I have tried to be patient, but NO MORE: "Mr. President: Use the damn bully pulpit!"

Mr. President: Use the damn bully pulpit!

President Obama in Wisconsin last fall


On Wednesday night, Wisconsin Republicans used a legislative dodge to ram home one of the most devastating attacks on union rights in American history. Using the financial crisis and ongoing depressed state of the economy as a foil, the GOP essentially neutered Wisconsin’s public sector unions.

.....................

How about addressing the nation tomorrow about what is happening in Wisconsin. Sure, he’d be accused of partisanship -- an accusation that he seems to fear above all others; but so was Roosevelt when he held those devastatingly effective fireside chats with America to sell progressive New Deal policies like Social Security, public works programs, and the eight hour work day – as well as to warn his audience not to be taken in by the reactionary words of moneyed interests opposed to his reforms. At a certain point, politics is, by definition, partisan.


We are sleepwalking toward the abyss. It’s time for Obama to expend some capital shaking the country out of its slumbers. The Republicans have crossed a Rubicon in Wisconsin; Obama needs to marshal the pushback, and he needs to do so now.

the rest:
http://www.salon.com/news/wisconsin/index.html?story=/politics/war_room/2011/03/10/obama_wisconsin_unions

and I believe that is what needs to happen to keep this non-partisan. BUT what we do not need is a democratic president making comments to silence labor. When he starts actively speaking against the working people we must step up and primary this guy.

The President has done no such thing.

Does the President need to issue another statement?

SEIU Chief: Obama ‘Has Stepped Up’ in State Labor Fights

Screeners Under Obama May Give Federal Unions Main Win in Years

This is not a pro-worker administration as evidenced by these comments:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/04/us/politics/04staff.html?_r=4

Administration officials said they saw the events beyond Washington as distractions from the optimistic “win the future” message that Mr. Obama introduced in his State of the Union address, in which he exhorted the country to increase spending for some programs even as it cuts others so that America can “out-innovate and out-educate” its global rivals.

He knows when his interference will harm rather than help.

but labeling workers a "distraction" is not the most artful way of showing support for labor. How about he says something like "I support labor" instead?

bullshit media spin.



Preposterous. Claiming that the activities of OFA Wisconsin and the DNC were "discovered" is absolutely bogus. Who the hell made that claim?

supporting the workers of Wisconsin. I will not hold my breath while I wait.

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But as of last night it has.

I'm sorry Mr. O if helping out millions of Americans is a "distraction" for you.

Really, really, horribly sorry.

Hopefully, your coffee didn't get cold this morning due to any distractions. :nopity:

What does partisan look like to you?

I am watching my family and friends on facebook as they fight this battle. I know their political affiliations - I know which cousin is a very religious republican who is now protesting because she is fearful of losing the teaching job that supports her family.

You may be solely into the dog and pony voting shows. I vote and then move on to activism because as far as I'm concerned the voting changes nothing for workers in an economic sense. Sure it makes a difference who is on the supreme court... but it does not make a difference in the day to day life of 95% of this country.

In Wisconsin right now, workers, no matter how they vote, are coming together to fight against the owners. That's what it is about for me. Workers in solidarity is the only way to effectively fight against the owners. My opinion. YMMV.

he's going to actively speak against the working people? It sounds like that's what you're hoping he'll do.

He has done the contrary so far.

no matter how you attempt to spin it.

unnamed sources about the "administration"?

other way.

Ironic considering the appearance with the 1st lady earlier today.

Is that too much to ask?

We aren't the "independents" so we don't matter.

America needs our President to stand with Americans


peace, kpete

Only a primary challenge from the left can possibly stir Obama to do anything more then give weak lip service to core Dem principles.

He did not intervene in state legislatures. Even Reagan's attack on striking airport workers was a federal issue.

People are demanding that this President set a precedent for using the Presidency to go against a legally elected state body. That's crazy.

Why are people determined to make this about the President?

He can issue all the statements he wants, but he can't force Walker and the Republicans to act differently.



Edited typos.

Read the crap put out, the lies, the twisted truths. They want to primary him and run some imaginary perfect liberal....nevermind that person doesn't exist. It makes for good bashing and that's the name of the game. You can call it birtherism, far left style.

Usually, leads one to the concept that he would lend support to the protesters.

I know, crazy, right?

are you expecting, that he actually join the protests?

Does the President need to issue another statement?

SEIU Chief: Obama ‘Has Stepped Up’ in State Labor Fights

Screeners Under Obama May Give Federal Unions Main Win in Years

I simple statement would be nice.

but alas.

heaven forbid that he actually lower himself to walk with the people.

Oh and just for grins...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x600018

What would another statement accomplish except calls for another from those demanding another statement?

Is Walker going to change his mind because the President issues a statement? I mean, WI isn't Egypt. The President can't demand that Walker step down.

nor did you comment within said link.

I'll leave it at that.

Good day.

Oh and you are now ignored.

I'm just really exhausted from your fine line support of bad policy.

Cheers and tootles!

On edit: you may now get the last word. If that makes you happy.

No more. I am beginning to see him as Lieberman lite. I just saw Inside Job and realized that there is no doubt he is more of the same. Maybe they have something on him because I can't explain the difference between who I voted for and the guy in the office.

because he doesn't DO bully pulpit - he takes the path of least resistance, ALWAYS.

He will have sandwiches set out to try and "bridge the gap" and reach "a common ground".

I've given up on any hope of him coming out in support for the worker.

We are on our own.

And scramble like mad to cast blame at someone -anyone- that isn't him.

Oh wait, people are already doing that. Nevermind, carry on then.