Conservatives traditionally have regarded minimum-wage laws with skepticism — and for good reason. Attempts by government to interfere with market forces in setting wages rarely work out as intended. But a group of conservative pundits and activists recently joined President Obama and others on the left in calling for hefty increases for low-wage workers.

Have they all gone mad? Not exactly — though the motives and tactics of some of the new minimum-wage proponents may surprise their allies on the Left.