Romney’s (Lack of) Vision

by Kate Childs Graham  |  May 11, 2012

In Mitt Romney’s new stump speech, he claims that he has a “very different vision for America.” And if “different” means “backwards,” indeed he does.

In his new “crusade against unfairness,” Romney is trying to co-opt the growing chorus of middle class voices rallying against corporate excess for his own political purposes. What America really needs is for Romney to stop the unfairness of playing fast and loose with the facts at the podium.

Romney’s manufactured image of public service workers is just plain wrong. In many places, because of their union contract, public service workers make a fair wage and receive fair benefits. In other places, there is still much work to be done. Whatever the case, we need to pull together to promote economic opportunity. We don’t need to pull everyone down as part of Romney’s never-ending race to the bottom.

We know why Romney thinks it’s unfair for working folks to have the right to participate in the political arena. People-powered organizations don’t support him. And that’s because AFSCME members and others know that a public sector run by Romney and his minions wouldn’t work for public service workers or for the families we serve. We know how important it is to support elected officials who support high quality public services.

Romney’s telling the truth about one thing. There is a lot of unfairness in this country and we need to stop it. His new stump speech makes it clear: Under Romney's economic plan, working families will never get the fair shake we deserve. Under President Obama’s plan, on the other hand, we will.