Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin

(115,244 posts)
Tue Nov 19, 2024, 04:50 PM Tuesday

After Democrats lost the working class, union leaders say it's time to 'reconstruct the Democratic Party'

President Joe Biden proudly called himself the most pro-labor president in American history, but working-class voters moved further than ever from their traditional home in the Democratic Party in this year’s election, leading some to rethink their approach to winning working-class voters.

While unions say their extensive organizing efforts helped Democrats largely hold the line with their members — Vice President Kamala Harris’ support among union households this year was slightly down from Biden’s in 2020, according to NBC News exit polling — the party’s erosion among working-class voters more generally is alarming.

“I don’t think the party has fully embraced, and hasn’t for decades, really, working-class people,” said Brent Booker, the general president of the Laborers’ International Union of North America. “We have to deconstruct and reconstruct the Democratic Party if they’re going to be the party of working people.”

Union membership has cratered over the past 50 years, so union leaders say there is only so much they can do in a world where 9 in 10 workers are not unionized and larger trends are cleaving workers from the Democratic Party.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/democrats-lost-working-class-union-120000898.html

22 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
After Democrats lost the working class, union leaders say it's time to 'reconstruct the Democratic Party' (Original Post) Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Tuesday OP
Brent is lying. travelingthrulife Tuesday #1
Messaging is lacking Blue Full Moon 14 hrs ago #17
(Some) working class white people have to wise up. Maybe spooky3 Tuesday #2
Bull. Democrats have always supported labor, but when labor supportered Reagan over Carter, that JohnSJ Tuesday #3
If we re-invent our party based on a stolen election then we rebuild on a mirage. Irish_Dem Tuesday #4
The election wasn't stolen. Let's not engage in conspiracy theories. white_wolf Tuesday #10
Lecturing me will not work. Irish_Dem Tuesday #11
Reality doesn't agree with you. white_wolf Tuesday #13
Ad hominem attacks are a sign of a very weak argument. Irish_Dem Tuesday #14
I mean he has facts and reality. Jk23 20 hrs ago #16
Yes messaging could always be better BUT I disagree bronxiteforever Tuesday #5
Huh? Raven123 Tuesday #6
one suspects the heavily male rank and file went for trump. mnt msongs Tuesday #7
Post removed Post removed Tuesday #8
They aren't wrong. But it's too late if you ask me. Littlered Tuesday #9
OK, What exactly, is the Republican party offering workers? Ars Longa Tuesday #12
don't forget the TARIFFS!! Blue_Tires 11 hrs ago #22
That whole thing is a load of bullshit. mucholderthandirt 22 hrs ago #15
Labor unions need to be more involved in county Democratic Parties. LiberalFighter 12 hrs ago #18
That sounds like code for Bettie 12 hrs ago #19
The MAGA narrative of Democrats' desertion of the middle class is B.See 12 hrs ago #20
**WHITE** working class... Blue_Tires 11 hrs ago #21

travelingthrulife

(679 posts)
1. Brent is lying.
Tue Nov 19, 2024, 04:53 PM
Tuesday

Democrats have consistently worked hard for labor. Labor, unfortunately , consistently fall for promises of unicorns and fairytales the GOP spews.
Remember Foxcon Wisconsin? 4.1 billion dollar boondoggle?

Blue Full Moon

(1,153 posts)
17. Messaging is lacking
Wed Nov 20, 2024, 04:11 PM
14 hrs ago

The republicans are controlling the narrative. The avalanche of cards worked. Democrats are going to have to do the same. They need to gain control media and with propaganda doesn't matter if good or bad.

spooky3

(36,193 posts)
2. (Some) working class white people have to wise up. Maybe
Tue Nov 19, 2024, 04:57 PM
Tuesday

The disasters looming in the next 4 years will get through to them.

JohnSJ

(96,520 posts)
3. Bull. Democrats have always supported labor, but when labor supportered Reagan over Carter, that
Tue Nov 19, 2024, 05:04 PM
Tuesday

was a disaster for labor, and it has been going downhill ever since.

According to stats labor split the vote between Harris and the sociopath. That those in labor who thought voting for the sociopath was a good idea, they will pay a heavy price for this for years to come.

Enjoy the policies of the sociopath and musk.

Irish_Dem

(57,309 posts)
4. If we re-invent our party based on a stolen election then we rebuild on a mirage.
Tue Nov 19, 2024, 05:11 PM
Tuesday

It is better to work on election security.

white_wolf

(6,255 posts)
10. The election wasn't stolen. Let's not engage in conspiracy theories.
Tue Nov 19, 2024, 07:15 PM
Tuesday

We lost. We need to determine why we lost. Pretending the election was stolen does us no good.

Irish_Dem

(57,309 posts)
11. Lecturing me will not work.
Tue Nov 19, 2024, 07:28 PM
Tuesday

It is obvious what happened.

I am supposed to believe that ruthless, desperate, psychopaths like Trump and Putin played fair and square.

Sure, and I have some bridges to sell you.

My training is in science. Not fantasies of what we wish to be true.
But reality.

Irish_Dem

(57,309 posts)
14. Ad hominem attacks are a sign of a very weak argument.
Tue Nov 19, 2024, 07:57 PM
Tuesday

It means you have nothing but insults.

Nothing but bluster and bullying.

Jk23

(401 posts)
16. I mean he has facts and reality.
Wed Nov 20, 2024, 10:14 AM
20 hrs ago

Unless you face reality, you will not be able to fix the problem.

bronxiteforever

(9,401 posts)
5. Yes messaging could always be better BUT I disagree
Tue Nov 19, 2024, 05:22 PM
Tuesday

If these working class folks are running to the richest man in the world and the porny golden toilet seat POTUS then there is really more than reconstructing our Party. We can and will win again without reconstruction of the Party.

VP Harris ran an amazing campaign in a compressed time line. Our problem was that age had caught up to our President in the last 2 years. Of course the age of the orange dirtball is rarely discussed by our press. Joe’s messaging was weak and with the Trump toady press, they just gunned for Joe. But if the working class really felt that the values of the Trumplican party speaks to them more than the competence of our Party then the fault and responsibility is with the people that voted for it. If you listened to TFG for 5 minutes anyone knows that they are voting for hate and chaos.

Maybe working class Americans just want to be entertained but they will find out that they are on the dance card in the GOP’s coliseum.

Raven123

(6,037 posts)
6. Huh?
Tue Nov 19, 2024, 05:24 PM
Tuesday

The article claims Dems didn’t acknowledge inflation? That’s not what I heard.

All of these articles claim to identify “the problem” How about some concrete solutions.

Response to Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin (Original post)

Littlered

(39 posts)
9. They aren't wrong. But it's too late if you ask me.
Tue Nov 19, 2024, 06:30 PM
Tuesday

Unions are becoming redundant. I am a big believer in trade unions though. Fwiw, I recently took a seasonal job for the hell of it, at a large national retailers e fulfillment center. Part of the orientation was them explaining why they are non union, and what they are doing to remain that way. And I have to say. The perks, pay, and atmosphere, are the best I’ve ever encountered. And I spent a few decades in public service. And sorry, I can’t muster anything good to say about afscme.

Ars Longa

(16 posts)
12. OK, What exactly, is the Republican party offering workers?
Tue Nov 19, 2024, 07:29 PM
Tuesday

That's the part I don't get
Tax giveaways for billionaires?
Taking a chainsaw to Unions and their
benefits?

mucholderthandirt

(1,147 posts)
15. That whole thing is a load of bullshit.
Wed Nov 20, 2024, 07:38 AM
22 hrs ago

Kamala Harris did nothing but work for the working class, with tax cuts, working on lowering prices, give tax breaks for buying a home and more.

None of this shit makes any sense. The Republicans offered nothing but hate and higher taxes, and they won? It's just a big fucking lie, this election was stolen, or the Dems and Pukes worked together to fool us all. Now the Dems can run on keeping Trump under control, but they won't be the ones suffering.

I stand by my previous comments that humanity is insane, and the few of us who seem to be able to vote for our own best interests are the oddities, the statistical anomalies. History will support this, as we may get a few good years, but eventually the crazy wins and we get people like Trump. If he won't leave (again) in four years, who's going to drag him out?

Bettie

(17,062 posts)
19. That sounds like code for
Wed Nov 20, 2024, 06:01 PM
12 hrs ago

"stop talking about women and minorities and talk exclusively about white heterosexual, religious men."

B.See

(3,583 posts)
20. The MAGA narrative of Democrats' desertion of the middle class is
Wed Nov 20, 2024, 06:13 PM
12 hrs ago

One of the BIGGEST FRAUDS perpetrated upon the American people, another being the myth that Republicans represent the working class.

It's absolute bullshit. And a surprising number of people have bought into it.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»After Democrats lost the ...