Posted on 08/31/2013 5:59:59 AM PDT by Sub-Driver
Obama calls for ‘bold steps’ to help workers By Ben Geman - 08/31/13 06:00 AM ET
President Obama on Saturday called for “bold steps” to help U.S. workers, remarks that arrive two days before Labor Day and ahead of the fall’s fiscal policy battles with Republicans.
“The truth is, it’s not going to be easy to reverse the forces that have conspired – for decades – against working Americans,” Obama said.
“But if we take a few bold steps – and if Washington is able to come together with common purpose and common resolve – we’ll get there. Our economy will keep getting stronger and more Americans will be able to join the ranks of the middle class,” he said.
His pre-Labor Day remarks steer clear of criticizing or even mentioning Republicans (or Democrats for that matter), but seek to cast Obama as a champion of workers.
They also politically position Obama on pocket-book issues as lawmakers prepare to return to Washington in a week after their summer break, and as Republicans continue their assault on his healthcare law.
Obama – who has been pushing proposals aimed to checking college tuition costs and revamping the home mortgage system – noted that he’s been traveling the nation “laying out my ideas for how we can build on the cornerstones of what it means to be middle class.”
“A good job that pays a good wage. A good education. A home of your own. Healthcare when you get sick. A secure retirement even if you’re not rich. And more chances for folks to earn their way into the middle class as long as they’re willing to work for it,” he said.
Obama, in recent speeches, has focused heavily on the economy and touted proposals around infrastructure spending and other steps.
Obama said that on Labor Day the nation will come together to honor “the working men and women of America who, across the generations, built this country up and helped make us who we are today.”
“We’ll pay tribute to the values working Americans embody – hard work; responsibility; sacrifice; looking out for one another. And we’ll recommit ourselves to their cause; to securing for them a better bargain so that everyone who works hard in America has a chance to get ahead,” Obama said.
The speech also shows Obama touting the ongoing recovery while acknowledging that many workers still face major struggles.
“[O]ver the past four and a half years, we’ve fought our way back from the worst recession of our lifetimes. And thanks to the grit and resilience of the American people, we’ve begun to lay a foundation for stronger, more durable economic growth. But as any working family will tell you, we’re not where we need to be,” he said.
“For over a decade, working Americans have seen their wages and incomes stagnate, even as corporate profits soar and the pay of a fortunate few explodes. For even longer than that, inequality has steadily risen; the journey of upward mobility has become harder,” he said.
“Reversing that trend needs to be Washington’s highest priority. It’s certainly mine,” Obama said.
The Branding Campaign continues. How in the heck does the loyal opposition confront such nonsensical charges?
Translation.... BUSH's FAULT.
A Simple Phrase: 'Get the Government off my Freaking Back!'
POtuS indeed.
barry, define “a few bold steps”
better yet- put them in writing
Yes I agree it will be very difficult to remove the idiots in DC that create job killing policies.
First thing he needs to issue a national mandate for gas pumpers like NJ has.
That will protect the thousands of Americans endangered by fuel spills every day and provide lots of “middle class” jobs.
Then outlaw ATMs. Think of all the bank teller jobs we’ll get.
Workers? He ordered the furlough of 650,000 Department of Defense employees, taking 20% of their pay, and this is his own workforce. He has also frozen their pay for going on 4 years now.
DoD furloughs to take toll on productivity, employee pay
Rush Limbaugh said this week that many Democrats know who destructive Obama is, but they are afraid to speak out. Well, several of them are already slamming him for his treatment of his own Federal workforce.
The AFGE union has finally turned against Obama, and the other unions (a massive source of Democrat power and money) are listening. If Democrats are not proactive in opposing Obama, there could be a bloodbath in the 2014 Congressional elections, and Democrats know it.
This Labor Day propaganda by Obama only exposes him for his own hypocrisy.
Karl Marx would approve of Obama’s words.
No, Capitalism’s fault...this is all about Socialism. In the end EVERYONE will suffer and the American dream will be murdered....and besides, why then are we coddling the super rich? (AKA Soros) Just sayin...
Strange talk considering we are beginning the fifth year of his “recovery”.
His idea of a few bold steps is to issue more unconstitutional Executive Orders.
He could also sign an Executive Order banning all cell phones (except for "free" ObamaPhones) and force the nation back to archaic landlines that require multiple telephone operators.
Think of the thousands of jobs!
That we have a president who would make such a statement, and that on top of the race baiting.......
We have a problem that is a lot worse than Syria.
But maybe it is a good thing that he makes such crazy statements. It should wake up the weenie CEO’s that go along to get along rather than fighting the bureaucracy.
The sad truth is that there are economically ignorant people who believe his claptrap.
Public schools. Government is your family. Not mom and dad.
ns. “The truth is, it’s not going to be easy to reverse the forces that have conspired – for decades – against working Americans,” Obama said.
The forces that conspired against American workers is the US Federal Government........
It is the over bearing rules and regulations, taxes, fees,etc. that hurt business and there for hurt workers.
> “For over a decade, working Americans have seen their wages and incomes stagnate, even as corporate profits soar and the pay of a fortunate few explodes. For even longer than that, inequality has steadily risen; the journey of upward mobility has become harder,” he said.
“Reversing that trend needs to be Washington’s highest priority. It’s certainly mine,” Obama said.
Stalin would be so proud.../s
Forces like Obamacare.
Pray for America to Wake Up
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