Conservatives Weigh In on 'Card Check'

Matt Lewis | March 10, 2009 12:47 PM

As Democrats in both houses of Congress introduce the so-called "Employee Free Choice Act" (also called Card Check), the lobbying effort has begun, and conservative groups are springing into action.

One such group is Let Freedom Ring USA, which has produced a very good ad to oppose the legislation.

While most anti-Card Check advertising focuses on either the "job-crushing effect of card check" (yesterday, Warren Buffet came out against it) -- or the management vs. labor clash -- LFR's ad focuses on how the worker would be stripped of the right to a secret ballot.

Interestingly, there is speculation the group may be preparing to run the ads in Pennsylvania -- which could potentially influence Sen. Arlen Specter's vote (Specter voted for it in 2007).

LFR spent approximately $5 million on TV ad buys last year, so it is conceivable that they might consider an ad buy for what many consider to be the single most important legislative battle to date since the election.

The ads may not be necessary, however, as some are speculating that Specter's stimulus vote -- and the backlash he received for being one of only three Republicans to defect -- might mean he will think twice before picking yet another fight with conservatives. Specter is up for re-election in 2010, and already faces an uphill battle if he is remain in the U.S. Senate.

This is clearly a very important vote to watch ...