For Labor, a Day to Ask What Went Wrong

[Freddie Stubbs]

By STEVEN GREENHOUSE

Published: January 21, 2004


The labor unions that backed Representative Richard A. Gephardt of Missouri and Howard Dean, the former Vermont governor, were embarrassed yesterday and searching for answers why their candidates — and the unions themselves — fared so poorly in the Iowa caucuses.

Officials from the unions that supported Dr. Dean, who placed third, and Mr. Gephardt, who dropped out of the presidential race after placing fourth, said the pair had been weakened by the flurry of negative charges they directed at each other. They said this helped Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, who won the caucuses, and Senator John Edwards of North Carolina, who came in second, pick up support because they ran more positive campaigns.

Strategists from the two major unions that backed Dr. Dean — the service employees and the state, county and municipal employees — said they would redouble their efforts to lift him to victory in next Tuesday's primary in New Hampshire.

But leaders of the blue-collar unions that supported Mr. Gephardt said they were unsure what they would do next.

more: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/21/politics/campaigns/21LABO.html

[mopinko]

1. imho unions

are suffering from "if you lay down with dogs, you get up with fleas". i think the reliance on mob muscle to keep strikers in line, and to intimidate employers, let them in the door. they then sacked the bank accounts, and screwed the members.
if they had found "soul force" from the get go, they would still be relevant today.
now, i am willing to admit that this is my stitled opinion from here in chicago, where the mob is STILL in charge of most things. i would be interested to hear how people in other parts of the country see this.

where to go from now?? i know, that was the question. maybe facing up to the dark side is a start.

[Freddie Stubbs]

2. I think that unions are still a force in politics

They can be quite decisive in getting out the vote. What they are not able to do is convince those voters how to vote.

[spooky3]

3. I think union households split their vote among candidates

in looking at the MSNBC exit poll data.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

4. and it's quite possible

that times have changed and union rank and file make up their own minds.

[aldian159]

5. Agree 100%

Great call.