Trouble in Paradise: Unions Opt to Skip Democratic National Convention

Convention season is nigh, but the Democrats’ gather won’t quite be the Greek-columned, overflowing-football-stadium fete they had in Denver last time around. No, Charlotte is looking to be much more subdued: a shorter party with fewer guests, in large measure due to a union hissy fit.

Indeed, the Dems have cut their party downfrom four days to three, and now, their BFF from 2008 has decided not to come. Rather than join in the fun with Obama and company, unions have instead thrown money at their own party in Philadelphia, on August 11. Contributions and even physical presence in North Carolina will be minimal – and although they insist it has nothing to do with the union-unfriendly atmosphere in Charlotte, or dissatisfaction with Obama, they are, regardless, leaving the Democrats hurting.

Post continues on TownHall.com http://townhall.com/tipsheet/katehicks/2012/07/13/trouble_in_... However, this does reveal an interesting gap: Obama loves to talk about all the work he’s doing for the middle class, but the unions don’t see it, and as a result, won’t donate at the national level. Despite their professed commitment to getting Obama reelected, they’re withholding valuable funds and manpower, as well as the symbolic projection of a united front. Combine this with the reports yesterday that the NAACP felt somewhat snubbed by Obama’s absence, and you have a Democratic party that is seriously jeopardizing the participation of its go-to get-out-the-vote constituencies.