With just a month until Election Day, progressives and Democrats are stepping up an effort to warn seniors, women and middle class workers that electing more Republicans, especially those tied to the Tea Party, would be devastating to their interests.
Americans United For Change, leading the renewed effort, is set to launch an 18-state bus tour Oct. 6 called “Put the Middle Class First.” It will host multiple events with governors, House members and senators and federal candidates to call on voters to elect a Congress that President Obama can work with.
The plan follows the group’s successful “Give America a Raise” bus tour earlier this year that helped push the debate for raising the minimum wage.
“In planning how we could be most helpful in educating voters about what a nightmare a Tea Party-takeover of Congress would be for seniors, women and workers, another bus tour just made sense given what a local media sensation our ‘Give America a Raise’ tour was earlier this year,” said a spokesman.
Organizers call the bus the “fair shot advocate on wheels,” and it will help to make the case for higher wages, more secure Social Security, affordable college tuitions and equal pay for women.
“The last four years, we’ve seen what the Tea Party is really all about: costly government shutdowns, tax breaks for millionaires that never create jobs, and relentless attacks on women’s rights and seniors’ Medicare benefits,” said Brad Woodhouse, president of Americans United for Change.
“Cementing the difference in priorities between the two parties in voters’ minds is the mission of this tour. It’s a difference between a ‘For Sale’ sign hanging on the Capitol vs. a ‘Now Hiring’ Sign. It’s a difference between more government shutdowns vs. more investment in priorities that create jobs. It’s a difference between putting the wealthy special interest first vs. putting the middle class first,” he said.
‘PUT THE MIDDLE CLASS FIRST’ BUS TOUR OFFICIAL SCHEDULE:
Green Bay, WI
Milwaukee, WI
Wednesday, October 15
Davenport, IA
Des Moines, IA
Red Oak, IA
Thursday, October 16
Omaha, NE
Friday, October 17
Denver, CO
Monday, October 20
Texarkana, AR
Tuesday, October 21
Little Rock, AR
West Memphis, AR
Thursday, October 23
Tampa, FL
Orlando, FL
Friday, October 24
Tallahassee, FL
Atlanta, GA
Monday, October 27
Lexington, KY
Louisville, KY
Tuesday, October 28
Charleston, WV
Wednesday, October 29
Charlotte, NC
Greensboro, NC
Raleigh, NC
Thursday, October 30
Norfolk/Hampton Roads, VA
Richmond, VA
Friday, October 31
McLean, VA
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
