Last night’s “American Jobs Act” speech by Obama was THE most transparently obvious reelection campaign example of political pandering I have ever witnessed.
We all wondered why he decided to present this bill to a joint session of congress and why the nationally televised broadcast? Such things are State of the Union or declaration of war moments…not economic policy moments.
The answer revealed itself throughout the speech last night.
To fully understand it, one must think back a few weeks, to shortly before the Martha’s Vineyard vacation.
Unions.
Unions were talking openly about withdrawing their heavy support of Obama for 2012. Unions were upset, thinking this administration had turned away from them in Wisconsin, Ohio and elsewhere. Unions felt that Obama wasn’t doing enough to defend their tactics.
Unions were indeed talking about not supporting Obama in 2012.
Unions also clearly view the Tea Party as their enemy. To the unions, the Tea Party must be eliminated by any means. That union attitude visually manifested itself in Wisconsin and after the unions lost there, the rhetoric and thuggish activity level has continued to rise.
Obama, before his latest vacation, kept telling us he had a plan. Throughout the debt ceiling talks, he said he had a plan but he never produced that plan. Republican leaders called for it. They demanded to see it. Obama didn’t produce the plan.
Why not?
Simple answer…there was no plan.
Before he headed to Martha’s Vineyard, Obama let it be known that he DID have a plan but he wouldn’t reveal that plan until September. His mouthpieces told us that the Martha’s Vineyard vacation was a “working vacation” but day in and day out, throughout his “working vacation” we never saw him working did we? We watched him play round after round after round of golf and spend time in restaurants but work? No.
Then, AFTER the vacation ended, Obama announced he would deliver his plan in a speech before a joint session of congress with a national television audience. He choose the same date and the same time as the republican candidate’s debate.
Coincidence?
Not a chance.
Trumka wanted a show. The Unions wanted a show. They wanted Obama to PROVE that HE was with THEM.
Trumka also wanted to be as disruptive to the Tea Party and republicans as possible.
Hence the date and time for this event by Obama.
A President has no larger stage available than a joint session of congress and no other bully pulpit louder than having the event televised nationally. If the President is going to put on a show, a huge show, that IS the only way to do it.
Trumka, who has boasted about visiting the white house 3 or more times each week, and who views the Tea Party and republicans as enemies, and who has been publicly disgruntled with what he believes to be a lack of support from Obama made it known that union support for Obama’s 2012 campaign was on the line.
Need more?
Okay.
Leading up to the speech last night, the anti Tea Party rhetoric was ramped up. Maxine Waters tells the Tea Party to go straight to hell. Does Obama denounce that statement? Nope. Andre Carson says that the Tea Party wants to see black people hanging from trees. Does Obama denounce THAT statement. Nope.
On Labor Day, at an event, Jimmy Hoffa Jr. warms up the audience for Obama by saying, “we need to take those sons of bitches out!” He was of course referring to the Tea Party. Does Obama refute THAT statement? Nope.
In fact, after the Hoffa call for violence, presidential mouthpiece Jay Carney said “The President doesn’t speak for the unions.”
Interesting considering that a scant 8 months ago in Tucson, the president spoke for all concerned in calling for an end to such rhetoric. What the Hoffa statement was, and the reason Obama won’t denounce it is that in return for taking up the union cause in the most public way possible for a president, the unions will step up their attacks against the Tea Party.
It’s a, you scratch our backs we’ll scratch yours deal. Unions get presidential support and Obama gets money AND an army of goons.
More?
Okay.
The American Jobs Act is little more than a rehashing of a previous failed stimulus plan. Was this what Obama spent months working up? Is this what he was “working” on through his Martha’s Vineyard vacation? Was this worthy of a joint session of congress and a national television audience?
Of course not…under normal circumstances but these circumstances weren’t normal were they?
During his presentation, Obama indirectly pandered to the unions by pushing road, bridge, school and various other construction projects which as we all know, rely nearly completely on organized union labor.
“Building a world-class transportation system is part of what made us a economic superpower. And now we’re going to sit back and watch China build newer airports and faster railroads? At a time when millions of unemployed construction workers could build them right here in America?”
“There are private construction companies all across America just waiting to get to work. There’s a bridge that needs repair between Ohio and Kentucky that’s on one of the busiest trucking routes in North America. A public transit project in Houston that will help clear up one of the worst areas of traffic in the country. And there are schools throughout this country that desperately need renovating. How can we expect our kids to do their best in places that are literally falling apart? This is America. Every child deserves a great school — and we can give it to them, if we act now.”
The jobs Obama spoke of creating, including teacher’s jobs (remember Wisconsin) were union jobs weren’t they?
Indeed.
More?
Okay.
Along with his indirect pandering to the unions in last night’s speech, Obama DIRECTLY pandered to the unions.
“I reject the idea that we have to strip away collective bargaining rights to compete in a global economy. “
“The idea for a big boost in construction is supported by America’s largest business organization and America’s largest labor organization.”
In fact, the speech was rife with such examples.
“It will create more jobs for construction workers, more jobs for teachers…”
Union jobs.
“Everyone here knows we have badly decaying roads and bridges all over the country.”
Union jobs
“Building a world-class transportation system is part of what made us a economic superpower. And now we’re going to sit back and watch China build newer airports and faster railroads? At a time when millions of unemployed construction workers could build them right here in America?”
Union jobs.
“Pass this jobs bill, and thousands of teachers in every state will go back to work.”
Union jobs.
“It will lead to new jobs for construction workers, for teachers, for veterans, for first responders…”
Those first responders, heroes all, are also union jobs.
About the only group Obama’s jobs speech mentioned that aren’t by and large represented by unions was veterans.
All of this pandering to unions does not discount Obama’s socialist side in last night’s speech.
Once again, like a broken record, Obama called for raising taxes on the rich, taking more money from the wealthy and spreading it around.
“I’m also well aware that there are many Republicans who don’t believe we should raise taxes on those who are most fortunate and can best afford it.”
“Pass this bill, and hundreds of thousands of disadvantaged young people will have the hope and the dignity of a summer job next year. And their parents — (applause) — their parents, low-income Americans who desperately want to work, will have more ladders out of poverty.”
And of course, to a socialist, government is always better at deciding who gets the money than private citizens could ever be.
“And we’ll set up an independent fund to attract private dollars and issue loans based on two criteria: how badly a construction project is needed and how much good it will do for the economy.”
Look closely at THAT statement. “We’ll” (means “The Government”) set up an independent (independent of what he doesn’t say) fund to attract private dollars (that’s YOUR money) and issue loans based on two criteria: How badly a construction (union job) project is needed and how much good it will do for the economy.
WHO exactly is judging the criteria?
Government of course.
Socialism.
It should not go without saying that the unions and the socialist/communist parties and so intertwined it’s difficult to find where one leaves off and the others begin and let’s not forget that just a week or two ago, the socialist party in this country openly endorsed one Barack Obama for president in 2012.
Last night’s American Jobs Act speech was so much more than what pundits are saying it was today. Pundits are calling it nothing more than a rehashing of a previous failed stimulus plan which frankly is what I believed it would be before it was presented and to be quite fair, that is exactly what the act, or bill if you will is. The speech last night was something quite different from a simple rehashing.
What we witnessed last night was the most brazen and unabashed display of a pandering socialist puppet, dancing as the strings were tugged by the unions.
Okay, one more.
Sitting in the presidential VIP gallery box during last night’s marionette extravaganza was none other than union boss, and a very pleased, Richard Trumka.
Of course liberals will be dismissive of this analysis and certainly the name calling will begin but that is because they hate it when they and their chosen leader gets exposed. Last night, he exposed himself.
Obama needs the union’s money and their thuggish actions because he cannot stand on policies or success in his reelection bid. The unions needed a big government socialist to prop up their failing cause on the biggest stage available.
Last night it all came together in one neat package.
Obama is a pandering union puppet and last night, that puppet danced.
