Ok. So first, I want to say that I have been reviewing the educational reforms proposed by Governor Daniels, and the bills that have been put forth, and will very soon give my official critique of those reforms. Some I like, some I'm not crazy about, but I'll get into specifics on my next piece.This piece doesn't concern those reforms, after all. This piece has to do with the article that the Times ran a couple of days ago regarding Local 150 and it's contributions to Republican causes. Excerpts taken from the aforementioned Times piece:
"Local No. 150 of the International Union of Operating Engineers, with local offices in Merrillville, last year gave a $5,000 contribution to the Aiming Higher Political Action Committee, according to campaign finance records at the Indiana secretary of state's website.
Aiming Higher, established by Gov. Mitch Daniels, spent $1.5 million on television ads in the last election to retake the Indiana House for Republicans, which laid the groundwork for this week's effort to try to pass right-to-work legislation.
In addition, Local 150 donated $50,000 to the Mitch for Governor Campaign in the 2008 election cycle, according to campaign finance records. The Indiana Council of Carpenters poured $20,000 into Daniels' campaign."
There are a couple of different aspects that I would like to address. The first, and primary, aspect, is that fans of Mitch go far beyond typical party lines. Yes, a lot of Republicans are fans of Mitch, and yes, he is a "blade" when it comes to slashing budgets (which moderate, libertarian, and far right Republicans can all appreciate), but he is also favored by many a different kind of voter. Many unions (including, apparently, 150) and union members like Mitch because he has helped to stem the tide when it comes to jobs disappearing in this state. I remember the last election, reading a Post-Tribune article, where several black Gary voters were announcing their support for Mitch. These all go outside the bounds of the stereotypical Republican voter, and helps to show why Mitch, as a Presidential candidate, would have a good chance of winning.
The second aspect is that, though I am personally for Indiana becoming a "right to work" state (as previously written), Mitch has been on record saying that he doesn't want that bill passed right now because, quite simply, it wasn't a campaign promise. This is important because at least SOME unions are able to recognize that the agendas of Governor Daniels and those that are in the House or Senate are not always parallel. Which means that, though some of the union big shots will certainly paint Mitch as an orchestrator of all of this, there are some that won't take the bait, and that is good, because it increases the odds if Daniels decides to run.
The fact that Democrats, instead of standing their ground and just voting no in opposition to different legislation, are instead deciding to run to Illinois is an important factor as well. I had honestly thought that this scenario would play out:
Because many people were, at the beginning of this whole conundrum, were on the sides of teachers and union members, I thought that R's would lose some seats. A handful, but enough to cause some calamity in future races. Because they decided, rather, to cut and run to a Democratic state that is consistently raising taxes and just allowed Rahm Emanual to win as mayor of Chicago, moderates and Independents have been changing their minds. On a recent poll I have seen, only 39% of those polled are in agreement with teachers unions, with 46% against. As written at the start of this post, I'll be writing soon about my own thoughts regarding education reforms, but regardless, this is a bad sign for Democrats.
Because they are overplaying their hand, and consistently adding to their demands (ranging from the killing of right to work legislation, which has been met already, to the killing of illegal immigration reform much like Arizona's), more and more people are seeing this tactic for what it really is: the hostage taking of our government by the minority.
The longer the Democrats hide out, the better it will turn out for Republicans, I think, and particularly Daniels if he makes a 2012 run. People don't have a problem with protesting, and they don't have a problem with differing opinions (I know I don't), but when it gets to this point people get fed up REAL quick.
