6-16-08, 9:39 am

The struggle for the votes from the working class has never been more openly discussed. In the mainstream media, we've heard the phrase “working class” far more than the classless phrase “middle class” in recent weeks. This is new feature for national elections.

Defining 'working class' is a problem, however. Commercial pundits on CNN, MSNBC and other major corporate media are making the definition but in a way that shows their clearly anti-working class agenda. They have dissected the working class into its various parts. Why not? They have no interest in unifying workers with a peoples’ agenda.

In its rawest form the parceling process, as expressed on television went something like this:

“White working class voters” were crudely characterized as the 'lunch bucket' crowd, and they, we were told, supported Hillary Clinton. After her primary wins in West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania, the pundits focused on that voting cluster as explaining the results. “White working class males' were similarly lumped into Hillary Clinton's column.

“Women” were for Clinton. The term was used sometimes to describe working-class woman, but neither their class relationships nor their ethnic backgrounds were ever mentioned. They were portrayed strictly as a gender vote. A significant percent of these voters either belong to labor unions or would if it were possible.

Overall, the not so indirect connotation about many of these voters was that they were motivated by race or racism in their choice of whom to support.

When the phrase 'Black voters' is used, the phrase working class is never applied. These voters live a non-class bubble, the media experts told us. Yet, far and away, the largest percent of Black voters fit the traditional working-class definition. Pundits also never talked about the fact that millions of African American voters are women. The media assigned African American voters to Barack Obama without hesitation. Ironically, however, Obama was typically characterized as having difficulty appealing to working-class people and women.

Similarly, the media declassed college-educated voters and never referred to them as working class, even though millions of professionals, professors, and other white collar workers are working class, are members of unions, or want to belong. By the way, many intellectual workers bring their lunch to work, too. The media put this group of workers into Obama's camp, but, in so doing, some people derisively referred to them as elitist voters.

Then through mass media exit polling and others means the pundits laid out the voting patterns of various religious, racial and age groupings. Some reported a trade union vote but it was always unclear what that designation meant.

Who is left? Well it’s the corporate executives and many middle level managers and sales people. There a number of corporate executives who identify with the Democratic Party. They are not among the working class. While they are a much smaller percent of the voters, they certainly have extraordinary power by virtue of their monetary contributions to the Democratic Party.

Obviously a much larger percentage of these corporate voters give money to the Republican Party. These Republicans vote their economic and financial self-interest without hesitation.

Many corporations give to both political parties. They keep their fingers in both pots. Why not? The parties belong to them.

White male corporate executives maintain their positions with family connections and on going structural race and gender discrimination.

We, as Communists, understand that both the Republican and Democratic parties are parties of and for capital. Efforts over the past decades to establish a political party of labor have failed. We know the reasons: legal barriers, state-by-state restrictions, financial requirements and other obstacles have frustrated these attempts. And, oh yes, red-baiting attacks are often used especially when these efforts are close to becoming successful.

Yet there are differences between these two major parties, and, at times, the differences can be wide. But while the parties may differ on tactics and strategies, their ultimate goal is still capital control. That proverbial dimes' worth of difference between the two parties, sometimes, is far wider as in 2008.

The struggle over working-class votes – all of them

What about the working class voters who identify as and vote Republican?

Well, it is no secret that Reagan [2 terms], Bush 1 [one term] and Bush 2 [two terms] were supported by working-class voters more than many of us would like to admit. That, of course, does not include African American working-class voters.

The struggle to gain voting support from as many working-class voters as possible is and always has been a goal of the Republican Party. Republican Party leaders see the registration figures, and Democrats far out number them. And, working-class people especially are registered Democrats.

All Republicans, not just Karl Rove, plot ways to siphon off working-class voters. The Republican’s cynical appeal to workers, their class enemies, has been, historically, militaristic and pro-war slogans and conservative, religious appeals, especially in the Bush period. They promote fears of immigrant job seekers, and typically use a straight up anti-woman, anti-Black appeal.

They will use any opportunist device. For example, Reagan actually used Bruce Springsteen’s wildly popular “Born In The USA” song during his anti-worker, racist campaign for the presidency in 1984.

Communists are Working Class

The historical role of the Communist Party is to clarify the definition and role of working-class people. We understand that a working-class person is defined by his or her relationship to their employer. This usually includes: wages/salaries/job level; their gender; their race; their national origin...and any combination there of. While we have focused on industrial workers, all workers must be part of the overall strategic aim of defeating the Republicans and winning greater victories for the working class.

We know by “mixing it up” with workers that frustration and misplaced anger can get workers to vote against their own interests. And, given the woeful state of the Democratic Party, e.g. support for NAFTA, and the inability of unions to always deliver economic needs to their members, it is no wonder that we don’t have a much more massive and unified progressive labor vote.

Corporate Definition of the Working Class







Warning: That is why corporate America engages intensely in defining who is and who isn’t part of the working class. They label some workers as working class, others as middle class, others are African American, others as women, others as immigrant workers; etc. “Captains for Industry” gleefully talk about, in their private clubs and Boards of Directors meetings, about setting workers against workers and workers against unions. Carrying over this to the political arena is a natural.

Why is this Important?

Well, during their primary process, the Republicans generally didn’t engage in winning working-class votes. This will change dramatically in the general election. The Republicans can and will be able to present their own working-class leaders; leaders of woman organizations; and carefully selected African American and other minority leaders. They may even attract some union leaders. The Republicans have plenty of money and the frustrations are running high.

While John McCain on many levels is a very weak candidate, when the campaign gets heated up, he won’t be by himself. He will be bolstered by support from Colin Powell and other Black Republican leaders who are not pro-Bush; they will selectively utilize Condoleezza Rice. Bobby Jindal, Louisiana governor, of Indian decent will be an effective campaigner, nullifying, to some extent the use of Katrina against the Republicans. You get the picture.

But, then the Republicans can roll in their big monopoly corporate hitters from the oil industry, real estate interests; Wall Street financiers and the rest to support their own self-interest. These will not be displayed in the CNN and MSNBC circles, but behind the scenes with money and influence.

Mass Media is a Corporate Media

The corporate ownership and editorial control over almost every media market is well documented. As we see on TV and radio talk shows their idea of a fair debate is moderate/friendly corporate and corporate right wing and neoliberal think tankers on one side and weak liberal ideologues on the other. Left wing and progressive labor leaders are almost always left out.

The Working Class and Labor

The finest expression of working class solidarity is through their own labor unions. This year major unions, more so than every before, were very active in the primary process. Clinton and Edwards received the lion share of union endorsement, financial support and on-the-ground workers. After Edwards bowed out, many supported Obama. In our country there are never any candidates for president directly from the working class and labor. None of them. Some candidates and even some presidents had working-class members of their families, even union involvement. How many times was Reagan’s presidency of SAG thrown in our face?

This is nothing new. It is always up to workers and their unions to get the best candidate they can get....truly the lesser of the evils.

Now that a candidate in the Democratic Party has been finalized, the unity of the AFL-CIO and CTW federations to defeat the Republicans is crucial.

This Won't Be Enough

The Communist Party understands that through the activities and activism of rank-and-file workers, shop stewards, and local unions can our country get a new president and a pro-worker Congress – one that will fight for them more than the other side. Top union leaders and officials must do the right thing; after all, they have the purse strings to the treasuries. But, getting them to mobilize their members is the key. Local labor councils are also essential to the process. But, relying on the top leaders of labor by itself won't do it.

“Everyone In No One Out” must be our view. As Communists we know that every worker is worth struggling for. Slinging epithets at workers who may have voted Republican in the past or may exhibit anti-woman and racist ideas is not the answer. Demonizing voters from West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio won’t work. The mass media will divide and highlight outrageous behavior on the part of a few to provoke news worth activity. Workers and their unions who chose sides in the Obama/Clinton primaries must be brought together.

That is our role.

The unintended or intended outcome of this kind of union solidarity can be a re-igniting of a labor lead working class party that can engage and win local and state elections and up to the congressional and White House levels.

With our Party engaging in the political process, on all levels, including running our own candidates, this year 2008 election period can bear fruits none of us imagined.

Let’s get to work.