossroads GPS) is launching a nationwide TV ad criticizing unions, in light of Wisconsin's fight over collective bargaining.

Crossroads GPS and its sister organization, American Crossroads, have been promoted by Karl Rove and former Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie, two of President George W. Bush's top political brains. The groups were criticized heavily by Democrats as "shadowy" and are seen as leading a new wave of (mostly Republican) outside political spending in the post-Citizens United era.

Crossroads GPS spent over $14 million last year during the 2010 midterms, while American Crossroads reported $25.4 million in 2010 expenditures to the Federal Election Commission.

The new ad begins airing today on CNN, CNBC, and Fox News. The group is spending $750,000 to air it for one week and is asking donors for money to fund it.

[msongs]

1. Those ads are what we get for being bipartisan at any cost nt

[Kingofalldems]

2. K and R all Pro Union threads

[SpiralHawk]

3. "Americans oppose Republicons" - perfect, true headline

Since the republicons want an Eeeleete Billionaire Homeland, complete with pliable fox-watching proles -- no wonder real Americans would oppose their ugly, totalitarian anti-democratic vision. It is so freaking steeking unAmerican.

[RedCloud]

4. Robber barons' master plan is being foiled!

[Zoeisright]

5. So get out there and vote against them, damn it.

These polls are so infuriating. If only people would make as much effort to VOTE, and vote FOR their own interests, as they do taking polls, this country would be in much better shape.