Remember when Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) claimed Republicans are a “working class party now”? Or how about Ted Cruz saying they are a “blue-collar party”? If you’re gagging at the irony, you’re not alone. The ongoing United Auto Workers (UAW) strike has blown the lid off this masquerade, and it’s time to talk about it.
All Talk, No Walk
The GOP loves to throw around the “working class” label like it’s confetti at a New Year’s Eve party. But when push comes to shove, they’re nowhere to be found. Case in point: The UAW strike—the first-ever to hit all the Big Three automakers at the same time—is happening, and the so-called champions of the working class, Tom Cotton and Ted Cruz, haven’t uttered a single word about it. Not. One. Word.
The Spin Machine at Work
Let’s shift gears to those Republicans who have decided to speak up. Spoiler alert: it’s a bunch of hot air. Their support is as real as a three-dollar bill. They’re all about backing an imaginary version of the strike that suits their fossil fuel-loving agendas but has zilch to do with the actual demands of the UAW members. The strategy? A classic divide-and-conquer tactic pitting organized labor against climate activists.
Marco Rubio: The Man of Many Distractions
Rubio, for instance, took FIVE days to say anything about the strike. But he found time to introduce a bill against “radical gender ideology” and pen an op-ed on “American men falling behind,” while completely dodging the UAW strike. When he finally commented, it was a jumble of unrelated rants about green energy mandates. He even admonished the union for good measure.
Josh Hawley: Master of Vagueness
And let’s not forget Josh Hawley, the most slippery of them all. His so-called “support” for auto workers deliberately excludes any mention of the UAW. Why? Because his actual allegiance isn’t with the workers but with the execs fueling his Super PAC. In classic Hawley fashion, his vague remarks avoid addressing real issues like the 36% pay hike the union is demanding, instead pivoting to irrelevant partisan potshots against climate action.
The Media’s Role: Stop the Spin
Our media needs to cut through the BS. Instead of publishing pieces about how this strike could be a GOP opportunity, they should be spotlighting the party’s glaring absence in the fight for workers’ rights. When it comes down to taking a stand, the GOP proves time and again that their “pro-worker” talk is just that—talk. They’re not shifting toward working-class values; they’re only working to keep the smoke and mirrors intact.
The Real Takeaway
Here’s the bottom line: The Republican “pro-worker” narrative is nothing but a hollow façade. It’s a political chimera that fades away when real issues affecting real workers are on the line. In these moments, it becomes crystal clear that the GOP’s rebranding is either a pathetic smokescreen or a calculated sham.
So the next time you hear a Republican say they’re the new “working-class party,” remember the UAW strike. And remember how, when workers needed them most, they were either silent or busy playing political games. Because that, TYT Nation, is the real character of today’s GOP.
