Weekly Address: Stand Up for American Workers and Pass TAA
Source: White House
In this week's address, the President reiterated that his top priority is to grow the American economy and ensure that every hardworking American has a fair shot at success. Its because of this commitment that the President has worked to enact smart new trade agreements that level the playing field for our workers, open new markets for our businesses, and hold other countries to the kinds of high standards that Americans are proud to hold ourselves to here at home. On Friday, Republicans and Democrats in the House took an important step by voting to help the United States negotiate and enforce high-standard trade deals. But they also failed to renew Trade Adjustment Assistance, despite the fact that it provides vital support to about 100,000 workers, and passed the Senate with bipartisan support. The President urged the House to pass TAA without delay so that more middle-class workers can earn the chance to participate and succeed in our global economy.
Read more: https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/06/13/weekly-address-stand-american-workers-and-pass-taa
Transcript
https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/06/13/weekly-address-stand-american-workers-and-pass-taa
My top priority as President is to grow the economy and help more hardworking Americans get ahead. And after the worst economic crisis in our lifetimes, our businesses have now created 12.6 million new jobs over the past 63 months.
(snip)
Simply put, America has to write the rules of the 21st century economy in a way that benefits American workers. If we dont, countries like China will write those rules in a way that benefits their workers.
(snip)
Now, on Friday, Republicans and Democrats in the House of Representatives voted to help the United States negotiate new trade deals that are both free and fair deals that expand opportunity for our workers and our businesses alike. And thats good. These kinds of trade deals say no to a race for the bottom, for lower wages and working conditions. Theyre about starting a race to the top, for higher wages, and better working conditions, stronger environmental protections, and a smarter way to crack down on countries that break the rules of the global economy.
But thats not all we should be doing for our workers. Right now, something called Trade Adjustment Assistance provides vital support, like job-training and community college education, to tens of thousands of American workers each year who were hurt by past trade deals the kind were not going to repeat again. Republicans and Democrats in the Senate have voted to renew this initiative, but so far, the House of Representatives has chosen to let it expire in just a few months, leaving as many as 100,000 American workers on their own. For the sake of those workers, their families, and their communities, I urge those Members of Congress who voted against Trade Adjustment Assistance to reconsider, and stand up for American workers.
Because these smart new trade deals arent just about growing our economy and supporting good new American jobs. This is about the kind of country we want to build for our kids and our grandkids. And if I did not think that smart new trade deals were the right thing to do for working families, I wouldnt be fighting for it.
This is the right thing to do. Trade thats fair and free and smart will grow opportunity for our middle class. It will help us restore the dream we share, and make sure that every American who works hard has a chance to get ahead. Thats a cause worth fighting for today, and every day I have the honor of serving as your President.
Earth Bound Misfit
(3,554 posts)BeanMusical
(4,389 posts)peacebird
(14,195 posts)..
fasttense
(17,301 posts)He actually looks and sounds sincere when he says the TPP is good for American workers. No RepubliCON can do as well.
Obama is such a disappointment. He could have been another FDR. Instead he chose to be a moderate RepubliCON corporate tool. So much potential and promise squandered in order to get a bunch of already uber rich old men (and a few old women) more riches.
passnobuck
(92 posts)Good to see some people on this place not exactly happy with the last 6.5 years under Obama's presidency.
I know he is better than having Palin as VP, but there were so many opportunities he had to make us all better off, and this TPP thing, I just don't understand why he ever went there.
CANDO
(2,068 posts)You'll have to look far and wide to find anyone on this site who sees his entire Presidency as a disappointment. By far, our country is in a better place than either of the alternatives offered to us by the GOP. So tread lightly. I sense that at 5 whole posts you chime in on damning this President that you might not be here with helpful intentions. Most liberals and progressives are for fair trade deals. What we usually have problems with are free trade agreements, especially ones like NAFTA, CAFTA, TPP, etc.
passnobuck
(92 posts)Did not mean to insult the man, a wonderful man, but I think if he had been more like FDR he would have been as well regarded as FDR is.
No, I don't mean to insult anyone here, nor their opinions.
I just don't understand TPP and NAFTA CAFTA agreements as being progressive pro-labor agreements.
I would vote for any Democrat, and will never vote for a Republican again in my life, but I just don't understand some of these trade agreements our Democratic presidents agree to.
n2doc
(47,953 posts)Simply put, this is bullcrap.
This is unpleasant.
djean111
(14,255 posts)Art_from_Ark
(27,247 posts)Meanwhile, no one who votes for this monstrosity will have to worry about where their next paycheck is going to come from.
BumRushDaShow
(128,787 posts)I got hit for posting the similar-subjected one the week before last but it comes with the territory.
raindaddy
(1,370 posts)Makes me sad to watch this.
Someone should make a video of candidate Obama, talking about re-negotiating NAFTA, transparency, lobbyists and changing the way we do business in Washington next to this Obama..
Even though those two Obama's are different as night and day, one thing remains consistent.. The dependence on a naive, gullible and uninformed electorate.
CharlotteVale
(2,717 posts)rpannier
(24,329 posts)meme of the 90's
Populist_Prole
(5,364 posts)That way, no worries of TAA, TPA, and, job losses and medicare funding drama.
Fuddnik
(8,846 posts)Art_from_Ark
(27,247 posts)Demeter
(85,373 posts)Call your Representative and tell them to put a stop to TAA forever, and all the other so-called trade policies: TPP, TISA, TiPP, FASTRACK, and so forth.
Tell them to get up and tax and regulate the Corporations, which have gotten too big for their britches. Enough of this abuse!
stillwaiting
(3,795 posts)paleotn
(17,911 posts)....I like the guy too, but it's pay off time. You don't think he won the White House twice on $25 donations and grassroots support, do you? Just like Clinton and the Financial Services Modernization Act, NAFTA and WTO. It's time to pay back the monied interests. Sucks, but that's the system we live in.
Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)He runs to the Capitol for the billionaires but not the masses of people who elected him. Shame.
jwirr
(39,215 posts)no reason for voting against the TAA.
marmar
(77,072 posts)bread_and_roses
(6,335 posts)I think I can't be surprised and then he tops himself.
d_legendary1
(2,586 posts)Fuck you Mr.President. You're wrong about this issue. Passing laws here that help workers does NOTHING when transnational corporations can take us to the cleaners when these laws affect their bottom line.
asiliveandbreathe
(8,203 posts)Actions speak louder than words..let us decide..why the secrecy?
- We know our local, county, city, and states legislatures are handed corporate written policy - this we will fight on against..ya' know ALEC! - and we know our US government congressional members are bought and paid for by the same - just look at the clown car on the republican side of the aisle - who can fill their bucket with the most cash from corporations?- like beat the clock...(actually, they seem to be making a joke of our democracy, but then, we are in the midst of NO Democracy)
Now YOU, my, my, my, - American jobs lost to trade agreements, we need the TAA? - BUT, the American people wouldn't need the TAA if they didn't lose jobs to these trade agreements....
Show us the trade agreement - We'll even put a candle in the window so you can find us -
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)are hard to convince of big initiatives.
you must think so highly of yourself.
Elwood P Dowd
(11,443 posts)awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)May the fleas of a thousand camels infest his arm pits.
Dem_in_Nebr.
(300 posts)If he doesn't have a gun held to his head over this.
I can't help but think this TPP is so twisted and messed up that it's bizarre. I don't think he'd support this otherwise but he is being told to pass it or else.
Conspiracy theorist hat off!
jakeXT
(10,575 posts)Secret Service fumbled response after gunman hit White House residence in 2011
..
A bullet smashed a window on the second floor, just steps from the first familys formal living room. Another lodged in a window frame, and more pinged off the roof, sending bits of wood and concrete to the ground. At least seven bullets struck the upstairs residence of the White House, flying some 700 yards across the South Lawn.
President Obama and his wife were out of town on that evening of Nov. 11, 2011, but their younger daughter, Sasha, and Michelle Obamas mother, Marian Robinson, were inside, while older daughter Malia was expected back any moment from an outing with friends.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/secret-service-stumbled-after-gunman-hit-white-house-residence-in-2011/2014/09/27/d176b6ac-442a-11e4-b437-1a7368204804_story.html
Jack Rabbit
(45,984 posts)If there is no trade deal that will displace more American jobs, then there should be no need for trade adjustment assistance.
So what is trade adjustment assistance supposed to do for displaced American workers? Retrain rocket scientists to flip burgers or greet customers at WalMart?
Of course, I'm oversimplifying. There's a bigger problem here than bad trade deals. One DUer is hitting the meme that jobs are being shipped to India and China, with which the US has no trade treaty. I think that poster may be on to something in identifying the problem, but his solution is more bad trade deals and that doesn't impress me as a good solution.
The neoliberal social paradigm is unsustainable. Large corporations cannot direct a race to the bottom without destroying the middle class, leaving them without consumers to purchase the products they manufacture. When that happens, they go broke, too. At some point we come after the bastards with torches and pitchforks, but after that, then what?
That is a conversation we need to start having. The then may be fast approaching, so we'll need the what sooner than we think.
In this case, we'll have to meet behind the proverbial closed doors, as much as it is possible for 99% to meet behind closed doors, to discuss the matter, because the captains of industry and their pet politicians are not invited. They'll only try to sell us on their neoliberal paradigm (you know, the one that is unsustainable), and we don't have any more time to waste listening to their pitch. We can listen to more enlightened 1%ers like George Soros, Warren Buffet or Nick Hanauer. They might have something to contribute to the discussion, but Legs Dimon, Pretty Boy Lloyd and the Koch kingpins are going to be left behind as we forge our own path the other world that is possible.
Phlem
(6,323 posts)In the past when Republicans would spout this kind of B.S. we as Dems would call them out for being corporate whores.
Jesus Malverde
(10,274 posts)JM
Eatacig
(97 posts)If it's not going to cost Americans their jobs, why do we need to be retrained. There won't be jobs to be retrained for.
meow2u3
(24,761 posts)If you really want to stand for American workers, scrap the whole idea of corporate-controlled "free" trade and go back to the pre-90's trade policy that really does stand for American workers.
Bring back strong unions and strict control of corporations.
Ed Suspicious
(8,879 posts)MisterP
(23,730 posts)jalan48
(13,856 posts)L0oniX
(31,493 posts)...and I have a single payer campaign promise for you too.
awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)not single payer. If only he would have fought so vigerously for PO
brentspeak
(18,290 posts)as the worst elements of the GOP.
No lie is too big to tell in support of Wall St. puppet masters.
onecaliberal
(32,816 posts)DisgustipatedinCA
(12,530 posts)Every last person who has responded to this thread, with one sad-but-predictable exception, is excoriating the President. The White House needs to wake the hell up and understand that when your own party is completely against you and you're getting atta-boys from the likes of Paul Ryan, something has gone very wrong. The rules here don't permit me to say much beyond that.