Carter Wood of the National Association of Manufacturers challenges democratic presidential candidate and former Senator John Edwards' standard Employee Free Choice Act stump references in "Card Check: A Shift of Rhetoric, A Shaft of Illogic"

Wood points out that, despite Edwards' suggestion, joining a political party by signing a card is not the same as card check union representation.  Wood's money quote:

And the last time we looked, joining a political party did not require surrendering the right to a secret ballot.

We'll also note that we presume that one already can join a union by merely signing a card.  (Click here).  By doing so, he or she can obtain whatever benefits the union chooses to provide.  It is only exclusive representation of an entire  bargaining unit that requires a secret ballot election.