Union thugs to spend workers money to defeat McCain

Amanda Carpenter:

The AFL-CIO said it will spend up to $53 million to engage in a campaign against Republican presidential candidate John McCain that will heavily target union workplaces across the country.

“We will communicate with union voters at the workplace, doorsteps, by phone, online and through direct mail,” said Karen Ackerman, the AFL-CIO’s political director.

She told reporters on a conference call Wednesday, “This week we begin reaching out to union members and the worksites. Union volunteers will distribute more than a 100,000 fliers on McCain’s record. By next month that number will be up to half a million fliers.”

The campaign, coined “McCain Revealed,” aims to paint the Arizona senator as an “unwavering advocate for George Bush’s failed economic policies.” The AFL-CIO’s online "Briefing Book” highlights seven different areas of attack: economy, jobs, healthcare, trade, workers’ rights, retirement security and one called “McCain &Bush.”

Ackerman said their campaign would hit more than 13 million union households in 23 battleground states with extra emphasis in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota---areas she said “where he may have natural appeal but they may not know about his economic record.”

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One of the ironies of this attack is how McCain has disarmed his side from responding to the union thugs. His legislation with Feingold doesn't really address the in kind contribution that unions can use against Republicans. It is the ultimate soft money that is not really restricted. To the extent it was supposed to be it is obviously a failure if this story is any indication.

It is also an unfair attack on capitalism and free trade. The unions have become the home of protectionism in America. They are like a team that wants a Super Bowl ring without having to compete for it.

The $53 million is pretty close to what McCain has spent to date in getting he nomination. It looks like he did a better job of getting our money out of politics than theirs.