Now that Democrats are done celebrating U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter's defection from the GOP, they're faced with the same question Republicans have been asking for years. Will having him on board really make any difference?
That question is particularly germane where organized labor is concerned. I spoke to Clark Ruppert, president of the York-Adams Central Labor Council, after Specter first announced his party switch. Ruppert was pleased to see the Democratic majority stengthened, but at no point did he have to put down to phone to do joyous cartwheels.
Labor's always had a love-hate relationship with Specter. You can see evidence of that with the Employee Free Choice Act, which Specter actually co-sponsored in 2005, and which he's lately been saying he'll oppose.
So now that he's switched parties, will he support it to show unity with his new Democratic colleagues? Or will he oppose it to demonstrate his stated commitment to remain independent? I guess we'll see.
In the meantime, expect to see commercials like this.
Leave a comment