The Democrats are going strong. The GOP is on the ropes, victims of their own hubris, corruption, and incompetance. There is no reason why the Dems shouldn't make substantial gains in the Senate, and maybe even take back the House.
Everything is set for the midterm elections. But there is one thing missing.
We need a wedge issue. I suggest raising the minimum wage.
It's no secret that the middle class is dying. The poor keep finding it harder and harder just to survive, while the rich wallow in the muck of immoral tax cuts. Meanwhile, the minimum wage, adjusted for inflation, is less now than it was in 1968 (via last weeks Real Time with Bill Maher).
If the Democrats want to assure themselves a majority in at least one house of Congress, all they have to do is hammer this point into the ground.
House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi should, when the recess ends, introduce legislation into the house to raise the minimum wage from $5.l5/hour to $7.00/hour. We all know this legislation would be doomed to fail, but that is exactly the point.
Let's get the Republicans on record. Let's force them to vote on a bill that specifically would put more money in the pocket of the American worker. It's the perfect Catch-22. None of them would want to vote yay on such a bill, but to vote no when the lower and middle classes are drowning would be political suicide. And if, by some miracle, the bill passes the legislature Democrats will get to run on being out front on this issue, one that affects almost all Americans.
And if it doesn't get through the House, the Dems can pound the GOP for killing it and denying Americans a well deserved and much needed raise.
There is but one problem to this idea. Our big tent party must unite. We've seen how hard it is to get them to do this, but if they can rally around just this one issue, just this one talking point (even you Leiberman), we will win the House in a cakewalk. We'll be the party of fair wages for fair work. What could be better.
Now, I know this will never get through the President. He won't sign it. I'm reminded of the 2004 Debates, when this issue popped up. Kerry came out strongly in support of it. Bush avoided the question and talked about the need for better education. But getting this passed before 2008 is not the point. This is about getting the GOP to show how they truly feel about helping the American Family.
They can't say they don't want to, so let's make them.