Posted on 09/10/2012 10:41:31 AM PDT by mandaladon
For the first time in nearly three decades, Chicago public school teachers went on strike this morning. At first glance, you might be tempted to think that what happens in Chicago has little to no effect on the politics of Washington and the presidential race. But, you’d be wrong. There are several reasons to believe that what happens in Chicago could have a real — and negative — impact on President Obama and the broader race for the White House this fall. We list the three biggest reasons below.
* It’s Chicago: Yes, we know that President Obama has no role — either way — in the strike. But, that the strike is happening in Chicago, the town where President Obama made his political name doesn’t help him. And that the current Chicago mayor, Rahm Emanuel, was Obama’s first presidential chief of staff isn’t much help either. Remember that Republicans are doing everything they can to link Obama to Chicago and Chicago-style politics — thinking that it will turn off independents in the middle of the country. That the teachers strike will be at (or close to) the top of every evening news show until it ends allows Republicans a daily news peg to remind people that Obama is from the Windy City.
* Labor, distracted: Organized labor has experienced a series of major setbacks over the past few years — from losing a Democratic primary challenge to Sen. Blanche Lincoln (Ark.)
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
What? The strike in Chicago is Romney’s fault.
Chicago Mayor’s Kids’ School Remains Open
The school attended by Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel’s children remains open, even though public school teachers are striking in Chicago resulting in school closures across the city.
“Mayor Rahm Emanuel has decided to send his three children to the University of Chicago Lab Schools rather than put them in the financially strapped Chicago Public Schools he’s trying desperately to reform,” the Chicago Sun-Times reported last year.
A phone call to the Lab Schools confirmed that it remains open. It is, after all, a private institution—and strikes are taking place in public schools.
The director’s office, however, was not yet able immediately to confirm whether Emanuel’s three children were in attendance today. (UPDATE: The school called back to say it wouldn’t comment.) Emanuel’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/chicago-mayors-kids-school-remains-open_652113.html
All one has to do is look at the online images of these striking teachers and the reasons for the poor state of American education becomes obvious. Most of these losers wouldn’t last one week in a position where they were held accountable for ANYTHING.
If Obama were to have a “Sister Soljah moment” by publicly denouncing the union’s demands, then it perversely could HELP him. Sure, he’d lose some union goon support/ turnout. But he’d get major props from impressionable swing voters. JMO.
Limbaugh’s take is that this is all a setup so that Obama can ride in on a white horse and appear to be the problem solver.
Rush suspects this is a set-up with Emmanuel and the teachers’ union so that BO will come riding to the rescue and fix the strike “for the children.” Great PR that would show he cares and can solve all our problems, a typical Democrat ploy.
In the contract on the table, the average teacher is getting a $16000 raise (in spite of IL being broke), so it can’t be a pay dispute.
I think Rush nailed it today.
This is a setup for Obama to come in and save the day. Lib media will spend days peeing their pants over how wonderful he is.
Rush is right with these things about 95 percent of the time. Given that Rhamfish, teachers in general, and unions are in the tank of Zero, it makes perfect sense.
Maybe, finally, we will hang public education on the left’s neck as an albatross.
The left has been running public education in this country for 50 years. They built the current system; they benefit by keeping the system just as it is.
And yet, we let them get away with talking about how they care about public education and how THEY are the ones to trust.
THEY aren’t going to change a thing. THEY built it; THEY created the problems; and THEY aren’t going to change a ****** thing.
This from the Washington ComPost? As Rush would say, “A random act of journalism!”
financially strapped?
please.
The problem is that all of the money goes to benefits and pensions that were over promised.
The average teacher in Chicago makes $75,000. per year income (before benefits are added in), and are the highest paid teachers in the nation. They are confronting the most recently elected Democratic official despite being offered a 16% salary increase.
NPR states that the strike is for: air-conditioning , computers, pencils, etc.
So this being regarded by the Libtards as “ For The Children” , and not as a union power struggle. Rite ... /s
It is actually being blamed on Bush. What I am hearing here ( live in Chicago) is that it is Bush’s “unfunded mandates” (NCLB) that are forcing the cuts that won’t allow teachers to live above the poverty line.
Yes, that’s right. The highest paid teachers in the nation. What they are using is a number of 1st year teachers, saying they make below the poverty line in wages, and that layoffs and overcrowding are a result of republicans.
Watch now, the strike will go on for 10 days or thereabouts, and Obama will ride in and have a “beer summit” of sorts, and work it all out, proving his credentials, and propping him up as the great centrist. The media will lap it up, and it will be broadcast all over how he was the greatest negotiator since Kissinger.
It’s all a set up. Rope-a-dope. Us few conservatives in Chicagoland can smell it a mile away.
Reports say the strike is not about salary,but health benefits? Don’t they know Obama are is now the law of the land?
If it hurts Obama, I’m all for it...
Go Chicago teachers.. You are getting ripped off. Keep striking. Fight the man. Workers unite... Don’t give in!
I disagree. This was most likely planned so that Obama can intervene near the end of October with successful negotiations and BE THE HERO WHO SAVED THE KIDS!!!!
“Limbaugh’s take is that this is all a setup so that Obama can ride in on a white horse and appear to be the problem solver.”
Yup, this is exactly what I wrote last night. Watch for it. It will happen!
$16,000? or $1,600?
Lee’sGhost~” Rush is right with these things about 95 percent of the time. Given that Rhamfish, teachers in general, and unions are in the tank of Zero, it makes perfect sense.”
Yup . Rush is right again.
And Zero needs Illinois.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.