Ask them about the Minimum Wage; It’s the Least we can Do.

( – promoted by buhdydharma )

Raese says Minimum Wage is Unconstitutional

by Alison Knezevich, The Charleston Gazette — Oct 14, 2010

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Republican candidate for U.S. Senate John Raese doesn’t just want to abolish the minimum wage.  He also calls it possibly unconstitutional.

[…]

Democratic Gov. Joe Manchin’s campaign seized on Raese’s remarks as a sign that Raese, a multimillionaire, is out of touch with West Virginians.

[…]

West Virginia is one of the nation’s poorest and oldest states. Nearly 18 percent of West Virginians live in poverty, compared to 14 percent of Americans, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Rachel Maddow has some sage advice, on how to turn “out of touch” rhetoric like this, into Electoral Gold …

First, a quick primer, to frame this “instant winner” of a debate:

Do You Think That We Need A Minimum Wage?

istockanalyst.com —  Oct 14, 2010

The current federal minimum wage rate is $7.25 per hour. There has been much debate in the political arena about whether or not to abolish the federal minimum wage.

Some Republican candidates have said that a minimum wage requirement is an outdated law that has no Constitutional backing. They see the law as the government instituting price controls on the economy.

Democratic candidates argue that a federal minimum wage is necessary to ensure that employees are paid a fair and livable wage.

How many Republicans running for Office even know How Much How Little the Minimum Wage really is?

How many of them know How Much that works out to, per year, before Taxes?

( $7.50 x  2000 hrs  = $15,000 per year )

How many Republicans running for Office, could live on that amount?

How many average Working Americans can … and do?   They have to.

Rachel Maddow explains how the Issue is an instant winner, if Dems (and the Media) could find a way, to challenge Republican Candidates — about worker wages —

Challenge them on their phobia of even mentioning — the Middle Class!

Rachel Maddow Tells Democrats the Minimum Wage is a Key to 2010 Victory

by Jason Easley, politicususa.com — Oct 9, 2010

Maddow pointed out that the minimum wage is great issue for the Democrats, “If you had a secret decoder ring for democratic electoral success, the minimum wage is what your ring decodes to. Whenever minimum wage is on the ballot, it blows up.

In 2006, minimum wage initiative passed in Nevada by 38 points. Minimum measure in Arizona passed by 32 points. Two years earlier one passed in Florida by 44 points.  Montana, Montana! Democratic senator Jon Tester of Montana elected in 2006, when was that minimum wage ballot initiative ballot wage on the ballot?  2006. This is the code for Democrats. When minimum wage is an issue, not only does it win, Democrats win alongside issue, too.

[…]

She highlighted the political dilemma for Republican candidates on the minimum wage issue, “This is really awkward for Republicans. On the one hand, they’re so reliant on the support of business interests, they represent business interests. But on the other hand, they recognize that opposing minimum wage increases is really bad electorally, even in conservative states. So Republicans have been against the minimum wage, but very quietly.

[…]

She concluded, “That sound you hear in the distance is the sound of Democratic antenna beginning up going up across the country.  It is proven to energize Democratic voters over and over and over again.  Every where in the country. Republican John Raese running for Senate in West Virginia. Linda McMahon of Connecticut, Countr Joe Miller of Alaska, all on record arguing against the Minimum Wage.

So Dems need to be arguing strongly In Favor of the Minimum Wage!

That is where the “Race to the Bottom” will be halted.

That is where average Working Americans will see “On Who’s Side, a Candidate is really on?”

OURS … or … the Chamber Commerce … ???

SO Ask each and every Republican —

Exactly where Do they stand on the on Minimum Wage ???

It’s the Least we can Do — to draw a sharp contract between them — and the real Party of the People … Democrats who are the actual defenders of the Constitution, and “the promoting of the general welfare”  … as the Founder Fathers clearly intended.

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

The Constitution of the United States — the first Paragraph, also known as the Preamble.

[emphasis added]