The Democrats today failed in the Senate to pass so-called "card-check" legislation that would allow unions to form without the benefit of a secret ballot election.

The headline that came over the wires late this afternoon read:

Senate Republicans block bill making it easier to form labor unions

Sounds pretty mean, huh?

The lede:

Senate Republicans on Tuesday blocked a bill that would allow labor unions to organize workplaces without a secret ballot election.

This is factually accurate, but the tone is a little off. Remember, the way things work now, when 30 percent of workers sign a card expressing their interest in a union, the employer can call for a secret ballot election. This is done for the same reason that primary and general election ballots are secret -- to prevent outside pressure from impacting a person's vote.

This lede is oddly restrained. Flip the political parties and the positions and imagine:

Republicans voted today to strip workers of the right to a secret ballot vote when choosing a union.

It's a moot point now, but I still would've liked to see the Democrats' reaction had a Republican offered an amendment to this bill stripping away the right to a secret ballot in any election. Imagine the screams and protestations as Democrats tried to explain why it is fundamental for Americans in their exercise of their political rights, but not in the workplace.